The second congressional hearing investigating how the NFL manages concussions for their current and retired players was held yesterday, January 4, 2010 at Wayne State School of Medicine by the House Judiciary Committee.
The initial hearing held in October, 2009, ended with the NFL commissioner, Roger Goodell, denying any link between multiple concussions and permanent brain injury in football players leading the members of the committee to ask for continued investigation and an additional hearing.
Recent Steps Taken by NFL to Protect Their Players
However, since that time, there has been a dramatic turnaround starting by the NFL starting with the NFL commissioner admitting that multiple concussions sustained while playing football may have lasting permanent brain damage.
The NFL has also taken a number of immediate steps towards protecting their current players (stricter return-to-play guidelines, independent neurologist for each team) and working with their retired players to support the ongoing brain research at Boston University’s School of Medicine (encouraging retired players to donate their brains to research on chronic traumatic encephalopathy).
Call for Concussion Education for all Age Levels
Although recent progress has been made, former football players “asked the Congressional committee to continue to put on the heat to educate millions of youth, high schools and college athletes, as well as their parents and coaches, about the lifelong implications of sports concussions” (Anstett, Patricia, Free Press Medical Writer, January 5, 2010).
Testimony from Retired NFL Players
With testimony provided by several former NFL players and coaches, it is apparent that concussion education needs to begin with the current NFL coaches, staff, and players. Testimony was provided stating that players were under pressure to return to play during the games in which they were injured (Anstett, Patricia, Free Press, January 5, 2010).
One former player, Bernie Parrish (played for the Cleveland Browns) testified that the league and NFL Players Association are guilty of denying the problems associated with concussions and is documenting it in his soon to be released book entitled “Delay and Deny” ( Anslett, P., Free Press, January 5, 2010).
Challenges Ahead
Several recommendations came out of the hearing towards making youths sports safer including:
- banning high-risk practice drills
- web training on concussion for coaches
- adoption of standardized return-to-play policy
The challenge will be to get current information on how to recognize, treat, and manage concussions into the hands of those that work with youth, high school, and college sports. Youth sports organizations, high school sports federations, and all levels of colleges need to work at adopting current protocols and then instituting training to educate all parties involved.
With the recent firing of Texas Tech University’s football coach, Mike Leach, over the mistreatment of an athlete who had sustained a concussion, it is evident that NCAA colleges need to also review their policies on head injuries and provide training to their coaches, staff, and athletes (Fendrich, H., “NFL to Weigh Rule Changes after Studying Helmets”, Associated Press, January 4, 2010).
Towards this effort, the NFL released their first public service announcement on national television last week. The 30-second spot provided basic information on concussion awareness, concluding with the statement that no athletes should return to sport without first being cleared by a medical professional.
Change Needs to Start with the NFL
Change needs to start with the NFL’s treatment of their players. A number of NFL athletes have recently received national media attention due to concussions sustained during play. Ben Roethlisberger, Pittsburgh quarterback, sat out several games due to sustaining his fourth concussion since 2006 (ESPN, “Two Dolphins QBs Leave with Injuries, January 3, 2010).
Dolphin’s Quarterback, Pat White, sustained a helmet-to-helmet hit during his game on Sunday, January 3, 2010 while running the football. The impact left him face down and motionless on the field. Several players from the opposing team knelt in prayer while the medical staff tended to White. He was transported to a local hospital and later released. The diagnosis released was that White had sustained a concussion.
As national attention increases on how players with concussions are treated, the NFL can take a lead role in concussion management education by enforcing their own stricter return-to-play standards. Change needs to start at the top.
Terry Zeigler - Educating through writing with over twenty-five years of experience as a Kinesiology Professor and Certified Athletic Trainer.
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