I don‘t want to be a total sad sack before the Super Bowl, but this article from Jonah Lehrer on concussions in high school football is pretty devastating.

In the aftermath of a traumatic brain injury, the brain remains extremely fragile. Because neurons are still starved for energy, even a minor “secondary impact” can unleash a devastating molecular cascade. All of a sudden, brain cells that seemed to be regaining their balance begin committing suicide. The end result is a massive loss of neurons. Nobody knows why this loss happens. But the loss is permanent.

And these thoughts from a top coach:

Rollinson then leans forward in his chair, as if he’s about to tell me a secret. “Look, most of my players aren’t going to play ball for a living,” he says. “I know they don’t want to hear that, but it’s the truth. So there’s really no reason they should risk messing up their brain.”

Maybe I’ll just watch the Puppy Bowl this year. Team Augusta!