The NFL and concussions. The players know the facts but does it matter
It is no secret that the NFL has a concussion problem on its hands and the 2017 season continues to illustrate this. A recent example is Cleveland Browns first overall pick Myles Garrett. The rookie defensive end was placed in the league’s concussion protocol after he complained of having concussion like symptoms. Unfortunately, the protocol process began two days after the game in which Garrett was injured and only after he disclosed it to the Browns.
QuintilesIMS, an independent third-party retained by the NFL to compile and analyze injury data reported a decrease in the number of concussions from 275 in 2015 down to 244 in 2016. So there is progress— right? Well the numbers would support that. However, in this win now at all cost climate is there progression in the behavior of how teams treat concussions? Well players certainly hope so. It was not so long ago in 2015 when Case Keenum now quarterback for the Minnesota Vikings was calling plays for the St. Louis Rams. Both the Rams and league office grossly mishandled Keenum’s concussion.
In a game against the Baltimore Ravens Keenum took a vicious hit from defensive end Timmy Jernigan and was allowed to remain in the game with an obvious concussion. The Rams were not penalized in any way for its total disregard of the concussion protocol, which is strange because players who dish out illegal hits for jeopardizing a player’s health and safety are fined, at times reaching up to five figures or more via game suspensions. The NFLs’ action was hypocritical and the St. Louis Rams organization’s inaction after a hit that left Keenum on all fours in obvious distress was deplorable. It is no secret that players will try to play through their injuries, which is why the head coach, the league’s press-box spotter, the team’s medical staff or game officials (who are concussion specialists) should make the decision for them.
Three days after the Keenum concussion ordeal, the family of former professional football player and Monday Night Football TV commentator Frank Gifford who died on August 9th, 2015 at age 84, released a statement acknowledging that Gifford suffered from a degenerative brain disorder triggered by the effect of repetitive head trauma. “We as a family made the difficult decision to have his brain studied in hopes of contributing to the advancement of medical research concerning the link between football and traumatic brain injury,” Gifford’s family said in a statement released through NBC news. A few hours after the statement was released NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell sang Gifford’s praises and called him “a beloved member of the NFL family” and vowed to improved safety for players.
On July of this year the Veterans Affairs-Boston University Brain Bank released a report which stated that nearly every former National Football League (NFL) player that played at least one regular season game and whose brain then was donated for research was diagnosed post-mortem with Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE). This expounds on previously published test results which concluded that of the 91 deceased former NFL players, 87 of them tested positive for chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE). It was found in the brains of Junior Seau, Terry Long, John Grimsley, Mike Webster, Dave Duerson and Ray Esterling who committed suicide. The progressive degenerative disease stems from repetitive brain trauma that often leads to dementia, depression, memory loss and lack of impulse control. The grim findings solidify the fact that hits to the head and brain disease can no longer be denied. Oftentimes, a battered brain does not recover. Players can receive hip and knee replacements but not brain replacements. Their study indicates that 96 percent of NFL players will have CTE at the time of their death.
One year after being selected in the 3rd round of the 2014 NFL draft, 24-year old San Francisco 49ers linebacker Chris Borland announced his retirement in March 2015. He walked away from a $3 million contract and what was sure to be a hall-of-fame career, due to concerns of head trauma. “I just honestly want to do what’s best for my health. From what I researched and what I’ve experienced I don’t think it’s worth the risk,” Borland said after consulting with family, medical experts and teammates. Former San Francisco linebacker Patrick Willis, former Pittsburgh Steeler Jason Worilds and former Tennessee Titans quarter back Jake Locker also opted for early retirement before the 2015 season. However, Borland was the lone wolf who cited health concerns over brain trauma as the reason for his decision to walk away from a lucrative contract and NFL career.
The concussion issue has been brewing for some time and the NFL is attempting to do its part. After coming under fire from former players and health advocates the NFL settled a class action suit in April 2015 by thousands of former players who alleged the league hid or downplayed the irrevocable harm caused by head trauma and agreed to pay more than $1 billion. The former players appealed the settlement insisting that it is filled with loopholes that will exclude many former players. In the appeal the retired players advocated for more compensation for themselves as well as for the families of deceased players. They later withdrew their appeal and opted for the original settle amount. Former All-Pro offensive lineman Alan Faneca was quoted by ESPN.com as stating— “for the greater good of everybody” and “It’s been a long road and I guess there comes a point in time when you see the end of the road.” When asked about the retired player’s decision to withdraw their appeal.
In the film “Concussion”, which was based on true events, actor Will Smith plays Dr. Bennett Omalu, a forensic pathologist who discovered CTE in the brain of former Pittsburgh Steeler center Mike Webster. At the time of Webster’s death, he was homeless and suffering from depression. Omalu’s research was torn apart by the NFL who faultily concluded that “professional football players do not sustain frequent repetitive blows to the brain on a repetitive basis.” If only that were true. It is 2017 and we certainly no more but are we any smarter.
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