Today’s news for health and safety issues around football — all types of football:

* Former Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Hines Ward told the Dan Patrick Show via ProFootball Talk.com on Tuesday that the best way to cut down on concussions in the NFL is to get rid of helmets.

“If you want to prevent concussions, take the helmet off: Play old-school football with the leather helmets, no facemask,” Ward said. ?When you put a helmet on you’re going to use it as a weapon, just like you use shoulder pads as a weapon.”

Here’s a link to the entire interview.

* A doctor told Australian ABC Radio that Australian Rules Football fans should accept that  concussions are part of the games they watch.

* Time Magazine reported on a study, led by Dr. Ann McKee, that looked at how a brain injury from concussions progresses.

* WTVR in Richmond, Va., interviewed the wife of late NFL player Greg Easterling, who died last year at age 62 and donated his brain for research.

* The Boulder Daily Camera published a doctor’s column that called for eliminating tackle football for kids.

* The Star-Ledger reported on a Princeton football player whose life was saved by brain surgery.

* Boston.com reported on how the new Massachusetts director for the Department of Public Health is giving parents advice on concussion prevention.

– Bill Bradley, contributing editor.