Could the pieces of meat finally be UNDERSTANDING the truth and running away?

In football, you are no more than a piece of meat, destined to die on it's altar.

But something has happened which, for now, can be dismissed as mere coincidence.

The ominous (for the football-worshippers) thought is creeping up though:  That the players, as pieces of meat, are now getting it -- that football is too unsafe for any amount of money and at any speed.

As a result of whatever it is, just this week or 10 days, we've had the retirements of:

• Jake Locker, 26.  First round pick in 2011, so only four years in the NFL.  No desire to continue playing.
• Jason Worilds, 27.  A prime free-agent, one NFL expert said he was walking away from $7-8 million a year.
• Patrick Willis, 30.  Top caliber at his position, and got paid for it.  That one was health, but a foot injury had slowed Willis down.
• Maurice Jones-Drew, 29. 

Could they finally be getting that the game itself cannot be played safely, especially with it becoming clear that Herr Goodell doesn't want players to be demanded safe and non-criminal?