Chicago Bears safety Chris Conte is willing to play through pain. He's suffered back, shoulder and eye injuries at various points this season, he has sustained two concussions and he has failed to finish seven of the 12 games in which he's appeared.
He also, frankly, does not care that he is putting his long-term health at risk by suiting up while hurt. In an interview with WBBM-AM 780, Conte said, "I'd rather have the experience of playing in the NFL and die 10 to 15 years earlier than not play in the NFL and have a long life," according to Rich Campbell of the Chicago Tribune.
Conte has played four NFL seasons, all with the Bears, and is only 25 years old. If he wants it, he could probably have a fairly long career still ahead of him. And he does want it. "I don't really look toward my life after football. I'll figure things out when I get there. As long as I outlive my parents."
While Conte certainly wants to keep playing, there may not be a big role for available for him in the future because Conte's extensive injuries are already having an effect on his performance. Conte was an average-ish player his first two years in the league, but his play has declined drastically the last two seasons. Pro Football Focus rated Conte as the league's fourth-worst regular safety in 2013 and he has not gotten much better this season.
It's certainly admirable that he is willing to play through pain, but if Conte wants to have a long career, he might be better served getting healthy before stepping back on the field so he can approach his previous levels of play.
