>> Braude: TONIGHT ON "GREATER BOSTON": WHILE BOOSTER SHOTS ARE RIGHT AROUND THE CORNER FOR THOSE OF US FULLY VACCINATED, IT'S THE UNVAXXED BEHIND RISING UNVAXXED BEHIND RISING HOSPITALIZATIONS AND DEATHS, TOO MANY OF THEM YOUNG KIDS, WHO DON'T HAVE THE OPTION YET TO GET THE SHOT.

AND WITH BACK TO SCHOOL AROUND THE CORNER HERE IN MASSACHUSETTS, THE DEBATE IS OVER MASK MANDATES IN SCHOOLS -- GOVERNOR BAKER IS AGAINST THEM.

DR. CAROLE ALLEN, A PEDIATRICIAN AND THE PRESIDENT OF THE MASSACHUSETTS MEDICAL SOCIETY, IS FOR THEM.

SHE JOINS ME.

THEN, LATER, PROTECTING KIDS ON THE FOOTBALL FIELD, TOO.

FORMER NFL STAR BRETT FAVRE IS NOW BACKING A RENEWED PUSH TO BAN TACKLING FOR YOUNG PLAYERS AND THE HEAD INJURIES THAT COME WITH IT.

THE CO-FOUNDER OF THE GROUP BEHIND THE CAMPAIGN, THE CONCUSSION LEGACY FOUNDATION, FORMER PRO WRESTLER CHRIS NOWINSKI, JOINS ME.

♪♪ >> Braude: IT'S OFFICIAL: WIDESPREAD BOOSTER SHOTS ARE COMING FOR MANY FULLY VACCINATED IN THE U.S.

WHILE PEOPLE WITH WEAKENED IMMUNE SYSTEMS CAN ALREADY GET BOOSTERS, THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION IS NOW RECOMMENDING EVERYONE GET ONE STARTING EIGHT MONTHS AFTER A SECOND DOSE OF PFIZER OR MODERNA.

JOHNSON & JOHNSON IS EXPECTED TO FOLLOW CLOSE BEHIND.

THE ROLLOUT WILL START SEPTEMBER 20th, WITH FRONTLINE HEALTH WORKERS AND NURSING HOME PATIENTS AND STAFF FIRST IN LINE.

AND WHILE THAT MAY BE OF COMFORT FOR SOME, THE FACT IS 40% OF THE COUNTRY STILL HASN'T EVEN GOTTEN A FIRST DOSE OF THE COVID VACCINE.

AND AS THE DELTA VARIANT SPREADS, IT'S MOSTLY THE UNVACCINATED WHO ARE DYING AND FILLING HOSPITALS IN COVID HOTSPOTS ACROSS THE COUNTRY, WITH INTENSIVE CARE UNITS IN THE FIVE HARDEST-HIT STATES NOW PAST 90% CAPACITY.

THAT INCLUDES ALABAMA, WHICH NOW HAS MORE I.C.U.

PATIENTS THAN BEDS.

BUT WHAT'S WORSE IS THAT A GROWING NUMBER OF THOSE PATIENTS DON'T EVEN HAVE THE OPTION TO GET VACCINATED AND LITTLE TO NO CONTROL OVER THEIR ABILITY TO STAY SAFE.

OVER THE WEEKEND, HOSPITALIZATIONS AMONG KIDS REACHED A NEW HIGH OF JUST OVER 1900, AND AS THEY HEAD BACK TO SCHOOL WITHOUT FEDERAL SAFETY MANDATES, IT'S EVERY STATE, SCHOOL DISTRICT, AND STUDENT FOR THEMSELVES.

SOME SCHOOLS IN STATES LIKE TEXAS AND ARIZONA, WHERE SCHOOL MASK MANDATES ARE OR SOON WILL BE BANNED, HAVE ALREADY HAD TO CLOSE, WITH HUNDREDS OF KIDS TESTING POSITIVE AFTER JUST A COUPLE WEEKS BACK IN CLASSROOMS.

