Pittsburgh Steelers Troy Polamalu’s Concussion Cost Him More Than Just an Injury
In the game against the Jacksonville Jaguars on October 16, Pittsburgh Steelers safety Troy Polamalu received a concussion when he collided with RB Maurice Jones-Drew. While he has been cleared to play for the October 23 game against the Arizona Cardinals, Polamalu is no stranger to concussions.
With a history of concussions, Polamalu is at a greater risk for complications when he sustains a head injury and a severe head injury could even be fatal. Concussions are a series brain injury and I am sure Polamalu’s physicians have warned him and his wife about the possible long term affects. Because of this, Polamalu knew his wife would be worried when he took yet another hit to his head during the game. For this reason, he made a phone call that has now resulted in a fine.
NFL Fine
Because of this history of concussions and the fact that Polamalu knew his wife would be worried about him, Polamalu borrowed a cell phone from a trainer at the game and made a call home from the sidelines to let her know he was okay. First of all, as a wife, I have to give him props for thinking of his wife and how worried she must have been.
However, Polamalu has been fined $10,000 for his sideline phone call. While NFL rules state that cells phones or other electronic equipment are not allowed on the sidelines from 90 minutes before kickoff through the end of the game, I think in this instance a fine is a bit uncalled for and I am not alone. When asked about the call and subsequent fine, Coach Mike Tomlin was quoted as saying, “In this era of player safety, you would think that common sense would prevail in some of these things. It wasn’t a personal call. He wasn’t checking on his bank account.”
A Reason for Concern
Concussions are not something to take lightly and for a player like Polamalu who has a history of multiple concussions, every new hit to the head is a reason for concern. A concussion is a traumatic brain injury and causes symptoms such as a temporary loss of consciousness, confusion, headache, amnesia and nausea.
While these symptoms will get better with time, the Mayo Clinic reports that there is evidence that people who have experienced multiple concussions can experience lasting and even progressive cognitive impairment. There is also a greater risk for developing epilepsy after a serious head injury.
Take the Time to Heal
With concussions, it is also very important to make sure that an athlete has healed completely before returning to play. A condition known as second impact syndrome occurs when a person receives a second concussion before the initial concussion has healed. When your body receives a concussion, the chemicals in your brain are altered. Taking another hit to the head when these chemicals are not stabilized puts you at risk of brain swelling which can be fatal.
While I am all for following the rules when it comes to sports, I think this phone call home to the wife by Polamalu was justified as this hit was definitely a reason for concern and worry. I know as a wife, I would have wanted to hear that my husband was ok. I don’t think fining a player in this instance is needed and I am sure the men behind this decision are hearing a few choice words from their wives.
Deborah Braconnier is a former athlete and 20 year medical professional. She has personal experience with a variety of different sports injuries and has herself suffered six concussions. Working now as a freelance writer, she brings her love for both sports and the medical field together in her writing.
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