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NFL commissioner Roger Goodell says he 'absolutely' would want his own child to play football

By: The Associated Press

Posted: 02/3/2013 9:54 AM | Comments: 0 | Last Modified: 02/3/2013 1:29 PM

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell answers questions during an NFL Super Bowl XLVII football game news conference at the New Orleans Convention Center, Friday, Feb. 1, 2013. in New Orleans. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

NEW ORLEANS - NFL commissioner Roger Goodell would "absolutely" want his own child to play football.

After President Barack Obama recently said he'd "have to think long and hard" about allowing a son to take part in the sport, Goodell was asked the same question hours before Sunday's Super Bowl during an interview on CBS's "Face the Nation."

Like the president, Goodell has two daughters. The commissioner deflected the question about allowing a son to play football by noting the high incidence of concussions in girls soccer.

In an interview with The New Republic, Obama had said he loved football but worried about the long-term effects on players of the game's hard hits. Thousands of former players have sued the NFL, alleging that not enough was done to inform them about the dangers of concussions and not enough is being done today to take care of them.

In Sunday morning's interview with Bob Schieffer, Goodell declined to confirm that there is a proven connection between the sport and medical problems in retired players. He emphasized that the NFL is funding research to learn more about the risks.

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