JUST LAST WEEK CALIFORNIA BECAME THE FIRST STATE TO REQUIRE VACCINES OR REGULAR TESTING FOR ALL TEACHERS AND EDUCATION STAFF, AND THEIR SCHOOL MASK MANDATE IS STILL IN PLACE.

BUT MASSACHUSETTS IS LOOKING UNLIKELY TO FOLLOW SUIT, AS GOVERNOR CHARLIE BAKER TOLD ME ON "BOSTON PUBLIC RADIO" EARLIER TODAY: >> WE DID MAKE A VERY STRONG RECOMMENDATION, ESPECIALLY FOR THAT "K" THROUGH SIX POPULATION, WHICH DOES NOT HAVE ACCESS TO VACCINES YET BUT WE EXPECT WILL AT SOME POINT.

AND BASED ON WHAT WE'VE HEARD FROM OUR COLLEAGUES IN LOCAL GOVERNMENT, VIRTUALLY ALL "K" THROUGH SIX STUDENTS IN MASSACHUSETTS WILL BE MASKED AND -- AND WE ALSO BELIEVE THAT VIRTUALLY EVERY UNVACCINATED 12-YEAR-OLD TO 19-YEAR-OLD WILL BE MASKED AS WELL.

>> Braude: SO WILL IT BE ENOUGH TO KEEP KIDS SAFE?

I'M JOINED BY DR. CAROLE ALLEN, A PEDIATRICIAN AND THE PRESIDENT OF THE MASSACHUSETTS MEDICAL SOCIETY.

>> Braude: DR. ALLEN, IT IS A PLEASURE TO MEET YOU.

THANK YOU FOR BEING MERE.

>> THANK YOU, JIM, FOR HAVING ME ON.

>> Braude: YOU HEARD PART OF WHAT THE GOVERNOR HAD TO SAY, AND YOU AND THE MASS ACADEMY OF FAMILY PHYSICIANS DO NOT AGREE.

WHY?

>> WE AGREE THAT YOUNGER CHILDREN SHOULD BE MASKED, AS HE HAS SAID, BUT WE BELIEVE ALSO THAT ALL PEOPLE IN SCHOOLS, OR ENTERING SCHOOLS, SHOULD BE MASKED, PARTLY BECAUSE IT IS SIMPLER.

IT IS A MORE EVEN WAY TO GO ABOUT IT, AND BECAUSE THE DELTA VARIANT IS UNPREDICTABLE AND RISING RIGHT NOW.

AND THIS IS A WAY TO MITIGATE THE RISK FOR EVERY PERSON.

>> Braude: WE SHOULD BE CLEAR, BY THE WAY, EVEN WITH THE YOUNGER KIDS, THE GOVERNOR IS NOT MANDATING MASKING; HE IS URGING MASKING, WHICH OBVIOUSLY STILL LEAVES IT UP TO THE INDIVIDUAL.

I DON'T WANT TO SPEAK FOR THE GOVERNOR, BUT I'LL TRY, BASED ON WHAT HE TOLD US TODAY.

HE WOULD SAY VACCINATIONS ARE HIGH HERE, HOSPITALIZATIONS ARE LOW.

HE CITED THE VACCINATION RATE FOR 12 TO 15-YEAR-OLDS, 65% COMPARED TO THE NATIONAL 45% LEVEL IN THAT SAME AGE GROUP.

HE SAYS WE'RE DIFFERENT.

IS YOUR CONTENTION WE'RE NOT DIFFERENT ENOUGH TO STAY MASK-FREE, OR AT LEAST HAVE THE RIGHT TO STAY MASK-FREE?

>> I THINK WE ARE NOT DIFFERENT ENOUGH.

REALLY WES7ATH YOU I WOULD URGE MY CHILDREN AND GRANDCHILDREN TO WEAR MASKS.

WHEN SOME CHILDREN AND MASKED AND OTHERS ARE NOT, IT EXPOSES THEM TO THE POSSIBILITY OF DISCRIMINATION, OF HAVING REACTIONS FROM OTHER KIDS, AND SOME CHILDREN WHO ARE FULLY VACCINATED STILL FEEL MORE COMFORTABLE WEARING MASKS.

