Cleveland Browns QB Colt McCoy, NFL Concussion Policies Not Being Followed: Fan’s Perspective
Serious concussions have plagued the NFL this year and have ended the season for many players. The most notable concussion was sustained by San Diego Chargers left guard Kris Dielman.
But, after watching the hit by Cleveland Browns QB Colt McCoy during the December 8th game against the Pittsburgh Steelers, is it obvious that the new concussion policies Dielman’s concussion prompted are not being followed.
During the October 23rd game against the New York Jets, Dielman sustained a hit during the fourth quarter and obviously sustained a concussion. However, he waived officials off and played the rest of the game. On the plane ride back to San Diego, Dielman suffered a grand mal seizure.
This seizure prompted the NFL to create a policy where referees can pull players out that appear to have suffered a concussion. These referees were to undergo concussion education and made aware of possible symptoms.
But apparently that wasn’t enough. During the game against the Steelers, Colt McCoy took a hit to the facemask by LB James Harrison. He was obviously hit hard and his father, Brad McCoy who is a high school coach, said he saw his son on the ground and knew he had been knocked out cold. McCoy was taken out of the game for just two plays and was deemed fit to go back in.
However, we are now learning that McCoy had obvious concussion symptoms and should never have been allowed back in the game. When speaking to reporters after the game, McCoy told reporters that he had no memory of the hit and asked if the lights could be turned down.
This loss of memory and light sensitivity are classic concussion signs. McCoy told his father he had no memory of the game at all. This was obviously not a simple hit to the head and McCoy should never have been allowed to return to the game.
Having a concussion and returning to play put him at risk of what is known as second impact syndrome. Second impact syndrome occurs when an initial concussion has not healed before a person receives a second hit to the head. This second hit can cause cerebral swelling and brain herniation and can be fatal.
If the NFL is going to create new policies regarding concussions, they need to make sure that these policies are enforced. Since the NFL is so quick to fine players for misconduct I believe that they should be just as quick at fining teams for putting player’s lives at risk. There is no way that McCoy should have been allowed to go back into that game and the coaches and trainers should be held responsible for their misconduct.
When a player suffers a concussion in a Sunday game, they are usually not able to be cleared for play until the following Friday. How is it that McCoy was cleared in a matter of minutes? It just isn’t possible. If the NFL is going to take concussions seriously then a player with a suspected concussion needs to be removed from the game until further evaluation can be conducted over the next few days. If the seizure Dielman suffered was not a big enough wake-up call for the NFL, what will be? Do they need to have a fatality before they get serious with policy enforcement?
Deborah Braconnier is a former athlete and medical professional and has personally suffered six concussions. She is a freelance writer and Featured Contributor for the NFL and Olympics. Born in San Diego, she has followed the Chargers since she was a child and can usually be found yelling at the television during football season. Follow her on Twitter at @fwcdeborah.
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