NASCAR's Better than the NFL

We all knew that, of course, but now there's tangible proof that NASCAR has done a better job than the powerhouse sports league in terms of safety.

Pro Football Hall of Fame running back Jim Brown, attending the Sprint Cup race at Pocono on Sunday, said the NFL has a ways to go to catch up with NASCAR in terms of safety improvements for the sport.

"We are way behind," Brown told ESPN's Terry Blount. "NASCAR stepped up their safety concepts, and I think the drivers feel NASCAR is doing everything that can be done.

"So we are a little behind NASCAR in that respect. Someone in NASCAR realized there were certain things that could be done to make it safer. The same thing has to happen in football. It's two different sports, but you want to make sure it's as safe as you can make it."

NASCAR, in the wake of four driver deaths from basal skull fractures including iconic driver Dale Earnhardt, went quickly to the solution box with soft walls, a HANS requirement and a new car designed to protect the weakest link in the machine: the driver.

According to Brown, the NFL is a step behind.

"This is the first time [the NFL] has really taken the safety situation seriously," Brown said. "Part of that was forced on them because of the concussion lawsuits, but I think when we come out of this we'll have a much safer game without taking away from the impact of the game."

Brown was on hand at Pocono as a guest of Richard Petty and Andrew Murstein, the co-owner of Richard Petty Motorsports. Brown is part of Murstein's ownership group of the New York Lizards lacrosse team.