I'VE HEARD THAT FROM MY OWN GRANDSON.

WHY SHOULD WE MARK SOME CHILDREN AS VACCINATED AND SOME AS NOT, WHEN IT IS SO MUCH SIMPLER AND EASIER TO ADMINISTER TO HAVE EVERYBODY WEAR A MASK?

>> Braude: LET ME ASK YOU A VARIATION: YOU HAVE A PATIENT WHO SAYS, I'M REALLY NERVOUS ABOUT HAVING MY KID GO.

HE OR SHE IS GOING TO WEAR A MASK, BUT I'M WORRIED THAT A LOT OF HIS OR HER CLASSMATES ARE NOT.

WHAT DO YOU TELL THAT PATIENT?

>> Doctor: AGAIN, I WOULD HOPE THERE IS A UNIVERSAL REQUIREMENT FOR MASKING -- >> Braude: BUT IF THERE IS NOT?

>> Doctor: IF THERE IS NOT, I THINK THEY HAVE TO USE THEIR OWN BEST JUDGMENT.

THE BOTTOM LINE IS THAT CHILDREN SHOULD BE IN SCHOOLS.

THE SCHOOLS NEED TO BE OPEN.

THE CHILDREN SUFFERED.

KIDS SUFFERED GREATLY DURING THE PANDEMIC FROM BEING OUT OF SCHOOL, AND THEY REALLY, REALLY NEED TO BE IN SCHOOL.

SO WHATEVER CAN BE DONE TO KEEP KIDS SAFE NEEDS TO BE DONE.

AND, AGAIN, A POLICY MAKES IT SIMPLER, AND I WOULD HOPE THAT WE GET THERE.

>> Braude: THE MASS TEACHERS' ASSOCIATION, I'M SURE YOU KNOW, VOTED THERE SHOULD NOT JUST BE A MASK MANDATE, BUT A VACCINATION MANDATE.

THE MASS MEDICAL SOCIETY HASN'T GONE THAT FAR YET.

WHY?

>> Doctor: WHAT HAPPENS, WHAT IS REQUIRED OF TEACHERS, IS REALLY NOT OUR PURVIEW.

WE DO HAVE A POLICY RECOMMENDING THAT ALL HEALTH CARE PERSONNEL IN ALL SETTINGS SHOULD BE REQUIRED TO BE VACCINATED.

AND WE JUST FEEL THAT GOING TO THE SCHOOLS IS A LITTLE BEYOND OUR OWN PURVIEW.

HOWEVER, I DO THINK IT IS IMORTANT THAT EVERY ADULT AND EVERY PERSON ELIGIBLE FOR VACCINE WHO IS IN SCHOOLS BE URGED AND STRONGLY URGED TO BE VACCINATED.

>> Braude: I WANT TO ADD ONE THING TO THIS CONVERSATION, IN TERMS OF IF IT IS MASKING OR VACCINATION.

A GUY CALLED OUR RADIO SHOW TODAY AND YESTERDAY, WHO USED TO BE A SELECTMAN IN A SMALL TOWN.

AND AFTER MAKING THE POINT HE SAID A LOT OF LOCAL OFFICIALS AREN'T THAT QUALIFIED -- LET'S BE KINDER -- EVEN IF THEY ARE QUALIFIED, A LOT OF THEM DON'T HAVE THE RESOURCES ARE ACCESS TO THE SCIENTIFIC EXPERTISE TO MAKE INFORMED DECISIONS.

SO HIS POINT, YET ANOTHER GOOD REASON FOR THE STATE THAT DOES HAVE THE RESOURCES AND THE KNOW-HOW TO DO IT.

DO YOU WORRY AS A DOCTOR AND A LEADER IN THE MEDICAL COMMUNITY THAT THIS DEMENTED, ANTI-SCIENCE, ANTI-HEALTH SENTIMENT THAT IS SWEEPING SOME PARTS OF THE COUNTRY IS GOING TO TRICKLE DOWN INTO A LOT OF OTHER THINGS THAT YOU AND YOUR COLLEAGUES DO, DOCTOR?

