Report: NFL Will Review In-Game Concussion Protocols
By Phil Watson
Despite the attention and emphasis on proper treatment of concussions, the NFL is still having issues with players not being properly evaluated in games.
The NFL plans to respond to a couple of recent issues of players either being left in games when exhibiting concussion symptoms or returning to a game after sustaining one by reassessing the in-game protocols for identifying head injuries.
On Thursday night, San Diego Chargers safety Jahleel Addae should have been removed from play after sustaining what looked to be—and ultimately was—a concussion.
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Pro Football Talk, citing a “source with knowledge of the situation,”
that the NFL was very unhappy by the failure of the team, the officials, the sideline medical personnel and the people responsible for monitoring the game from press-box level to spot what was seen immediately at NFL headquarters—Addae was in distress and needed to come off the field.
Chicago Bears safety Chris Conte sustained a concussion in a game earlier this month, yet made it back onto the field.
The NFL wants to review all of its in-game procedures to close any loopholes and ensure players are properly evaluated and prevented from returning to games when appropriate.
Among the options being considered are audits of team records to placing more accountability on the medical experts by making them sign off during games on clearances provided to players suspected of being concussed but allowed to return to play.
“This is not boxing,” a source said. “There’s no such thing as a standing-eight count.”
Instead, the NFL would like to make sure that any player that might need a standing-eight count, or its equivalent, is taken out of play until clearing the proper neurological tests.
Given the current climate, the NFL can’t have these types of incidents.
Hall of Fame coach John Madden, who has become an outspoken advocate for concussion safety, said that if those responsible for overseeing player health can’t do the job properly, they should be replaced.
It’s hard to argue that, given what we now know about the potential damage that can come from sustained head trauma.
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