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Arians: Moms 'afraid' to let kids play football

Posted at 6:37 PM, Apr 10, 2016
and last updated 2016-04-10 19:08:08-04

Arizona Cardinals coach Bruce Arians turned some heads last month when he said parents who don't let their kids play football are "fools."

On Friday while speaking to a group of high school football coaches, Arians directed his critique specifically toward mothers of would-be football players.

"It's the best game that's ever been f------ invented, and we got to make sure that moms get the message, because that's who's afraid of our game right now. It's not dads, it's moms," Arians said.

"We feel like this is our sport. It's being attacked, and we got to stop it at the grassroots."

On Sunday, Arians took to Twitter to clarify his comments.

The safety of the game has become an extremely hot topic, as awareness about concussions and the long-term damage they can do continues to mount.

Last month, Arians noted DNA tests can help parents determine whether their kids are more susceptible to concussions and other injuries.

"It's only 400 bucks. Go get one," he said. "You have things that happen in your life that aren't going to be good. If you play football, you know how to handle them."