Over the last several years, Brett Favre has an emerged as a sort of unlikely face of football's uncertain future.  The man known for being the NFL's Iron Man, the ultimate tough guy and grit-it-out warrior, has had some harsh words for the safety of the game and the impact it has on the bodies of its players.

In February, Favre was quoted as saying he "cringes" when he sees young children playing tackle football.

In March, Favre said he was certain he suffered numerous concussions throughout his career, adding that he is "absolutely concerned" about his future health and that he would prefer his grandsons play golf instead of football.

In April, Favre advocated for more concussion research, and went into further detail about his history with head injuries, stating he would not encourage young athletes to play football.

Perhaps the strongest words from Favre about the matter came just last week, stating he supports legislation that would officially ban tackle football for children younger than 12. These types of laws have been gaining traction throughout the United States, with one currently making its way through Illinois's state congress.

Favre, more than most players, knows the toll a long career can take on the body, so when he speaks up about these issues, it's worth listening to. He has repeatedly said he does not regret his playing days at all, but at the same time would not encourage his grandchildren or any other children to play the game themselves. 

The more we find out about head injuries in football and the long-term health impacts of the game, the more a position like Favre's makes sense, especially for young children. Kids below the age of 12 really aren't learning much in the way of tackling fundamentals. In fact, they're often being coached by parents who lack the necessary fundamental training. Even with training, they're still kids who do not have the coordination and game intelligence of older kids and adult athletes. When you combine this with the added dangers to the brains of young kids, which are still very much in development, there's really no reason for tackle football to exist for young children.

But as time goes on, at what point do concerns about head injuries and CTE begin to lead to the downfall of the game as a whole?

Despite all the controversy surrounding the NFL over political demonstrations and head injuries in recent years, the game is still the most popular sport in America and a ratings juggernaut. But the more players with the stature of Brett Favre who speak up, the harder it will be to ignore that the game we love has a very serious ethical dilemma attached to it that could tear it apart.

So here's that dilemma: at what point does our growing knowledge of CTE and our desire to preserve these athletes' minds and bodies outweigh our desire to hold on to the sport as we know it?

Taking tackling out of youth football is a good start, but it's only a start. Who knows what the game's future holds. Hopefully experts will continue to come up with equipment and advances in the game that make it safer in the long run for athletes. But it's certainly alarming to hear a man as tough and respected as Favre be so open about his attitude toward the game's safety.