Friday, December 23, 2011

NFL steps up concussion detection


There will always be Colby Armstrongs – players who hide concussions or other injuries from club medical staff in order to keep playing or out of fear of losing their job.

But what happens when trainers and team physicians paid by professional clubs err in detecting concussions? When they let down their guard or vigilance is impaired because they’re attending to other tasks? The NFL isn’t taking any chances. Not any more.

Chris Mortenson of ESPN reported Wednesday morning that effective this week, an independently-certified trainer will be assigned to monitor all suspected concussion-related injuries at every NFL game.

The decision was made after the Cleveland Browns failed to test quarterback Colt McCoy for a concussion after an illegal helmet to facemask hit by Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker James Harrison in a nationally-televised game on Dec. 8. The Browns president, Mike Holmgren, claimed they did not test McCoy, who went back into the game after two plays, because trainers did not see the hit and because they were attending to other injured players.

McCoy, one of 11 Browns players to have sustained concussions this season. has not been cleared to return to the practice.

The NFL, and particularly commissioner Roger Goodell, deserves credit for seizing this opportunity. Goodell sent a medical team last week to meet with the Browns and chaired a four-hour conference call that involved the team and representative of the NFL Players Association. The NFLPA may still file a grievance on McCoy’s part, Mortenson reports.

This does not mean that we are seeing a move towards eliminating one of the biggest and longest-running conflicts of interest in professional sports: the role of trainers and physicians paid by the club. But maybe it is the next step.

Read more: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/football/nfl-steps-up-concussion-detection/article2279052/

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