Comments on: Rodney Harrison fears the long-term effects of his concussions

By: EJ

EJ — Thu, 31 Jan 2013 14:36:35 +0000

I don’t get why all of these players keep saying that until recently they knew nothing about concussions? I was knocked out by a soft ball that was hit by my lumbering giant of an Uncle when I was 9 years old. I was given the diagnosis of having a concussion by the Doctors at the emergency room. That was when I was 9, I’m 34 years old now. That was 25 years ago when they were using the word concussion to diagnose a certain medical condition. At 9 years old I knew I received a concussion, which I was told was not good. So why is it that these players act clueless? Even if the NFL was hush hush about the concussions, the players still had Primary Doctors outside of the league, were they quiet about it too? Doubt it. Yeah, not too much was known about it, but they knew enough to know that too many was bad for your health. Mark Kelso wore an extra padded helmet because of concussions. I think this is all a ploy by some to get that big payday, not because they were left in the dark.

By: kimbo71006

kimbo71006 — Thu, 31 Jan 2013 14:18:00 +0000

I am sick and tired of everyone jumping on the money train (and that’s exactly what this is all about) concerning concussions or any other injury in the NFL.

You knew this was a physical game.

No one twisted your arm to sign that multi-million dollar contract.

How is the NFL responsible for a decision YOU made?

Why is the NFL responsible for informing you about what happens when YOU are injured? Can you read? Can’t you find out for yourself? Do you have to be force fed information about your own body by someone else?

He says he doesn’t want to sue – but he is setting the groundwork for one with this article.

Sour grapes.

The NFL has made SURE that players now know everything they should no but is it stopping anyone from signing those multi-million dollar contracts – NOPE – and it never will.

Accept responsibility for your own free will choices, YOU are the one that made them and YOU are the one that accepted the consequences.

That’s sort of like me blaming my car for my speeding ticket…well, officer, no one told me that I shouldn’t press the pedal all the way down to the floor, I figured if it would let me press the pedal down then it must be ok.

Yeah right.

By: annes22

annes22 — Thu, 31 Jan 2013 14:10:11 +0000

These guys all chose to play football and make millions. You do that, you accept the consequences or get out of the game. It’s a bit late after you finish playing to start suing the NFL and complaining.

By: macbull

macbull — Thu, 31 Jan 2013 14:01:42 +0000

Had Rodney Harrison used a ProCap on his helmet, there is a very good possibility he would not be worrying about the many concussions he suffered during his playing days.

Bills safety, Mark Kelso and the 49ers OT, Steve Wallace were concerned enough about health of their brain that they made the decision to wear a ProCap…and it worked for them.

IMO, all players should be wearing a ProCap, to help prevent the damage done to their brain, due to concussions.

By: jgava19

jgava19 — Thu, 31 Jan 2013 13:45:18 +0000

How about the long term effects of his big mouth?

By: hendawg21

hendawg21 — Thu, 31 Jan 2013 13:26:30 +0000

This story is getting old and I have no sympathy for these athletes, and I say this because for everyone who has this claim look at the 100′s or so ex players who’ve lived long and decent lives, yes there are the aches and pains that come along with playing such a physical sport but that being said i’m sure there are many other occupations that are not athletics which present the employee with far more dangerous outcomes….i.e. fire fighters, police and the military to name a few and you now what i’ll bet you to a man none of them would say they’d change a thing and they’d do all again. And for those who are now saying they wouldn’t let they’re son play, well I guess you wouldn’t also let them hold any of the previous jobs I mentioned. I spent 15 years in the military and I knew from day one the possibilites/risk and yet I still did it and reenlisted time and time again not fearing those risk, but for the love my country…and these athletes are no different they play the game for the love of it and more so for the money and notoriety.

By: thejohnsmith1122

thejohnsmith1122 — Thu, 31 Jan 2013 13:26:09 +0000

What do they expect the NFL or teams to do? Go over the list of hundreds of injuries they sustain over the lifetime in the NFL on rookie day?

Give Harrison a couple years after he retires from broadcasting and needs money. He’ll sue the NFL soon enough.

By: thewassabi

thewassabi — Thu, 31 Jan 2013 13:13:32 +0000

Respect for not blaming the nfl, but really you didnt know the repercussions of getting hit in the head come on man. I knew about concussions when i was eight years old that was in 1997 and you had a college education, well at least you went to college lol. Does the nfl need to tell players that if they dont drink water they will get dehydrated!?

By: zerored78

zerored78 — Thu, 31 Jan 2013 12:46:38 +0000

Not going to feel much sympathy. I’d happily accept those additional fears for a career in sports and millions of dollars.

@nyjetsfan08

I’ll have to see that actually happen to believe. I don’t believe anyone puts the NFL into the same category as combat sports. People are much further away from the violence and the players being in full body armor and helmets makes them seem even less human to viewers.

I have seen people give up watching the NFL for many reasons, but the violence in the game has never been one of them.

By: DonRSD

DonRSD — Thu, 31 Jan 2013 11:42:34 +0000

Ever wonder if the sense of isolation cones from playing football your entire life. Being lauded as the best, then have it all end one day and nothing to replace the adrenaline rush?!

Just saying.

By: louhudson23

louhudson23 — Thu, 31 Jan 2013 10:35:50 +0000

Joker, these symptoms are most assuredly associated with post concussion syndrome. Having an inner ear disorder diagnosed to likely have resulted from head trauma, I am very familiar with the symptoms of anguish,crushing despair ,frustration and loneliness,and indeed,suicide. I can not state strongly enough how powerful these feelings were. Debilitating is the only word I can use.Fortunately,my condition was secondary to damage to the brain itself and has proven largely treatable.In my case,medication has rectified things a great deal.These medications are not in any way antidepressants or other “mind drugs’. My symptoms were not psychological in origin and were not psychologically treated,by drugs or therapy.They were caused by a physical condition,not a mental one.

