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 Today, Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger will play. Last week, he was forced to leave the game vs. the Kansas City Chiefs with a concussion. Yet, without taking a single week off, Roethlisberger will play.
Since the New York Times reported on a study connecting NFL players to long-term brain damage, concussions have been a hot topic. So hot, in fact, that the league came up with a seven-point plan to take on this epidemic.
Here are the seven points as reported by ProFootballTalk.com’s Mike Florio:
1) Expand the league’s committee on brain injuries. The committee will grow despite both co-chairmen, Dr. Ira Casson and Dr. David Viano, who resigned Tuesday. The New York Times reported on their resignation saying:
“members of the committee since 1994 and co-chairmen since 2007, (Casson and Viano) co-authored most of the group’s published research papers whose conclusions regarding head injuries were met with considerable criticism from medical peers. Casson has been the league’s primary voice discrediting all evidence linking football players with subsequent dementia.”
2) Each team will identify specialists who will provide an “independent ‘second opinion’” in situations involving players who have been removed from a game or practice due to a concussion. The NFL’s memo said: "Before these players return to practice or play, they must be evaluated and cleared by both their team doctor and the independent neurologist or neurosurgeon.”
3) The Competition Committee is evaluating possible rule changes aimed at reducing head impacts in game situations.
4) Commissioner’s special adviser John Madden is chairing a committee of coaches. They are exploring ideas for reducing head trauma during practices. "Among the considerations are reducing the overall amount of off-season work, and/or limiting the use of helmets (and therefore contact) in practice, minicamps, OTAs, and training camps," the NFL’s release says.
5) The league developed a public service announcement directed at young athletes, their parents and coaches regarding head-injury awareness. The PSA will debut Dec. 10.
6) The NFL will conduct another medical conference in Washington D.C., in June 2010, which will be similar to the conference conducted by the league in Chicago two years ago.
7) The NFL will continue research efforts aimed at improving equipment safety and the league will “urge players to make informed choices regarding the use of the most technologically advanced helmets.”
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Matthew Coller is a staff member of the Business of Sports Network, and is a freelance writer. He can be followed on Twitter
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