Holes in the NFL Concussion Policies and the Need for Change
Concussions have been a major issue in the 2011 NFL football season and have prompted the NFL to create policies regarding the return to play after a suspected concussion as well as a crackdown on illegal hits. However, these policies are not enough and the NFL is going to need to make further changes.
The initial concussion that sparked some of these changes occurred when San Diego Chargers offensive lineman Kris Dielman suffered a concussion but was allowed to remain in the game. After the game and on the plane ride back to San Diego, Dielman suffered a grand mal seizure.
The NFL went through and said that anyone with a suspected concussion was not allowed to return to a game before they had been cleared by a concussion test. Referees were to undergo concussion education and were told if they suspected a player to have a concussion, they were to pull him out.
Well, this was great in theory but after the Thursday, December 8th game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Cleveland Browns, we see that these new policies just aren’t making the grade.
During this game, Browns QB Colt McCoy took a helmet-to-helmet hit from LB James Harrison and went down. To anyone watching the game, it was clear that McCoy had taken a hit and likely suffered a concussion. He was taken out of the game, but returned to play only two plays later and it has now been determined he did not receive a sideline concussion test.
After the game, McCoy said he remembered nothing and asked reporters to turn the lights off on their cameras. This loss of memory and sensitivity to light are both classic concussion signs. When asked why McCoy was allowed to return to the game, Browns coach Pat Saumur said he did not show symptoms.
Here is where the problem begins. No player wants to be pulled out of a game, so no one is going to say they think they got hit and have a concussion. Coaches are not medically trained to recognize symptoms of a concussion. So something needs to change.
Of course there is discussion about fining Harrison for the hit, but fines on hits are not going to solve this problem. If anything, the Browns should be fined for allowing McCoy to return to the game after an obvious hit and concussion risk and no sideline testing.
According to the NFL and the NFL Players Association’s chief physicians Dr. Elliot Pellman and Dr. Thom Mayer conducted a review of the case. This review may just lead to the determination that independent physicians and neurologists will be required at each game starting in 2012.
I think this would be the best move for the NFL and for the player’s safety. Having a specially trained physician who knows what to look for when it comes to concussions is essential. This way, a player will not be able to shrug off a hit and say they are okay to play until it is certain they really are okay.
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.
Note: This article was written by a Yahoo! contributor. Sign up here to start publishing your own sports content.