Comments on: NFL to teams: Pull players if you even suspect a concussion

By: battlesportsscience

battlesportsscience — Sat, 03 Sep 2011 13:42:25 +0000

We believe more mandatory safety equipment to help detect head injuries needs to be implemented at the youth football level. It’s great the NFL is continuing to implement policies to keep players safe but this needs to start right when kids begin to play at levels where contact takes place.

By: thebrainguard

thebrainguard — Fri, 02 Sep 2011 21:44:55 +0000

It seem that the teams are not interested in preventing the initial concussion.

By: joyjoy69

joyjoy69 — Fri, 02 Sep 2011 00:27:47 +0000

How does Madden continue to get his name connected with injuries? First we had the Madden Curse, now the Madden Rule? What’s next?!

By: eaglesblow

eaglesblow — Thu, 01 Sep 2011 21:28:48 +0000

@willyalistentothis rugby players aren’t 6’5″ beasts that can bench press a 225 pound barbell 30 times and run a 4.5 40!

By: wcdunkenfield

wcdunkenfield — Thu, 01 Sep 2011 21:22:16 +0000

I’ve had this idea about a heavily padded, SOFT exterior, helmet. Seems to me the hard outer shell prevents as complete a cushioning to the blow as would be possible with a soft (think old fashioned leather helmets) exterior.

Then again, the idea came to me after hitting my head…

By: eaglesblow

eaglesblow — Thu, 01 Sep 2011 20:49:09 +0000

I like that choice of picture!

By: jmat40

jmat40 — Thu, 01 Sep 2011 19:15:00 +0000

Concussions will put an end to sports. There aren’t many athlete’s who haven’t suffered at least a mild concussion.
Before you know it there will be no one left to play the games.

By: macker1283

macker1283 — Thu, 01 Sep 2011 18:57:48 +0000

I saw an Eagles linebacker last year on opening day take a huge hit, looked knocked out cold, then regained consciousness and struggled to get up, got up then stumbled down again. Fox cameras capturing this entire thing and the announcers even commented on it. And he was back on the field BEFORE THE END OF THE FIRST HALF. Obviously teams have very strict guidelines on what constitutes a “concussion”. Probably that they have to be in a coma to be diagnosed with one.

By: realitypolice

realitypolice — Thu, 01 Sep 2011 18:51:16 +0000

mgp1219 says:
Sep 1, 2011 12:24 PM
How many trainers will be fired after pulling a star from a game due to a suspected concussion? I agree with the rule, but these are the types of things that will make it difficult to enforce.
=====================

None.

Do you honestly believe that with all of the national scrutiny on this subject a team would dare fire a trainer shortly after they benched a star?

They would get killed.

@xarsis:

The specific situations you refer to with people hitting their heads on the ground probably account for 5-10% of NFL concussions. The vast majority are the result of over padded players crashing into each other.

Willy is right on point. I have played high level rugby for 25 years and have seen less concussions, and other types of serious injuries for that matter in all that time than I do in one weekend of NFL football.

There is absolutely no doubt in my mind that NFL injuries would go down if they took all the pads off, and adopted the rugby be rule of having to wrap your arms when you tackle.

Of course, it wouldn’t be as entertaining as it is now for people who only watch football for the violent collisions and injuries.

By: scudbot

scudbot — Thu, 01 Sep 2011 18:42:31 +0000

Okay, NFL. Want to go there? Then the next time Suh slams a QBs head into the ground he should be expelled from the league and be liable for damages.

By: prrbrr

prrbrr — Thu, 01 Sep 2011 18:42:24 +0000

That picture of Desean is exactly why the Eagles don’t want to pay him big bucks. He’s one more concussion away from never playing again. This years contract and franchise tag next year will be the extent of Deseans football career. He has yet to play 16 games and he’s good for one thing, blowing the top off of coverages. Without him Maclin dominated as a one and I believe they will spend the money on Mac vs Desean.

By: willyalistentothis

willyalistentothis — Thu, 01 Sep 2011 18:24:53 +0000

@ xarsis

Good points. Still watch a bit of RWC2011 on NBC.

By: sj39

sj39 — Thu, 01 Sep 2011 18:19:03 +0000

That’s great except now if a dirty player wants to knock an opponent out of the game he just needs to make sure he rings the players bell enough to cause doubt.

By: cactitle

cactitle — Thu, 01 Sep 2011 18:06:42 +0000

Hayneworth will be complaining of headaches all year!

