So with Jay Glazer of FOX recently reporting that the league will require teams to involve an independent neurologist in the assessment of players with concussion issues, we had an obvious question in the wake of Sunday’s bell-ringings suffered by last year’s Super Bowl starting quarterbacks -- Kurt Warner of the Cardinals and Ben Roethlisberger of the Steelers.
Will the neurologist determine when the player can return, and does the policy apply to Warner and Roethlisberger?
NFL spokesman Greg Aiello told us via e-mail on Monday night that the new policy is not yet in effect.
“Details of the policy will be communicated to the clubs shortly,” Aiello said. “The independent neurologist will be involved in return-to-play decisions of a player who had a concussion.”
So even though Roethlisberger says he’s fine and that he plans to play Sunday night against the Ravens, there’s a chance, based on the details of the policy, that an independent neurologist will be required to give his or her blessing in advance.