As part of the NFL’s response to the not-so-gentle nudgings of Congress to get serious about the problem of brain injuries in football, the league has produced a Public Service Announcement, which will be aired for the first time during Thursday night’s game between the Browns and the Steelers.
According to Mark Maske of the Washington Post (via SportsBusiness Daily), the spot is targeted at athletes, parents, and coaches — and specifically at young athletes.
The segment urges players not to hide concussions, and it encourages parents and coaches to educate themselves about head injuries, so that young players who have taken a hard shot to the head will be held out of action until approved to return by a doctor.
The issue of encouraging football players to admit that they are suffering from the symptoms of a concussion remains the biggest challenge to fully addressing the problem. And we think it’s a dynamic that will never completely be erased from the game, at any level.
The PSA also will direct viewers to the CDC’s microsite aimed at concussions in youth sports.
In the end, it’s another tangible piece of evidence as to how far the NFL has come in such a short time.
And it’s a far cry from the last commercial regarding football and concussions.
all this concussion stuff is boring
Uhhh… how does a public PSA make ANY sense??
It’s the PLAYERS who need to be informed about this. Instead of running commercials while players are actually on the field, why does the NFL just hold Concussion seminars (mandatory) every year before the Season officially starts???
Unless I’m mistaken, it’s not the 300 million people in America that need to be educated, we’re all pretty well aware that getting smacked in the head repeatedly until you black out is A Bad Thing.
It’s the players who actually earn a living by smacking their heads together and thus have an incentive to avoid the truth about concussions that need to be educated!
My name is Batman.
You could be my assistant.
First thing I thought of was the Steve Smith – Delhomme conversation.
Smith responded I like you as a person, but not as a QB.
Here’s an idea – if you dont want cuncussions – DONT PLAY IN THE NFL!!!
Florio- Is Hines Ward playing tonight or not? I need to know if I should start Mike Wallace tonight!
I wonder if Congress would like to focus it’s all caring eye on the fact that there are a LARGE number of deaths, yes DEATHS, not concussions, in a certain “sport”. With the death of Eki”Umaga” Fatu this past week, one can hardly keep count of the number of wrestlers who die in their 30′s.
And like someone said, why a PUBLIC service announcement for concussions for NFL players.
The announcement (PSA) shoud be that ALL players must wear a PROPERLY fitted helmet and must wear a mouthguard -that would end all this crap.
I cannot tell you how many time i have watched a player remove the helmet with one hand – it should be worn tight to the head and ear holes used to get it off!
Steelers did not win the SB – it was given to them – the Harrison return should have been negated by a block in the back penalty at the 34 yard line – play over – no TD