By: blaz0037

blaz0037 — Thu, 01 Sep 2011 17:54:29 +0000

Packer fans beware….Rodgers has proven he is prone to head injuries.

By: pacificnw7722

pacificnw7722 — Thu, 01 Sep 2011 17:45:51 +0000

“Under the heading, “WHEN IN DOUBT LEAVE THEM OUT,” the memo states: “If you have any suspicion about a player being concussed, remove him from the game. Always err on the side of caution.”

Unless the game or season is on the line………….

By: xarsis

xarsis — Thu, 01 Sep 2011 17:35:48 +0000

@willyalistentothis Rugby does not have the forward pass. You get a helmetless WR going across the middle and they get leveled, just watch that unprotected head bounce off the turf.

Or how about hitting low and having a player flip and land on their head. Rugby is not a game of forward momentum like football.

I agree with this rule, and hope it is implemented down to the lowest levels of football.

By: cusoman

cusoman — Thu, 01 Sep 2011 17:22:15 +0000

Aaron Rodgers is screwed.

By: kevinfromphilly

kevinfromphilly — Thu, 01 Sep 2011 17:16:57 +0000

I thought the “Madden Rule” was that if your face is on a video game, you have a crappy season.

By: clintonportisheadd

clintonportisheadd — Thu, 01 Sep 2011 17:15:36 +0000

Speaking of medical staffs, why does PFT not post about the Chargers team doctor? The head man for the Chargers medical staff is under DEA investigation for rampant prescription abuse. He also has a very checkered resume and disciplinary actions taken by the California Medical Board….

By: FinFan68

FinFan68 — Thu, 01 Sep 2011 17:07:52 +0000

Is there any room for a player that passes initial sideline examination to return to the game? If a trainer starts looking in the players eyes and asking questions, doesn’t that in and of itself constitute suspicion and therefor require the player’s removal?

By: wcdunkenfield

wcdunkenfield — Thu, 01 Sep 2011 17:01:37 +0000

“…Rex Ryan: “Mark, I think I suspect a concussion.” …”

Jason G: “Tony, I suspect a concussion…”

By: capslockkey

capslockkey — Thu, 01 Sep 2011 16:55:04 +0000

Trainer: I have NO DOUBT that this guy maybe doesn’t have a concussion.

Coach: Good enough for me. No doubts there. Get your ass back in there!

By: willyalistentothis

willyalistentothis — Thu, 01 Sep 2011 16:45:40 +0000

Take the helmets off. Take the shoulder pads off. Make it illegal to tackle above your opponents’ shoulders. The helmets and shoulder pads are the weapons that cause concussions. Without a helmet, nobody would try to go head-on-head. The Rugby World Cup starts next weekend and NBC is covering a few of the matches. Watch for yourself how tackle football can be played with more tackles and less injuries. And yes, they have kick-offs.

By: sippindasyzurp

sippindasyzurp — Thu, 01 Sep 2011 16:41:22 +0000

At the end of the day, concussions are easy to diagnose if you examine them based on the testing protocol outlined… A player really can’t hide the symptoms because it is a brain so there are certain reflexes that are going to be impaired and out of the players control trying to pass the test…. I think a lot of these team physicians and trainers feel as though they are going to lose there job so there are times when they turn a blind eye, which is unfortunate.

By: skimbell

skimbell — Thu, 01 Sep 2011 16:35:35 +0000

I wonder how it would work if say Rex Ryan runs out on the field and says that he suspects that the opposing qb is suffering from a concussion.
Does the other teams qb get pulled?
I think that the league is trying to take a page from our national governments book-micro-management.

By: mgp1219

mgp1219 — Thu, 01 Sep 2011 16:24:24 +0000

How many trainers will be fired after pulling a star from a game due to a suspected concussion? I agree with the rule, but these are the types of things that will make it difficult to enforce.

By: pftwstbshmc

pftwstbshmc — Thu, 01 Sep 2011 16:17:14 +0000

“Captian – If you don’t leave for sick bay right now I have the authority and WILL relieve you of duty”

This is one of the few things the league has implemented in the name of player safety that truly is about player safety. Kudos….

By: destroyedbydansnyder

destroyedbydansnyder — Thu, 01 Sep 2011 16:16:33 +0000

Whats the policy on hang nails?

By: touchdownroddywhite

touchdownroddywhite — Thu, 01 Sep 2011 16:13:04 +0000

This rule will not be followed unless not following it will be blatantly obvious.

What team in their right mind will claim to suspect one of their star players has a concussion in the 3rd quarter of a crucial game?

Answer: None.