>> Doctor: THAT'S ALWAYS A WORRY.

IT IS DISCOURAGING TO NOTICE MANY PEOPLE SEEM TO BE QUESTIONING THE VALUE OF SCIENCE AND MEDICINE.

BUT, ON THE OTHER HAND, LOOK AT HOW MUCH PROGRESS WE MADE IN DEVELOPING THESE VACCINES -- >> Braude: INDEED.

>> Doctor: AND THE PHYSICIAN/PATIENT RELATIONSHIP IS IMPORTANT.

THAT IS THE WAY THAT DOCTORS CAN INFLUENCE THEIR PATIENTS.

I HAD SUCCESS WITH MY OWN PATIENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES.

I THINK IT IS POSSIBLE TO MAKE PEOPLE BELIEVE AGAIN IN SCIENCE.

>> Braude: ONE LAST THING: HOW WORRIED ARE YOU ABOUT THE FALL?

WE HAVE, AGAIN, MIXED MASKING AND VACCINE REQUIREMENTS, WE HAVE VIRUSES FROM, FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND, THAT GENERALLY EXPAND IN COLDER WEATHER, AND WE HAVE THE DELTA VARIANT.

JUST STEPPING BACK A BIT, HOW WORRIED ARE YOU ABOUT SCHOOLS IN THE FALL?

>> Doctor: ONE OF THE THINGS I'VE BEEN SAYING IS: CHILDREN ARE GOING TO GET SICK WHEN SCHOOL STARTS.

THEY ALWAYS DO, EVERY FALL.

SO WE NEED TO BE PREPARED FOR THAT.

WE NEED TO FIGURE OUT HOW DO WE IDENTIFY WHO HAS WHICH INFECTION AND NOT TO KEEP KIDS NEEDLESSLY OUT OF SCHOOL, BUT ADVICE PARENTS NOT TO SEND A SICK CHILD TO SCHOOL.

SO TESTING MAY PLAY INTO THAT.

BUT, AGAIN, IF WE HAVE MASKS REQUIRED IN SCHOOLS, CHILDREN ARE LESS LIKELY TO SPREAD OTHER INFECTIONS AMONG THEMSELVES AS WELL.

THAT MAY ALSO HELP TO MITIGATE THIS ISSUE THAT YOU JUST RAISED.

>> Braude: DR. ALLEN, GOOD TO MEET YOU, AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR THOUGHTS.

WE REALLY APPRECIATE IT.

>> Doctor: THANK YOU VERY MUCH, JIM.

I ENJOYED BEING WITH YOU.

>> Braude: IT'S AN ISSUE WE'VE TALKED ABOUT ON THIS SHOW MANY TIMES OVER THE YEARS, C.T.E., WHICH STANDS FOR CHRONIC TRAUMATIC ENCEPHALOPATHY.

IT'S THE TERM USED FOR THE BRAIN DISEASE THAT'S CAUSED BY REPEATED HITS TO THE HEAD.

AND NOW THE EFFORT TO RAISE AWARENESS IS GETTING A LOT MORE STAR POWER.

>> BY THE TIME I'M A SENIOR IN HIGH SCHOOL, I'LL HAVE PLAYED IS 13 YEARS OF TACKLE FOOTBALL.

I COULD ALREADY HAVE C.T.E.

AND IT WILL CONTINUE TO DESTROY MY BRAIN, EVEN AFTER I STOP PLAYING.

SO BY THE TIME I'M YOUR AGE -- >> I COULD BE FIGHTING DEPRESSION, STRUGGLING TO KEEP MY THOUGHTS STRAIGHT.

I COULD BECOME VIOLENT, EVEN TOWARDS MY OWN CHILDREN.

>> Braude: THAT, OF COURSE, IS PRO FOOTBALL HALL OF FAME QUARTERBACK BRETT FAVRE IN A VIDEO FROM THE CONCUSSION LEGACY FOUNDATION, CO-FOUNDED BY FORMER HARVARD FOOTBALL PLAYER AND THEN PRO WRESTLER CHRIS NOWINSKI.

