The National Football League is taking the right steps to protect its players from concussions, former Miami Dolphins quarterback Dan Marino said Thursday.
The league has been under intense scrutiny for its concussion rate and recently implemented new rules that subject teams to fines if protocol isn't followed.
"They're doing everything they can I think to make it a safer game for the guys in the NFL," the NFL Hall of Famer said in an interview with CNBC's "Power Lunch."
"The fines are huge now in the NFL if you are leading with your head and hitting with your helmet and using it as a weapon. They are trying to do the best they can."
Critics have accused the league of being slow to address the problem. Last fall, a Boston University study found 90 out of 94 deceased former NFL players had brains that showed evidence of a disease. In the 2015-2016 season, NFL data showed a 58 percent surge in reported concussions, despite cracking down on player safety and rolling out new rules to prevent injuries.
In July, the league and the Players Association announced teams will be subjected to hundreds of thousands of dollars in fines and the possibility of forfeiting draft picks if they don't remove players from games after they get a concussion.
Marino, who admitted he has had "a few" concussions over the years, told CNBC he believes parents have every right to be concerned about injuries to their kids.
While as time goes on, players can get injured, "if you get with the right coaches, and you teach it right, see what you hit, learn how to tackle … if you do it the right way, it's a great game."
Marino's investing advice
In addition to being a consultant to the Miami Dolphins, Marino is a business owner and investor. He is a partner in Anthony's Coal Fired Pizza and co-owner of Passing Time Winery in Washington.
Anthony's Coal Fired Pizza is currently in 58 locations in the U.S.
However, not all of Marino's ventures have been successful. He said the most important lesson he's learned is that picking a good partner is key.
"That's really what it is — picking good people, relationships, people you trust and ... also having good products, whatever the product is, knowing that it will work," he said.
And while some companies have said that higher-priced menu prices have pushed more consumers to stay home, Marino said that doesn't appear to be the case for his business.
"I think people if they like your product, they like what you do, the service … they're going to go out. If you're doing the right thing and making good product, they're going to come and eat your food."
In addition to businesses, Marino also invests in the stock market, noting that he got in early on Regeneron Pharmaceuticals. He also owns Amazon, Home Depot and Costco.
"I'm the type of guy … I'm a buy good companies and listen to my people that help me and advise me and hold them," he said.
— CNBC's Trent Gillies contributed to this report.