Rob Gronkowski Discusses the Number of Concussions Hes Had

Rob Gronkowski aka “Gronk” as he was affectionately known by fans and teammates alike, was one of the most dominant tight ends in recent memory. The imposing, six-foot-six former Patriots player has collected three Super Bowl rings over a storied career, and also managed to snag former cheerleader (and current Sports Illustrated Swimsuit cover model) Camille Kostek along the way. However, he’s also managed to collect something else during his lengthy football career: concussions.

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In an interview with CBS News, the retired champion football star admitted that he had suffered, by his estimate, “like 20 concussions” over the course of his playing days. He also elaborated as to whether or not he'd allow his hypothetical son hit the gridiron someday.

"I would let my son play football, but I would educate him on the game and educate him on what I went through, and I truly believe that any injury that you receive is fixable,” Gronkowski said. “I went through and had nine surgeries. I probably had like 20 concussions in my life. I remember five blackout ones.”

The tight end's comments about his many concussions come alongside an increasingly heated debate about brain injury related to the wider game of American football. Multiple studies have emerged in recent years pointing to a strong correlation between prolonged stints of play in professional football and chronic traumatic encephalopathy (or CTE), a form of degenerative brain damage. All scientific or medical terminology aside, the facts seem to be piling up to support a safer style of play in the NFL — and in the leagues which feed into it.

So far, fans seem to be divided on the subject. Beyond that, even some of the NFL pros themselves think the game is getting a bit too watered down, per the SF Chronicle. San Francisco 49ers player Richard Sherman didn't mince words when it came time to deliver his verdict on the recent rule changes.

“You come to play football, you come to watch a football game, you understand as a player and as a fan that there are certain risks involved in it,” Sherman said. “And I think the league is trying to supersede those risks.”

Moving on to joke a bit about perhaps returning to play as a nimble position player such as a safety, Gronk didn't exactly rule out a return to the sport. Despite a laundry list of former injuries, the veteran was a bit cagey when speaking about a potential return to the Patriots' roster.

One thing that Gronk made crystal clear, however, was his full endorsement of CBD — a cannabis derivative which comes in many forms, including sprays, oils, topical creams, and tinctures for treating injury.

“I’m advocating for CBD to be acceptable for all players for recovery ... You can just call me Mr. Recovery. You know you like that name. Mr. Recovery, baby,” he said.

Gronk believes in the healing power of the herb so deeply that he has partnered with Toronto-based company Abacus Health in order to reach a broader base of distribution. At the end of the day, it seems that Mr. Recovery is interested in his own long-term health prospects as well as those of his former colleagues in the NFL.

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Marvel Superheroes Form Fantasy Football League for Charity

While the Marvel Cinematic Universe may have just concluded its greatest arc in this summer's “Avengers: Endgame,” it looks like many of the stars of the blockbuster cinematic enterprise are just getting warmed up.

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Enter the AGBO Superhero Fantasy League. An invention named after the Russo Brothers' production company — the box-office behemoth responsible for Avengers content and many other Marvel properties — this extremely exclusive fantasy football league boasts a dozen teams drafted by your favorite superheroes.

According to ESPN, Deadpool, Star-Lord, Iron Man, Captain America, Nebula, Thor and so many more will compete for $100,000. The winner of this scrimmage will see the six-figure payout donated to the charity of their choice.

Kicking off with some trademark smack talk common to his character of Peter Quill, aka Star-Lord, Chris Pratt can be seen in a brief video clip hosted by sports channel ESPN. It looks like the sci-fi superhero is set to face off against the God of Thunder himself, Chris Hemsworth.

“I'm playing Evans this week ... Chris Evans. He's an actor,” said Pratt. “He had a short stint as Captain America, but I think it didn't really work and they ended up killing him off ... I'm excited to beat his ass.”

Not one, not two, but *three* Chrises will be competing for bragging rights and the $100,000, with fantasy football veteran Chris Evans also leading a charge. Widely considered a favorite by onlookers due to his vast experience in the realm of fantasy football, the Captain America actor called out the rest of the “jokers” in the competition with his signature swagger.

But it's not all about the boys, either. Elizabeth Olsen and Karen Gillan will also be hitting the imaginary gridiron. Gillan showed a bit of her Nebula character as she posed a threat to the rest of the pack, saying “I don't know anything about football. I don't know anything about Fantasy Football ... Which is going to make it all the more embarrassing when I wipe the floor with you men.”

Robert Downey Jr., Paul Rudd, Tom Holland, Michael B. Jordan, Anthony Mackie and Miles Teller will be joining both Russo brothers to round out the pool of hopefuls. While Iron Man, Captain America and Falcon are the odds-on favorites, dark horses Tom Holland, Chris Hemsworth and the two ladies have a fighting chance to make an upset victory.

No matter who wins, however, it looks like the Avengers are willing to assemble in real life as well — particularly when it's all for a good cause.

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Men With Erectile Dysfunction More Likely to Suffer Heart Attack or Stroke

Guys suffering from erectile dysfunction (ED) might want to take a deeper look at this troubling and often embarrassing symptom before simply resorting to that little blue pill for relief. 

According to a recent study published in The Journal of Sexual Medicine, showing signs of ED can be a pretty strong indicator of a future cardiovascular event such as a heart attack or stroke.

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While researchers weren't conducting a new study session of their own, their research turned up some striking results. First of all, men who reported suffering from ED were 59 percent more likely to eventually develop coronary heart disease, and 34 percent more likely to suffer a stroke.

Speaking separately to the matter, cardiologist Dr. Ron Blankstein of Massachusetts Brigham and Women's Hospital told CNN “Erectile dysfunction can develop actually years before men have other signs or symptoms of cardiovascular events... In many cases, it might be the first warning sign of underlying cardiovascular disease.”

Going on to call ED the “canary in the coal mine,” the cardiologist pointed out that the small blood vessels of the penis being unable to dilate signaled more than just a frustrating symptom of aging or poor lifestyle choices.

The study’s authors also signaled that the appearance of significant and prolonged ED was likely tied to an early death. 

Bottom line? Whether you're suffering from ED or not, you might want to also consider ways to strive for a healthy lifestyle, whether it’s a change in diet or exercise or both. It’s important to keep that ticker moving if you want to perform when it comes time to hit the sheets — or to have time to hit the sheets at all.

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