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Panthers' Olsen: Once you decide to play football, own the consequences

Streeter Lecka / Getty Images Sport / Getty

Carolina Panthers tight end Greg Olsen empathizes with retired players struggling with long-term health issues caused by playing in the NFL, but said that he owns his decision to step onto a football field.

"I never want to see active or retired players ever struggle," Olsen said, according to Bleacher Report's Mike Freeman. "The basic human being in me wants to see guys leave the game as healthy as possible."

However, then Olsen added: "It's a brutal game. It requires a certain type of person to play it. Once you make the decision to play it, that's your decision. I know what I signed up for. It allows me to provide for my family. I want knowledge (about CTE), but I also know I control my life and I make the decisions, and I wouldn't change a thing."

Olsen is one of the few fortunate NFL players who've avoided serious injuries throughout their career. He's been one of the healthiest tight ends of the past decade, appearing in all 16 regular-season games in all but one of his nine seasons in the league.

The tight end did suffer one concussion in college, but said he hasn't contemplated whether he'll donate his brain for examination by specialists.

"I'm only 30. I haven't thought about that."

Olsen put together a career year in 2015, but his season ultimately ended in disappointment, with Carolina losing to the Denver Broncos in Super Bowl 50.

"I don't know if you ever really get over it," Olsen said of the defeat.

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