The National Football League has begun the process of screening retired players for heart problems.  The program, funded by an alliance of NFL organizations, is aimed at helping former players develop a better understanding of their current health condition.

But the first challenge is to get them to participate.

Per the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, only 35 former players from the Seattle region who showed up for the free screening.

Dr. Jeffrey Boone, a cardiologist who works as a consultant for the Broncos, nevertheless says that the program has big plans. 

“Hopefully, we’ll screen 10,000 former players over the next few years,” Boone said.  “It’s kind of like preventing terrorism.  It’s nothing exciting.”

The challenge will be to get the players to participate in the process.  One of them, 35-year-old Trent Pollard, said that he got some encouragement from his wife.  “She definitely pushed me to come,” Pollard said.  “I’ve been fat, excuse me, I mean big, all my life.  I need to get back on track.  It needs to be done.”

We’re definitely in favor of the NFL doing more to help former players.  But the fact that a doctor with ties to the Broncos is involved in this effort makes us wonder whether teams are doing enough for their current players, especially since Denver quarterback Jay Cutler lost 35 pounds last season, and no one bothered to give him a blood test.