NFL's new concussion rule a step forward for player's safety
Kyle Anderson
Issue date: 12/8/09 Section: Sports
By Kyle Anderson
Staff Writer
Slurred speech, blurred vision, headaches, nausea and memory loss are some of the most common yet frightening side effects of concussions. And traditionally in the NFL, these were the side effects that many athletes would play through, from week to week.
Thankfully, the NFL and Commissioner Roger Goodell have enacted a new policy regarding concussions and a player's game eligibility.
Starting last week, any player who has sustained a concussion in a game or practice will be examined by a neurologist and must pass a neurological examination before returning to play.
As reported by the Associated Press, any player who has sustained a blow to the head and cannot remember simple plays, has memory loss, is dizzy or unbalanced, or has lost consciousness will not be allowed to return to the game or practice.
Considering the recent case of Steelers'quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, this new policy has arrived just in time.
After leaving a game against the Kansas City Chiefs on Nov. 22 with a concussion, the Pittsburgh Steelers decided to sit their franchise quarterback the following week against division rival Baltimore. While the concussion was Roethlisberger's fourth since 2006, he still caught flak from numerous journalists and teammates for missing the game.
In particular, Big Ben received heat from wide receiver Hines Ward, who felt that Roethlisberger could have played the game, despite lingering headaches. In effect, Roethlisberger's critics were telling him to forget about his throbbing brain, and focus on the game.
Players fight through injuries all the time in NFL. But don't be mistaken, playing through turf toe is not the same as playing with blurred vision and memory loss. It's time NFL players check their ego and their machoism at the door. And hopefully the NFL's new concussion problem will help end the debate over whether players should fight through head injuries.
Staff Writer
Slurred speech, blurred vision, headaches, nausea and memory loss are some of the most common yet frightening side effects of concussions. And traditionally in the NFL, these were the side effects that many athletes would play through, from week to week.
Thankfully, the NFL and Commissioner Roger Goodell have enacted a new policy regarding concussions and a player's game eligibility.
Starting last week, any player who has sustained a concussion in a game or practice will be examined by a neurologist and must pass a neurological examination before returning to play.
As reported by the Associated Press, any player who has sustained a blow to the head and cannot remember simple plays, has memory loss, is dizzy or unbalanced, or has lost consciousness will not be allowed to return to the game or practice.
Considering the recent case of Steelers'quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, this new policy has arrived just in time.
After leaving a game against the Kansas City Chiefs on Nov. 22 with a concussion, the Pittsburgh Steelers decided to sit their franchise quarterback the following week against division rival Baltimore. While the concussion was Roethlisberger's fourth since 2006, he still caught flak from numerous journalists and teammates for missing the game.
In particular, Big Ben received heat from wide receiver Hines Ward, who felt that Roethlisberger could have played the game, despite lingering headaches. In effect, Roethlisberger's critics were telling him to forget about his throbbing brain, and focus on the game.
Players fight through injuries all the time in NFL. But don't be mistaken, playing through turf toe is not the same as playing with blurred vision and memory loss. It's time NFL players check their ego and their machoism at the door. And hopefully the NFL's new concussion problem will help end the debate over whether players should fight through head injuries.
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