C.T.E.

FIRST GAINED MAJOR ATTENTION IN 2011, WHEN A GROUP OF PLAYERS FILED WHAT WOULD BECOME THE FIRST CLASS-ACTION LAWSUIT AGAINST THE LEAGUE.

THEY CLAIMED THE NFL TRIED TO CONCEAL FOR DECADES ANY LINKS BETWEEN FOOTBALL AND BRAIN INJURIES.

JUST A YEAR LATER, ONE OF THE LEAD PLAINTIFFS, FORMER ATLANTA FALCONS SAFETY, RAY EASTERLING, DIED BY SUICIDE, AND AN AUTOPSY SHOWED HE SUFFERED FROM C.T.E.

THE FOLLOWING MONTH, FORMER PATRIOT JUNIOR SEAU TOOK HIS OWN LIFE, AND AFTER HE WAS ALSO DIAGNOSED WITH C.T.E.

HIS FAMILY JOINED THE LAWSUIT.

OVER THE YEARS, THE SUIT GREW TO INCLUDE MORE THAN 5,000 PLAINTIFFS, ENDING WITH A $1 BILLION SETTLEMENT IN 2015.

BUT IT WAS JUST TWO MONTHS AGO, AFTER ANOTHER LAWSUIT, THAT THE NFL SAID IT WOULD FINALLY STOP TAKING RACE INTO ACCOUNT WHEN DETERMINING WHETHER A PLAYER SUFFERED ENOUGH BRAIN DAMAGE TO QUALIFY FOR A PAYOUT.

SO AS THE LEAGUE MAKES THIS AN UPHILL BATTLE EVERY STEP OF THE WAY, THE CONCUSSION LEGACY FOUNDATION IS HOPING MORE HIGH-PROFILE BACKERS LIKE FAVRE WILL GET PARENTS AND SCHOOL BOARDS TO THINK TWICE ABOUT HIGH-CONTACT SPORTS.

I'M JOINED NOW BY ITS CO-FOUNDER AND C.E.O., CHRIS NOWINSKI.

>> Braude: CHRIS, IT IS GOOD TO SEE YOU.

>> GOOD TO SEE YOU YOU, JIM.

>> Braude: BY THE WAY, I CALLED YOU A STAR PROWRESTLING LAST NIGHT.

>> THANK YOU.

>> Braude: HOW DID THE MARRIAGE WITH FAVRE COME ABOUT?

>> ONE OF HIS FORMER TEAMMATES INTRODUCED US.

BRETT FAVRE WAS VERY VOCAL ON THIS ISSUE FOR A LONG TIME.

>> Braude: CAN YOU EXPLAIN THE SCIENCE FOR THOSE WHO HAVE NOT BEEN FOLLOWING THIS, VIS-AÀ-VIS YOUNG KIDS IN CONTACT SPORTS LIKE FOOTBALL?

>> WE ACCOMPLISHED A FEW YEARS AGO THAT WE LOOKED AT HUNDREDS OF FOOTBALL PLAYERS' BRAINS.

EACH YEAR YOU END UP PLAYING FOOTBALL, THE ODDS GO UP 30%.

AND WE DIAGNOSED C.T.E IN 16 FORMER HIGH SCHOOL PLAYERS.

IT INTO A PRO OR COLLEGE ISSUE.

AND SOME STARTED BEFORE 12.

MEANING THEY HAVE LONGER CAREERS, AND THAT'S PROBABLY WHY THEY GOT IT.

ONE OF THE KEY TAKE-AWAYS FOR PARENTS, YOU THINK ABOUT C.T.E.

BEING A COACH'S ISSUE, BUT ACTUALLY A PARENT HAS A ROLE AS TO WHEN THEY SIGN THEM UP AND HOW MANY YEARS THEY PLAY.

>> Braude: SORT OF LIKE CIGARETTE SMOKING, THE LONGER YOU SMOKE -- >> THAT'S EXACTLY.

