Brady answers dad's concern about injuries

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As the father of three teenage sons, I'm learning how often divergent opinions arise. On everything from the suitability of a 13-year-old going to see "The Dictator" to icing an arm after pitching, debates -- and eye rolls -- are frequent.

Apparently, I better get used to it.

On Tuesday, I asked 34-year-old Tom Brady about his father's recent comment that Brady Sr., would be "very hesitant" to allow his son to play football if he had to do it all again.

"No, not without hesitation," Tom Brady Sr. told Yahoo! Sports' Michael Silver. "I would be very hesitant to let him play."

The younger Brady's reaction?

"Everybody has a different take," Brady said. "My dad is always happy to share his opinion with anybody that will ask, often contrary to my own beliefs."

Brady didn't sound annoyed. But he was emphatic.

"He's always a concerned parent and we as parents are always concerned about our kids," Brady pointed out. "You never want to see your kid fall down and bump his elbow. You're always concerned when things are out of your control as a parent.

"But there's no job I'd rather have in the world," he added. "I'm so fortunate to be in a job that's so fun for me every day. What football has taught me in the grand scheme of my life about being a part of a team and working with people and hard work, discipline and mental toughness - all those things that serve me in life. The lessons far outweigh anything I've experienced in terms of injuries."

As the conversation continues about the bodily toll the game extracts, it is worth pointing out that the game has never been safer in terms of equipment, teaching and awareness. That's at all levels.

For an NFL player like Brady who is -- in essence -- defenseless while looking downfield to throw, you have to reconcile yourself to the risks, he said.

"They are a part of our game and we're all taking precautions to try to limit the exposure to some of those things," Brady offered. "My hope is we all find the best way to treat ourselves and to rehab our bodies whenever injuries come up.

"I feel very strongly about getting your body in condition and keeping it in condition so we can play as long as we want to play, so that it's our decision to go out when we choose to and not have an injury force us out," he added. "But we all understand the risks and we have to do our best. I love playing this sport. It will be hard to give it up."

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