With athletes coming in a larger and faster variety these days, injuries in sports are becoming more and more frequent. Especially head injuries in the NFL and NHL, both brutal contact sports.

While there are a slew of examples proving this trend is on its way up, no other is more significant to his sport than Sidney Crosby from the Pittsburgh Penguins. Now, that’s not to say that he is worth more or less than any other given athlete who’s suffered from a head injury. But he is the highest profile victim of these ailments.

Perhaps more NFL players who suffer concussions should follow Crosby’s lead. He’s now missed five months of the season, and there isn’t a garuntee that he’ll return for this years playoffs. On the other hand, many football players rush back to the field, sometimes without even taking a week off. Often, this hastiness leads to difficulties later in life, with several former NFLers having died in their 50’s and 60’s from strokes or blood clots in their brain.

While fans in Pittsburgh are pining to see their superstar return to the ice, more athletes should follow Sid’s lead and give their brain time to heal after a violent collision – especially when that contact results in a concussion.