It’s time to tackle (see what we did there?) the NFL on Thursday Thorns, where we offer up uncomfortable facts and truths in the sports world. And here is one for this week: NFL players who want to participate in flag football during the 2028 Summer Olympics should really check themselves—and their egos. After all, who are we kidding here? This is so representative of everything that has gotten out of control in sports.

First, it does not make sense in a world where NFL contracts are not fully guaranteed for any player to risk injury in this endeavor. Even if there is little-to-no contact in the flag version of football, injuries will happen as players are big, fast, and strong. We assuredly realize that someone—if not many someones—will tear a knee ligament, break an ankle, or suffer some other physical calamity playing in the Olympics.

Second, the owners may have approved this for some reason, but we have a hard time believing that those who invest millions of dollars in players want to see them risk injury in the Summer Games. Okay, maybe they take out extra insurance policies, etc., but generally, it’s like any extracurricular activity that contracts specifically prohibit already to avoid unnecessary injury risk. Wealthy people don’t just throw caution away.

Third, and we cannot speak for everyone, but a large portion of the NFL audience tunes in for the hits, for the violence. That will be lacking in a flag format of football. Pulling a flag doesn’t resonate the same way a bone-crunching hit does for the in-person/live audience or the television one. One reason football is so prominent in America and few other places around the world is the violence. We just don’t see this working.

Curiosity will have people tune in, we’re sure, but overall, we just don’t see any added benefit to athletes or the NFL itself from approving this move. Will it increase existing TV audience size for the Olympics? Doubtful. We have a strong inclination to see the sport tried out in 2028 since the Games are in the United States, but after 2032 when the Olympics are held elsewhere? The interest in flag football will wane hard.

Check back with us in 2036 to see if we are/were right.