Concussions have been the biggest story of this NFL season, and kickers are not immune.
Baltimore Ravens coach John Harbaugh confirmed that kicker Billy Cundiff sustained a concussion on the opening kickoff of Monday night’s loss to the Green Bay Packers but continued to play anyway.
According to the Ravens’ web site, Cundiff was kneed in the back of the head by Ravens linebacker Jameel McClain as both Cundiff and McClain tried to tackle Packers returner Jordy Nelson on the game’s first play. The Ravens say team doctors cleared Cundiff to return.
“That’s why his kickoffs looked a little odd,” Harbaugh said. “He couldn’t find his balance on his kickoff swing. We were really worried about field goals. We were not going to be able to kick a field goal of any distance during the game.”
What’s also a little odd is that team doctors would clear a player to return to the field after suffering a concussion that left him in a state where, according to his coach, “he couldn’t find his balance.” Although Cundiff didn’t try any field goals, he did continue to kick off and kicked two extra points. Harbaugh says the Ravens limited Cundiff’s exposure to getting hit again by telling him to try pooch kicks and to run off the field after kicking.
“The one really short kickoff was designed to be a squib, but he just missed it,” Harbaugh said. “He didn’t have any balance.”
Aaron Wilson of the Carroll County Times quotes Harbaugh as saying that the NFL’s strict new concussion guidelines were followed.
“It was tough,” Harbaugh said. “He had a mild concussion. They have a much more stringent protocol now as far as whether a guy can play or not, so they adhered to that protocol and they felt like in his position he could play with a mild concussion.”
Harbaugh may think Cundiff’s position is one that allows him to play with a concussion, but the NFL’s concussion policy doesn’t say anything about team doctors being less cautious with kickers than they are with other players.
For his part, Cundiff said he plans to play on Sunday, just six days after suffering the concussion.
Looked like Flacco played with a concussion too.
A little toughness from a kicker. Nice! I wish more kickers played the game like that.
I’m telling…
Aaron Wilson of the Carroll County Times quotes Harbaugh as saying that the NFL’s strict new concussion guidelines were followed.
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What total crap. They knew the guy could hardly walk.
Jason Elam played with a concussion all year for the Falcons, one he suffered at birth.
@laxer37
u hit that nail on the head!!(pun intended)
I find it one hellva coincidence that there are so many “concussions” all of a sudden. Seems if a player is on a bad team, is having a bad game, is selfish etc. etc. they are quick to claim a concussion. While I don’t doubt that it is an issue that needs to be researched, I’m hearin’ to many “crying wolf”……..man up players or move on to something else if you don’t want to play.
“Looked like Flacco played with a concussion too”
That’s funny as hell, and also true.
Take notes Rothlisberger….
Wow. If he were a football player, he might have been hurt.
@ bearsrule
LOL!
Wow, one touch kicker.
I thought it was strange when they pooched the kickoffs. It’s not like GB is a good return team.
“He couldn’t find his balance?”
I’ll drink to that!
@ mr Humble.. I am thinking the same thing. It’s getting a bit ridiculous.
Tough Kicker??? Horsepuckey!!!! Stupid doctors, and coaches….
Listen, since moset of you don’t know what a concussion is let me explain:
A concussion is a bruise to the brain
@Mr Humble
Who are you to judge who is ‘faking’ or not? Are you one of the doctors? You claim players are using head injuries as an excuse yet don’t name any player who you think could be faking and why.
That’s a very sloppy and short sighted comment.
I was wondering why he wasn’t giving anyone his Swine Five…it’s giving a high five with the back on the hand, so to prevent passing the Swine Flu.
You heard it here first…it’s gonna get big.
A kicker???
OK, now we are officially taking this concussion $hit too far.
A KICKER??????????
I fully expect the Ravens to be fined by the NFL for this! Knowingly letting a player with a concussion continue playing is far worse than #85 using props to celebrate a TD. I’m not a Bungals fan, just tired of the BS NFL fines!
I wonder what percentage of players have played with a concussion in any given game?
Most admit to lying about being hurt and stay in games and a concussion effects can be shaken off fairly quickly, say compared to a sprain. Ballsy kicker though as most just try and stay out of the way once the ball is kicked.
It’s just common sense that the likelihood of being reinjured be taken into account when evaluating a player. Something else that I think the folks alarmed by this story should take into account, the fact that Harbaugh mentioned Cundiff’s balance does not mean he had difficulty walking. Keep in mind that a kicker performs his job with only one foot on the ground, and therefore requires a much keener sense of balance to perform his job at the most basic level.
Well, this is Harbaughs’ team this year. As a former player said Rex Ryan was really the coach last year. After hiring the family friend as Defensive coordinator this year what’s in store for next? His father taking over the offense. Should’ve kept Rex!!!!