>> Braude: WHILE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT CONCUSSIONS, MY RECOLLECTION WHEN I TALKED TO YOU, AND A DOCTOR I KNOW DID SOME RESEARCH, SUBCONCUSSION HITS WHEN YOU'RE YOUNG HAVE THE SAME CONSEQUENCES.

EVEN IF THEY DON'T RISE TO THE SAME LEVEL?

>> YOU'RE RIGHT ABOUT THAT.

THINK OF EVERY HIT LIKE A DRAG OF A CIGARETTE.

>> Braude: YOU'VE BEEN ON THIS ISSUE FOR YEARS.

WHAT IS THE STATUS -- I KNOW THERE HAVE BEEN BILLS THAT HAVE BEEN FILED.

WHAT IS THE STATUS OF THIS IN SCHOOL DISTRICTS ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

>> ENROLLMENT IN FOOTBALL IS ABOUT 30%.

AND THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS THAT HAVE SORT OF STALLED OUT.

THE DATA HAS BEEN BECOMING CLEARER AND CLEARER, THAT THERE IS NOTHING APPROPRIATE ABOUT GETTING KIDS -- GIVING KIDS A BRAIN DISEASE.

WE'RE GOING TO KEEP TRYING TO TELL KIDS, EVEN IF YOU LOVE FOOTBALL, YOU WANT TO MAXIMUM THE GAME BUT MINIMIZE GIVING KIDS A BRAIN INJURY, THIS GAME WAS NEVER INTENDED FOR KIDS.

>> Braude: WHAT IS YOUR SENSE ABOUT WHY THEY'RE REJECTING -- I JUST TALKED TO A DOCTOR ABOUT THE ANTI-SCIENCE BEND IN THIS COUNTRY WHEN IT COMES TO COVID.

WHAT IS THIS, WHEN THE SCIENCE IS SO CLEAR AND IT IS THEIR KIDS -- WHAT'S UP?

>> BECAUSE POLITICIANS ARE ELECTED, AND THIS IS A VERY DIVISIVE ISSUE.

IF YOU TAKE SOMETHING AWAY FROM PEOPLE, THE GROUP YOU TAKE SOMETHING AWAY FROM WILL BE MUCH MORE VOCAL IN THEIR FIGHT.

LEGISLATORS HAVE FILED BILL TO BAN THIS BEFORE KIDS BEFORE AGE 12, BUT YOU DON'T GET THE SAME PAT ON THE BACK FROM THE FAMILIES WHO HAVE CHOSEN ALREADY NOT TO DO IT.

>> Braude: FAVRE IS THE OUTLIAR,OUTLIER, BUT I'M OBSESSED WITH TOM BRADY.

>> WHATEVER YOUR KIDS ARE INTO, THAT'S WHAT I'LL SUPPORT.

>> Braude: AND HOWARD STERN SAID THE SAME THING, HE ABSOLUTELY ENCOURAGED HIS KIDS TO PLAY.

THE MIXED MESSAGING FROM HIGH-PROFILE PLAYERS IS A PROBLEM, IS IT NOT?

>> IT IS.

BECAUSE MANNING HAS WORKED WITH KIDS, AND TOM BRADY IS SAYING THIS.

BUT YOU HAVE BRETT FAVRE DOING P.S.A.s LIKE THIS, AND OTHERS SAYING THEY'RE NOT PUTTING THEIR OWN KIDS IN THE GAME.

IT IS A WAR ON FAMOUS QUARTERBACKS ON THE FUTURE OF THE GAME.

>> Braude: TO GET BACK TO THE PARENTS FOR A MOMENT WHO LIVE VICARIOUSLY THROUGH THEIR CHILDREN, AND THERE ARE FAR TOO MANY PARENTS LIKE THAT IN THIS SOCIETY, WHY DON'T YOU TELL THEM WHAT TOM BRADY, LAWRENCE TAYLOR, AND JERRY RICE HAVE IN COMMON THAT MIGHT CAUSE THEM TO BE LESS FEARFUL THAT THEIR KID WON'T GROW UP TO BE BRETT FAVRE WITH THAT KIND OF TALENT?

