Finally, Concussion Topic Being Addressed

[TheFallenOne]

This has been the NFL's dirty little secret for far, far too long. It's a serious issue and I credit Goodell for continuing Tagliabue's initiatives in good faith.

NFL.com - NFL News

NEW YORK (May 2, 2007) -- NFL commissioner Roger Goodell, who disclosed last week that the NFL will make baseline neuropsychological tests mandatory for the 2007 season, is requiring all team medical personnel to attend a meeting on concussions next month.

That (bold) is an important step and will come at significant expense to the teams and/or league corporation.

[ColossalCanadian]

I can't believe this wasnt done sooner...i would imagine concussions are a huge issue for football players...and its sad the some one needed to die to get this looked at closely

[jBuds]

It seems like everything that was talked about in regards to cleaning up the league's image, for whatever reason, Goodell has pounced on and actually put the wheels in motion.

Hats off to him - just don't be idiotic and move the Super Bowl off American soil, Rog. That'd be a hell of a quick way to lose support.

[TheGWH]

Originally Posted by jBuddy

It seems like everything that was talked about in regards to cleaning up the league's image, for whatever reason, Goodell has pounced on and actually put the wheels in motion.

Hats off to him - just don't be idiotic and move the Super Bowl off American soil, Rog. That'd be a hell of a quick way to lose support.

Screw Roger and his "Chad Johnson rule" (as in the no TD celebrations). TD celebrations are funny and necessary.

I hate to say it, but good job Goodell for addressing the concussion issue. There have been waayyy too many the past 5 years, this can't be healthy for anyone, so great job on doing that.

[TheFallenOne]

Originally Posted by TheGWH

Screw Roger and his "Chad Johnson rule" (as in the no TD celebrations). TD celebrations are funny and necessary.

Hate the owners. They voted to invoke the rule. It didn't come from the Commissioner's office.

[TheGWH]

Originally Posted by TheFallenOne

Hate the owners. They voted to invoke the rule. It didn't come from the Commissioner's office.

Oh, so all this time I had no reason to hate Roger Goodell (except for suspending Pacman for a year). The owners are just a bunch of white people with deep pockets who don't know how to have fun and laugh a little.

[TheFallenOne]

Originally Posted by TheGWH

The owners are just a bunch of white people with deep pockets who don't know how to have fun and laugh a little.

Haven't you heard? NFL = No Fun League. Indeed.

Bring back Chad and the River Dance!

[ColossalCanadian]

that is the one thing that i really disliked recently about the nfl, im sure its been discussed to great length, but if you score you should be allowed to what the hell you want as long as its not offensive...penalty for excessive celebration...PSH

[TheGWH]

Originally Posted by ColossalCanadian

that is the one thing that i really disliked recently about the nfl, im sure its been discussed to great length, but if you score you should be allowed to what the hell you want as long as its not offensive...penalty for excessive celebration...PSH

Just to add on... IMO (and that's a big IMO, so don't rip on me) I believe that the players should also be aloud to do what they want outside of the field too. Whether it's Pacman making it rain on them hoes or Vick starving pitbulls and forcing them to fight, the law should punish them... NOT the NFL and Goodell. Their punishment is going to be harsh enough with the law nevermind getting suspended from your job for a year.

[TheFallenOne]

Originally Posted by TheGWH

Just to add on... IMO (and that's a big IMO, so don't rip on me) I believe that the players should also be aloud to do what they want outside of the field too. Whether it's Pacman making it rain on them hoes or Vick starving pitbulls and forcing them to fight, the law should punish them... NOT the NFL and Goodell. Their punishment is going to be harsh enough with the law nevermind getting suspended from your job for a year.

I won't rip on ya man. I understand where you're coming from. But I'm guessing you're not a father yet. Correct??? (nor am I).

At some point you might care a great deal about who your 7 year old boy looks up to.

The NFL cares a great deal about it's image and giving back to the communities that support it, and where they harvest their talent.

Also consider this:

1. How many citizens are there in the US? 300+ million now?

2. How many college teams harvesting school talent from every corner of the country? 120?

3. How many QBs from the college draft went in the first round this year? 2?

4. What's the average success rate for first round QBs drafted into the NFL?
Is it 30%, 40% ... maybe 50%?

5. Odds, therefore, of having the god-given talent to become a successful starting QB in the NFL? 1 in 300,000,000 or more? Half that when you take out the chicks. But still, those are lotto type odds man.

Players like Vick need to understand that kind of fortune and privilege comes with responsibility both on and off the field because we hear about both sides in the press. And kids are going to pay attention to how they behave.

If I ever have a son, he'll never receive a word from me about OJ's greatness on the field. Never. And that's a shame.

[hit_'em88]

Goodell is tryin not to get into the crap baseball and basketball got into and get with drugs and misconduct thats why hes doin all these things he's doin

back to the concussion thing those things are bad the NFL needs to step up more than they are they say the "revolution" helmets drop the concussion rate by 33% which sounds good but one of my teammates wears one and he suffered a concussion the other day. they need better technology

[TheFallenOne]

Originally Posted by hit_'em88

they need better technology

agree. equipment develpoment is not keeping pace with ever increasing speed factors.

At least the existing equipment is sufficient for QBs who stay in the pocket. Can't even look at those guys the wrong way without drawing 15 yards.

[TheGWH]

Not to mention that the Revolution helmets are hurtin' darren... they fit so tight to the head and the mask stretches out about 6 inches from the face.

[marshall]

Originally Posted by TheGWH

Not to mention that the Revolution helmets are hurtin' darren... they fit so tight to the head and the mask stretches out about 6 inches from the face.

Revolutions take alot of the impact of hits. The other helmets don't protect as well. I am a player and I can notably tell the differance.

[TheFallenOne]

Some specific recommendations from Pat Kirwan over at NFL.com:

Make the mouthpiece mandatory in the NFL: Most of the players I discussed the mouthpiece subject with felt about 35 percent of NFL players wear a mouthpiece. When asked about his mouthpiece, one linebacker said, "I only wear it when the team we play has a big fullback." He also said, "I can't call the defense with a mouthpiece."

Players have to wear helmets that fit: As one veteran said, "There's a player on our team that uses a helmet two sizes too big to fit his hair under the helmet." R.W. McQuarters cut his hair recently, and I'm sure he had to get a different helmet.

Provide a group of league doctors: There is a growing sentiment that a league bank of doctors not affiliated with a specific team should rule on all concussions. A player that gets a concussion on a given Sunday could have a "league doctor" rule him out for a specific time period with no chance of the player being released. Players are afraid that if they get labeled injury prone, they will not be on the payroll to long. Some players feel the team doctor is to close to the team to do the right thing. I have known some great team doctors who always put the patient ahead of the team, but it could be a legitimate fear among players.

Link:

NFL.com - NFL News