A full 10 days after Browns quarterback Colt McCoy returned to action only two plays after suffering a concussion, the NFLPA remains “baffled” by the situation, per Adam Schefter of ESPN.
Schefter says that the NFLPA doesn’t understand how five distinct groups of people -- the Browns’ coaches, the officials, the league observer in the coaching both, Cleveland’s medical and training staff, and McCoy’s teammates -- missed the fact that McCoy at least needed a concussions test. Schefter also said that the union will decide this week whether to file a grievance against the Browns, to publicly criticize the the league, or to call for reforms in the system regarding the diagnosis of concussions during games, with an independent neurologist on the sidelines.
Of course, the NFLPA won’t be limited to one of the three options. Perhaps the union will do all three.
Regardless, the McCoy situation proves conclusively that the NFL needs to do more when it comes to diagnosing concussions during games. Jay Glazer of FOX said earlier in the hour that changes could come before the 2011 season ends.
They can’t come soon enough.