>> NONE OF THEM PLAYED FOOTBALL UNTIL HIGH SCHOOL.

THE TOP FIVE NEVER PLAYED HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL.

FOOTBALL IS DEFINED ABOUT HOW STRONG YOU ARE AND FAST YOU ARE, AND NONE OF THAT HAS TO DO WITH STARTING TACKLING YOUNG.

I PICKED UP THE GAME OVERNIGHT IN HIGH SCHOOL.

IT CAN BE DONE.

>> Braude: I MENTIONED THE INTRODUCTION TO YOU, WHICH I WANTED TO TALK TO SINCE JUNE ABOUT THIS, BUT WE JUST NEVER MADE A CONNECTION.

THIS RACE-NORMING THING THAT WAS BUILT INTO THE BILLION DOLLAR SETTLEMENT.

TELL ME IF I'VE GOT THIS: IF A BLACK FORMER PLAYER AND THE WHITE FORMER PLAYER RECEIVED THE EXACT SAME RAW SCORES ON A BATTERY OF TESTS DESIGNED TO MEASURE COGNITIVE FUNCTIONING, THE BLACK PLAYER IS PRESUMED TO HAVE SUFFERED LESS AND THUS QUALIFIES FOR LESS COMPENSATION.

ASSUMING I GOT THAT EVEN CLOSE TO RIGHT, THIS IS ONE OF THE GREAT OUTRAGEOUS -- I KNOW I'M HYPE BOLIC, BUT NOT ON THIS, BUT WHY HAS THIS NOT BEEN A BIGGER STORY.

IT'S AN OUTRAGE.

>> I THINK THE ONLY REASON IT IS NOT A BIGGER STORY IS BECAUSE IT IS A COMPLEX SCIENCE.

IT IS NOT COMPLEX TO SAY THAT THIS IS A RACIST POLICY THAT NEVER SHOULD HAVE EXISTED.

THE IDEA OF HAVING DIFFERENT BASELINE NORMS BY RACE HAS BEEN AROUND IN EXILING FORPSYCHOLOGY FOR A LONG TIME -- IN SOME STUDIES.

IT IS MEANT TO BENEFIT THE BLACK POPULATION IN THE SENSE THEY SHOULDN'T BE DIAGNOSED WITH DEMENTIA IF THEY DON'T REALLY HAVE IT.

WE KNOW THERE IS -- WE KNOW TESTS VARY BY RACE.

THE IDEA WAS IT WAS MEANT TO HELP PEOPLE, AND UP TO THE CLINICIAN, BUT IT NEVER -- I DON'T THINK ANYONE COULD SEE THAT THE NFL WOULD USE THIS POLICY TO PUNISH PEOPLE AND TAKE AWAY MONEY THEY DESERVE, BY SAYING, NO, THE COLOR OF YOUR SKIN TELLS ME YOU HAVE TO BE FAR MORE DAMAGED IN YOUR BRAIN TO GET COMPENSATION.

THAT IS WHERE IT ALL FELL APART, AND I'M SO GLAD THE PLAYERS SPOKE UP.

I CAN'T BELIEVE THEY HAD TO FIGHT SO MUCH.

BUT IT IS NICE TO SEE IT REPLACED WITH SOMETHING OF AN EQUAL PLAYING FIELD, AND NOT SOME OTHER POLICY THAT WILL CONTINUE TO PUNISH THEM FOR THE COLOR OF THEIR SKIN.

>> Braude: THANKS FOR YOUR WORK, AND GOOD TO SEE YOU, CHRIS.

THANKS FOR YOUR TIME.

>> THANKS, JIM.

>> Braude: THAT'S IT FOR TONIGHT.

PLEASE COME BACK TOMORROW, AUTHOR KATE CLIFFORD WILL JOIN US ON HER NEW BIOLOGY CALLED, "WALK WITH ME."

THAT AND MORE TOMORROW AT 7:00.

THANKS FOR WATCHING.

AND PLEASE STAY SAFE.

Captioned by Media Access Group at WGBH access.wgbh.org