The hardest hit of Week 8 in the NFL came at Ford Field, where Rams kickoff returner Danny Amendola was drilled by the Lions’ Zach Follett. It was the kind of brutal, violent collision that happens all too often on NFL kickoff returns, and two days later, Amendola says he doesn’t remember leaving the field.
“The hit didn’t hurt, but my mind wasn’t working,” Amendola said. “I walked off, I think. Just got my head buzzed a little bit.”
Amendola is scheduled to undergo tests for concussion-related symptoms on Wednesday, and it’s unclear whether he’ll play against the Saints in Week 10, when the Rams return from their bye week. The mere fact that he’s thinking of playing — and the Rams are thinking of letting him play — underscores how both players and teams still operate with a mindset that concussions aren’t particularly serious injuries.
Reporters also often operate with that mindset. The same Associated Press story that quotes Amendola saying his mind wasn’t working notes that Rams guard Jacob Bell also suffered a concussion — his second of the year — but “was cleared after tests showed he had only a mild one.” There’s nothing mild about a player having two concussions by the season’s midway point, but for many players, it’s a part of life in the NFL.
When the hell does the NFL take a stand on head injuries???? When do they make a MANDATORY DOWN TIME for concussions???? You’re playing with players lives here, Goodell and the NFLPA!!!!! START ACTING LIKE IT!!!!!
Thats whats happens when you play football
Your Team Hasn’t been working all year mayne
Ooooooooooooh ROCK ME Amendola !
same stuff happened time immemorial and under tags. interesting that it is just now a problem.
Good thing this isn’t a thread about Brian Westbrook’s concussion… all of the Cowboys and Giants fans would be posting pretending to care about the well being of players and crucifying the Eagles for thinking about letting him play.
But, of course, that’s just fake concern so that they can talk smack and get away with it.
At least the Rams and their divisional rivals have a bit more class.
Goodell is too busy fining guys like Jacob Lacey of the Colts for sliding on his knees into the endzone.
Amen(dola?) to that jersey73
Lions lock up seventh round pick Follett
Posted by Gregg Rosenthal on July 20, 2009 6:25 PM ET
The Lions completed a deal Monday with linebacker Zach Follett, a seventh-round pick.
Adam Caplan of Scout.com reports that it is believed to be a three-year deal.
A product of Cal-Berkley, Follett played three linebacker positions in college. His best performances came as a pass-rushing outside linebacker.
It’s expected that Follett will play strong-side linebacker at the pro level. If he makes the Lions, he will back up Julian Peterson.
And that’s about all we’re likely to write about Zach Follett on PFT for a while. Enjoy!
Read the last sentence.
If the man wants to play, let him play. Stop being pansies.
Let the players, doctors, and coaches decide whats right, not someone that isnt inside the situation and dosn’t know the severity of the problem
Oh please ‘thebootgay’, shut the hell up – these guys are paid pretty well for risking serious injury that comes with the territory and each one of them knows it. If you’re lucky enough to be blessed with the talent to play at the NFL level, you know you’re going to get knocked silly once in a while.
There is and never will be anything you can do about head injuries – they will always happen…and in case you didn’t notice, the players are getting bigger (and dumber, but that’s a different story) and the hits are going to get more violent.
There is no helmet in the world that will alleviate risk and there sure the hell isn’t any legislation from congress that could possibly fix anything. All you can do is study post-concussion symptoms to maybe find a way to minimize the effects.
There are many more dangerous jobs in the world that pay much, much, much less – but you don’t hear anyone giving a shit about their injuries or the futures of their families, now do you?
This is just another reason for Lord Florio to start yet another controversy.
If you notice, the article states he will undergo tests for concussion related symptoms on Wednesday. so here is my question for the masses……..
Until and if he is diagnosed with a concussion, who the fk is Lord Florio to be talking when and if the guy can play or not?
Take note, I am *NOT* saying he should play if he does in fact have one, but trying to figure out how Lord Florio came to the conclusion not only before any Dr, but before any tests are run.
Another case of “Scrambled Eggs” in the NFL?
That’s what happens when Zach Follett hits you.
It’s surprising to see a 7th round draft pick starting for the lions.
We’re used to our first round picks either not being on the team or completely out of football all together. I guess it’s a little bright spot for the lions.
@ Brolewigi…
Follett is a bright spot for the Lions? Then the scRAMS must be ready for the SuperBowl because David Vobora (Mr. Irrelevant) for 2008 is the scRAMS starting middle linebacker. He was, that is until he started sitting out a four game suspension levied by the chief babysitter of NFL (GOD-dell) for performance enhancers, which were ALL cleared by the team AND by the NFL prior to taking them… but that is definitely another story.
Then again maybe all the scRAMS need to take SOMETHING to enhance their performance cuz it just ain’t happening on the field. When Bulger goes away, it’ll get better. It has to.
Amendola, meet the Pain Train. Pain Train, meet Amendola.
This dude is going to be a monster on special teams now that he’s been bumped up from the practice squad.
Whooooo Whooo. Zach Follett Pain Train Baby!!!!
Only benefit that can come from the concussion studies is having it trickle down to amateur levels – high school and college where a majority of the participants will never get a dime for playing.
Couldn’t care less about someone making the league minimum of 400k (or something close) having their bell rung.
Not 1 mention on the primetime when the topic was discussed. The other teams where the hits happened were mentioned, but Zach Follett left strapped to a back board and spent the night in an area hospital. That does not rate primetime discussion?