NFL Getting Tougher With Concussion Policy

NFL News - December 3rd - Written by John

In light of the not-so-surprising revelation by Kurt Warner that many NFL players aren't so forthcoming to doctors about their status after a concussion, the league has issued a comprehensive statement outlining it's new approach to head injuries.

In the release, handed out Wednesday, commissioner Roger Goodell told teams that effective immediately, they will be encouraged to take more safety measures when dealing with players with concussion symptoms like dizziness and memory lapse.

"The evidence demonstrates that team medical staffs have been addressing concussions in an increasingly cautious and conservative way," Goodell wrote in a memo. "This new return-to-play statement reinforces our commitment to advancing player safety. Along with improved equipment, better education, and rules changes designed to reduce impacts to the head, it will make our game safer for the men who play it, and set an important example for players at all levels of play."

The league has taken several steps in the past to decrease the risk of a severe head injury like implementing better equipment, and outlawing dangerous hits to defenseless players. But that hasn't stopped them from happening. Actually, it appears to occur more often, at least to prominent players. Warner was knocked out of a Week 11 game of the 2009 NFL Football Season against the St. Louis Rams when he was tagged, and held himself out of last week's game against the Tennessee Titans.

Warner told doctors he wasn't ready to return the following game, but not every player has made that choice, he said, including those who have contractual tie-ins that increase their pay based on snaps played.

"The easy thing to do is play," Warner told the Arizona Republic. "The hard thing is to make that decision where you feel like you could be hurting your team, but you don't know whether you're putting yourself at risk or not."

Instead of placing the decision into the hands of the player, the NFL is now asking teams to be extra careful with their players. The new statement, in full, reads:

"Once removed for the duration of a practice or game, the player should not be considered for return-to-football activities until he is fully asymptomatic, both at rest and after exertion, has a normal neurological examination, normal neuropsychological testing, and has been cleared to return by both his team physician(s) and the independent neurological consultant. A critical element of managing concussions is candid reporting by players of their symptoms following an injury. Accordingly, players are to be encouraged to be candid with team medical staffs and fully disclose any signs or symptoms that may be associated with a concussion."

Among other notable players knocked out of games for the same reason: Washington Redskins running back Clinton Portis, Philadelphia Eagles running back Brian Westbrook, Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger and Cleveland Browns running back Jamal Lewis.

Lewis was recently put on the Browns' injured reserve due to the injury and will miss the rest of the season.

But other players haven't been so candid about their status for fear of scrutiny from media and teammates. And with Hines Ward recently dogging Roethlisberger for missing last week's game due to dizziness, it appears to be more than just an irrational fear.