Roger Goodell fought Joe Montana on Friday and Montana won. By knockout.
Speaking at his annual Super Bowl news conference, the commissioner tried to illustrate the point about the improved safety of playing in the NFL through his fictitious son, according to ESPN.
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"From my standpoint, I played the game of football for nine years, through high school. I wouldn't give up a single day of that," Goodell said. "If I had a son, I'd love to have him play the game of football. I'd love to have him play the game of football because of the values you get.
"There's risk in life. There's risk sitting on the couch. What we want to do is get people active. I want them to experience the game of football because the game of football will teach you the values ... the discipline, the teamwork, the perseverance. Those are values and those are skills that will lead you through life, and I believe football is the best to teach that."
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Little did Goodell know that a Super Bowl and Hall of Fame icon was about to relay his own version of player safety in the NFL.
And he didn't have to rely on his son -- real or fictitious.
"The mental part was hard initially when I first retired,'' the 59-year-old Montana told USA Today Sports. "Because it's quick -- cold turkey, the game's gone. Then the physical stuff tries to catch up with you.''
Montana, who won four Super Bowls with the 49ers, went on to elaborate.
"My hands have been, oh my gosh, in the middle of the night they hurt like crazy,'' he said. "... They kept saying I'll need a knee replacement when I can't walk. I can't really run or do much with it.''
The 49ers' extraordinary Joe has had elbow surgery, three neck fusions and nerve damage in one of his eyes.
"I think I'm headed down the fusion thing again,'' Montana said. "... The path of a nerve they think is being affected.
"... It acts like a lazy eye to some degree because every time you're tired, it kind of goes wherever it feels like a little bit,'' Montana said. "Not dramatic, but just enough where you can't read or you have to refocus."
Sorry, Mr.Goodell. Your words just fell silent. The game may be getting safer, but it seems to be far away from being safe.
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