Comments on: NFL beefs up monitoring of in-game injuries

By: critter69

critter69 — Sat, 26 Nov 2011 04:13:48 +0000

Actually, I think the coach should be the one who answers the phone, and then hands it to the medical staff. That way, the coach can’t say that he “didn’t know a phone call came through” as I’m sure the Stillers’ coach will be among the first to claim. Maybe that will end the ‘neck stinger’ or ‘concussion-like symptoms’, but still the player is on the sidelines, excuse.

Anyone taken to the team locker room for injury analysis should be evaluated by a completely independent doctor, not associated with any team in the NFL. And the unaffiliated doctor, NOT the team doctor, should be the one who says when a suspected injured player can, or cannot leave, the locker room – none of this standing on the sidelines for the rest of the game male bovine droppings.

By: rushbacker

rushbacker — Fri, 25 Nov 2011 22:23:19 +0000

It’s bad enough to have Goodell unleashing whimsical and arbitrary fines left and right– now the league is going to take the decision as to who can play and who can’t out of the team’s hands? Smells like a rat. . .

By: rushbacker

rushbacker — Fri, 25 Nov 2011 22:21:15 +0000

And what happens when one of these “observers” pulls an Aaron Rodgers or Tom Brady out of the second half of a playoff game that their team subsequently loses, only to find that it was a false alarm? You PFT wannabe-crusaders are introducing a whole new level of corruption into the game. Have you ever heard the phrase “the road to hell is paved with good intentions?”

By: fmwarner

fmwarner — Fri, 25 Nov 2011 21:27:24 +0000

The league observers are going to get half their salaries from quick trips to Vegas.

By: zerophocus

zerophocus — Fri, 25 Nov 2011 21:17:38 +0000

Did anyone see Ngata’s miss sack on Alex Smith? He missed because he grabbed the towel and pulled it out of Smith’s waistline. It kind of looked like flag football.

I hope the front office doesn’t get any ideas.

By: xjavicuervox

xjavicuervox — Fri, 25 Nov 2011 21:01:27 +0000

Hopefully its not the same “league observer” they use in soccer games..

By: pabillsfan

pabillsfan — Fri, 25 Nov 2011 20:56:11 +0000

altering teams’ = alerting teams?

By: backindasaddle

backindasaddle — Fri, 25 Nov 2011 20:40:22 +0000

I’m afraid this will be a very difficult issue for the NFL to deal with well into the foreseeable future. I think concussions are very prevalent at all levels of football and they are very rarely acknowledge. The recent science showing the cumulative and chronic brain damage resulting from multiple concussions makes it a very important issue that simply can not be ignored nor can it be downplayed or minimized by those who would rather not deal with it. I believe that because of the violence and nature of the game, a technological solution needs to be developed such as a concussion limiting/preventing helmut. I don’t think concussions (or even a reduction in the rate of concussions) will happen via rules/regulations. The game requires tackling and tackling will be violent by its very nature. I do not see a solution in the near future short of a breakthrough technology concussion limiting/preventing helmut.

By: earthtopft

earthtopft — Fri, 25 Nov 2011 20:11:41 +0000

Some of the head injuries are more subtle. Not like that completely flattened brain with the skull ripped off, as shown on the gentleman in the picture.

By: rmc1995

rmc1995 — Fri, 25 Nov 2011 20:05:00 +0000

Really this is getting out of hand. The more the league monitors symptoms the more we’ll see the unintended consequences of good intentions. Players will do more to hide symptoms or refuse treatment. The league has proven to be cautious to protect players. Head hunting could prove to be a problem. Coaches will take a holding 10 yard penalty rather than a sack. What’s 15 yards if you give Aaron Rogers symptoms to pull him out for an evaluation for a series or two?

By: lexnekst

lexnekst — Fri, 25 Nov 2011 19:51:01 +0000

Why don’t we all go home. Come back tomorrow, and call it softball.

By: Iamthatguy

Iamthatguy — Fri, 25 Nov 2011 19:41:26 +0000

In a related note…the league is prepared to enact new rules beginning next year in the name of safety:

A defender can not get within a 5 foot zone of the Quarterback…….10 feet for Tom Brady

Receivers can not be hit or even touched, a defender must remove a flag that will be attached on both sides of the receivers hip to be considered “tackled”

By: sbxxix

sbxxix — Fri, 25 Nov 2011 19:30:33 +0000

I’m glad the NFL is taking this seriously