The NFL is a role model sports league that instigated new head concussion management. If an athlete were to exhibit symptoms of concussion, they are to be removed from either their practice session or game and restricted from reentry unless they are more thoroughly examined by the team physician and neurosurgeon. Since last week, there have been four players: Jamal Lewis (Cleveland Browns), Brodney Pool (Cleveland Browns), Ben Roethlisberger (Pittsburgh Steelers) and Kurt Warner (Arizona Cardinals) that have been prevented from playing in scheduled games. These new procedures are the result of a one year medical investigation commissioned by the NFL to study former football players of the past who experienced multiple untreated concussions during their careers in the league, and now presently have dementia and motor control problems such as 1971’s Baltimore Colts John Mackey whose touchdown won his team the Super Bowl that year. Repeated concussions can result in Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE). Currently the NFL provides one hundred former athletes $88,000 per year to support their long-term medical expenses.
Iman Leong KIN 332I
3 comments:
This new rule is a great one. As an athlete, i can vow for playing during an injury when there was a large risk at hand. The overconformity problem within the professional football league is not just with the players though. coaches do have a strong influence of what the teams physicians. I think that if the NFL really wanted to solve the problem they would have to go to a physician who is nuetral, or outside of the NFL completely. The process should not be able to be impacted at all by the coaches, fellow players, or any other administration in the NFL.
E.Steele
Kin332I T/TH 12:30-1:45
I feel that this is a great rule. I think they are still revising it and are including that the player that is diagnosed with a concussion has to go to an outside doctor that is not affiliated with the team in any way to provide for accurate and non-biased diagnosis. They are also really looking into the changes the helmets can have in order to provide for better protection. The money going into this research is huge and I feel it will help tremendously. There still should be some fundraisers and donations that could be used to support the players that are retired with serious problems resulting from concussions in the sport. All the changes in rules and research going into concussion and how to prevent them with equipment is going in the right direction. I hope this major problem will become minimal in the future.
J Parkin
Kin332I T Th 1230
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