Gennaro Gattuso Quotes

We don't want our players getting hurt.

We will always make sure player health and safety is our No. 1 priority in the NFL.

You always want to see the NFL try to protect the players.

Since 2000, it's been a privilege and honor for me to be on the competition committee. And our main focus... is player safety.

I don't want football to not be played, but I would like the sophistication brought forth to take care of those who need to be taken care of and to take the precaution, at the sacrifice of winning, to take care of people.

There's rule changes every year. I do wish, however, that the NFL did have a voice from the players' side, whether it's our players' union president, or team captains, or our executive committee on the players' side. Because we're the guys that realize the risk; we're the guys on the field.

Player safety has been an essential focus for us for a number of years.

The NFL does a great job of taking care of the players.

When you stand and talk about player safety, and then, at the same time, you want to extend the season two more games, there's a contradiction in there.

As a player you don't want to hurt someone and you don't want to see someone leave the ice with the doctors.

Not a lot of teams take you into consideration, like a lot of teams can easily decide to if you're hurt or anything, make you go play.

We've got to do better at taking care of players and making sure the fans get the best of the players when they're showcasing their abilities.

It's a reality we have to understand. (O'Neal) has to be more diligent. We have to be more diligent protecting him. We need him in the game.

Team doctors' jobs those days were to keep you on the field.

I'm not pro-owner or pro-player. I am pro-football. I want the game to go on. I want the game to be tough. I don't want the game to be a killer of our players.

I wouldn't say you worry about your health when you run. I would say a quarterback as an obligation to protect yourself as a runner, whether it's getting out of bounds, sliding or getting down, whatever it might be.

You as an individual coach have a responsibility to try to give those players who put themselves at risk and in harm's way a chance to achieve success, and that goes for universities and professional teams, as well.

But the equipment to protect the players hasn't developed along with that, so now you have more players out with worse injuries, for longer periods of time.

There are some agents who do a good job looking after players but there are others who stifle and mollycoddle them.

I just think more precaution should be taken when I'm inside the pocket. Look at all the replays - I'm on the ground every time. It's unfortunate for myself, it's unfortunate for my team and I'd be lying if I sat here and said I wasn't frustrated right now.

Being a stunt coordinator, I have to take care not only of myself but I have to make sure everyone is safe.

My job is to protect the integrity of the NFL and to make sure the game is as safe as possible.

Sidney Crosby, our greatest player, I don't want to see Sidney Crosby in the penalty box. I don't want to see Sidney Crosby hurt. I want to see Sidney Crosby play.

Look at this, scabs and cuts all over me, I get these every night, every game. They can't tell you that you're not at risk, and you can't tell me there's one guy in the N.B.A. who hasn't thought about it.

There are a couple people who have complained on other teams about some of the things that Pittsburgh players have done. Some of that goes in the category of gamesmanship. Some of that goes to the fact that we need to be vigilant as a league to make sure that players aren't unnecessarily and inappropriately hurt.