By: CKL

CKL — Thu, 31 Jan 2013 07:26:58 +0000

I swear this is like playing telephone sometimes…Rodney never took steroids.
He took HgH.

And as far as I know he’s the only one ever to be suspended for it because you have to admit to taking it since there’s no test. They had credit card receipts that his card purchased it but any good lawyer could argue that doesn’t mean he took it.

By: cadub49er

cadub49er — Thu, 31 Jan 2013 07:05:24 +0000

Maybe that’s why he says so many idiotic things on Sunday Night Football.

By: craigmaitland

craigmaitland — Thu, 31 Jan 2013 06:39:23 +0000

Rodney Harrison fears the long-term effects of his concussions… But not steroids? If he was that concerned over his body he wouldn’t have been using roids.

By: jprcox

jprcox — Thu, 31 Jan 2013 06:21:31 +0000

Why all of a sudden (this season) is this crazy push to weaken the strong physical play in the NFL. Don’t get me wrong, this has been discussed in previous seasons, but with the president and all these people coming to the forefront, its like the fans are getting a strong “sell” on why they will start to make sure players are hit less-hard.

This is nuts. I hope fans stand up to this and tell the NFL they should develop better armoring – but leave the hits alone. That is 1/2 the fun of this game.

By: craigmaitland

craigmaitland — Thu, 31 Jan 2013 05:55:43 +0000

Doesn’t fear the steroids though? Interesting.

By: kd75

kd75 — Thu, 31 Jan 2013 05:19:47 +0000

He didn’t know what a concussion was?

Where did he go to college?

He didn’t understand that running headfirst into a brick wall 15 times a day may be detrimental to his health???

By: nyjetsfan08

nyjetsfan08 — Thu, 31 Jan 2013 03:49:24 +0000

Here’s the problem. Even if these guys sign waivers, the court of public opinion will still find the NFL guilty. The legal system can’t sue the NFL. But the public will hear about these NFL players wit seriously medical ailments and look to the NFL to do something. The NFL can try to make the game safer, but there is a point, an invisible line, they will cross where the game will be unrecognizable.

I don’t think it’ll go away. Look at combat sports. They are still around, but their popularity is relatively nil, save for a huge fight/card. If the public turns on this league of modern gladiators for good, at least the AFL might actually be able to challenge the NFL.

By: 69finfan

69finfan — Thu, 31 Jan 2013 03:23:57 +0000

I wonder if anybody has to explain to Nascar, Indy Car, Formula One drivers etc. that hitting a wall at 200 mph could be dangerous.

By: clu1perceiver

clu1perceiver — Thu, 31 Jan 2013 03:21:28 +0000

My question to Harrison now is, have you overcome your fears enough to get a neurological baseline exam or other medical help to let you know where you stand?

By: 1look2013

1look2013 — Thu, 31 Jan 2013 03:12:02 +0000

Maybe its just Rodney’s personality, but there have been times when I’ve thought he was disrespectful to Coach Dungy on SNF.

By: incredabill

incredabill — Thu, 31 Jan 2013 02:49:35 +0000

Is he worried about the long term effects of steroid use?

By: ballinsohard

ballinsohard — Thu, 31 Jan 2013 02:42:06 +0000

I don’t buy it. I remember being 8-years-old in the early 90s playing rec league soccer and I knew what a concussion was. The NFL could have done more to promote awareness and protect the players, but I just don’t buy in to these arguments that it is all the league’s fault and the players didn’t know any better.

By: billbrasky72

billbrasky72 — Thu, 31 Jan 2013 02:40:30 +0000

Between him and Costas, I would guess Costas would have been the one who sustained the most head trauma in his lifetime.

By: nonjaghater

nonjaghater — Thu, 31 Jan 2013 02:37:42 +0000

Never heard the word concussion in his first six years in nfl? might have heard it in college but felt groggy at the time. but not in the nfl hmmm. lawsuit pending

By: chattanola

chattanola — Thu, 31 Jan 2013 02:33:19 +0000

I like Rodney Harrison, he’s a straight shooter. He is always candid and straightforward (to the point of being blunt) but, I’m rather surprised that he came out with these statements that suggest no liability on his part.

Also, he says “… And even now, at times there’s a sense of loneliness, a sense of isolation. Some anxiety problems. . . .” You’re not alone there Rodney, billions of dollars in pills are being sold to those of us who claim those symptoms and have never had a concussion.

I’m sorry for the fears clouding over him and do not wish that on anybody, but asked if they’d do it all over again, 99.99% of the players say “yeah!”

By: thegreatgabbert

thegreatgabbert — Thu, 31 Jan 2013 02:06:44 +0000

Well, at least it’s Florio who will be sitting next to him when he cracks, and not us.

By: ampats

ampats — Thu, 31 Jan 2013 01:56:18 +0000

britishraven,

Seriously,you are comparing your rugby “career from ages 7-19 based on your info” of non concussion to a former SS who has played in the NFL for 12 + years ???

Just another reason why the NFL needs to stay in the USA !

By: pftfollower

pftfollower — Thu, 31 Jan 2013 01:51:07 +0000

Dude used his head as a weapon to attempt to deliver head injuries to other players. plain and simple.

That hit with nations means did not scare you. If it truly did, you would not have continued to use your head as a weapon for years.

By: smithopher

smithopher — Thu, 31 Jan 2013 01:51:03 +0000

As a jets fan I always hated this guy, along with the rest of the patriots, but I wish for the best for him in this situation. I’ve struggled with anxiety and the loneliness and all that on my own, so I know how tough it is. Good luck mr Harrison, I hope you are able to enjoy seeing those kids grow up.