The post I replied to opined that "Maybe without football, we'd be closer to finally decoupling youth sports from the education system.": Their issue wasn't just with football, and instead football was the beachhead to try to excise physical activity.
In my high school there were a large number of prominent sports, with participation covering a hefty percentage of the student base. Wrestling, basketball, football, swimming, badminton, track and field, volleyball, among others. There was something for almost anyone, and it was a fundamental part of the social, learning, and physical wellness recipe. The school heavily promoted and celebrated academic excellence as well (and, contrary to the common bigotry, many of the academic leaders -- the ones who I competed with -- excelled at sports as well).
If a particular school focused only on football, then of course that would be a problem.
I think you and I read that sentence differently. I don't believe the author of that post meant that physical exercise is a bad thing in schools, but rather sports stars should not be "better" or "different" from any other student. At my school (and a lot of schools judging from people I met in college), we had dozens of sports but only football and basketball players were routinely excused from class for practice, drills, and travel to games. Only football had their travel expenses paid for by the school. You were at a severe disadvantage if you decided to play any other sport.
What I read that post as saying is "sports should be extracurricular activities that do not interfere with or take the place of education". This doesn't necessarily preclude your normal PE classes.
In my high school there were a large number of prominent sports, with participation covering a hefty percentage of the student base. Wrestling, basketball, football, swimming, badminton, track and field, volleyball, among others. There was something for almost anyone, and it was a fundamental part of the social, learning, and physical wellness recipe. The school heavily promoted and celebrated academic excellence as well (and, contrary to the common bigotry, many of the academic leaders -- the ones who I competed with -- excelled at sports as well).
If a particular school focused only on football, then of course that would be a problem.