Former NFL Player: how players can avoid head injuries

DAVENPORT- Head injuries are becoming a big concern for parents of young football players,

We had Breakfast With Julian Vandervelde Thursday, November 9 on Good Morning Quad Cities.

A recent study by the American Medical Association showed 99 percent of former NFL players tested positive for the brain disease known as CTE.

The former Philadelphia Eagle and Iowa Hawkeye says coaches need to teach the right techniques during the younger levels of football. He says that way players, don't try to tackle the wrong way as they get older.

"If you start the right way, I believe you have a lower chance when you get older of developing those brain injuries," Vandervelde said Thursday.

Vandervelde now works at Moxie Solar, a solar power company in Davenport. Vandervelde is also an assistant football coach at Davenport Central.

The former offensive lineman also discussed the National Anthem controversy Thursday.

On Thursday, November 16th, Good Morning Quad Cities is having "Breakfast With..." one of the Organizers of the 2017 Quad City Arts' Festival of Trees.

Cheryl DeCap, Festival of Trees Administrator, is going to join us at the RiverCenter in downtown Davenport to tell us how this event started, what's new about it this year, and how the money you use to pay for a ticket or an auction item supports arts in the area.

If you have any questions/comments for Cheryl, click here.