I extended Mr. Dockett various degrees of sympathy, even though I have some reservations about the level of his overall compensation and entitlement, until he said:
Concussion is the wrong injury to use as an analogy. It is perhaps the one injury that anyone, professional athlete or otherwise, should always report and report immediately. No amount of monetary compensation or lack of compensation should prevent someone from seeking immediate medical attention for a concussion. Why? It is because concussion injuries the brain.
In my opinion, many people throughout the world discount the severity of brain injury. Some might say he or she just got their bell ranged or something similar and go about their business without immediate medical evaluation. What many end up not considering are the possible short- or long-term effects of brain injury like permanent memory loss, loss of bodily funtion, inability to solve complex or even simple problems, mood disfunction, dementia, seizure, etc.
Brain injuries do not dismiss the relevance of other injuries any athlete or nonathlete might sustain and live with. Persons with limb injuries might suffer lifelong discomforting or even debilitating pain. People may deal with moderate-to-severe medical consequences of internal organ damage to their liver, kidney, spleen, lung, heart, etc. These injuries create quality of life issues that might evolve into even terminal situations. A person's suffering might grow into something unbearable. Yet, their sense of self would still be intact.
Before people like Mr. Dockett diminish the importance of reporting every concussion they sustain, they should consider what that might eventually mean to them. They might want to think how a neurological exam may help them remember who their friends are, or their family, or even the person staring back them from the mirror. They may want to consider how "simple" concussions may cause them to involuntary urinate or defecate without warning in the privacy of their own homes or in a public setting. They may wish to think how important it is to them to do simple tasks like adding and subtracting, balancing a checkbook, reading a menu, tying a child's shoelaces or walk in a straight line with a healthy set of legs and feet. They might want to know how concussions might one day make them speak incoherently or interact with others in ways they feel is inappropriate or embarrassing. They may want to ponder what it feels like after the electrical activity of their brain short-circuits while playing with their grandchildren or driving to the supermarket, if they regain consciousness.
In short, Mr. Dockett (or anyone else) should consider how important it is to think. Maybe, just maybe, the realization will dawn on him that no amount of money or unemployment risk matters in regards to cognitive function. Nothing. It's not a Star Trek world, Mr. Dockett. People cannot fix your brain with fictional drugs and gadgets. Acknowledging the danger of concussions is one thing the league finally got right and should not be questioned... unless the questions focus on how to improve on preventing brain injuries. What is more valuable to you, Mr. Dockett? The residuals of $10 million guaranteed that pays someone to wipe the drool from your mouth? Or taking every neurological exam anytime anyone suspects your brain has been sloshing around inside your skull? Your choice.
