The fabricated concussion discussion

[Hoofbite]

Here's the video of Bradley barely able to get to his feet and then falling flat on his face.

[youtube]NvquvvUbUcE[/youtube]

This from 2010.

I'm watching it on Rewind as well and as Bradley takes a seat on the bench Aikman comments on Bradley likely being out for the game,

"it's hard to imagine him coming back into this game. In light of what we just saw, and all the attention paid to head injury, it's hard to imagine that he'll be put back in".

Bradley sits out a couple of plays and comes back in to finish the series.

PFT had a report about how the Eagles claimed that Bradley wasn't immediately tested for a concussion because the doctors were attending to Kolb so that's how they didn't catch the concussion earlier.

1. This is complete BS, if you watch the game you can see Kolb warming up on the sideline with Bradley behind him on the bench getting looked over by someone on the staff.

2. Even if this was true, it's still completely inexcusable. When a guy cannot even walk straight, he shouldn't be allowed to even get near the field until he has been seen by the staff and given the okay.

No matter how you slice it, Bradley shouldn't have been out there. He was diagnosed at half time, IIRC and didn't return. He couldn't even walk straight and the onus falls onto the staff to tell him he's done for the day. They didn't do it and he returned to the game. This at a time when concussions where being emphasized to a greater extent than at any other time in league history.

This is why the league has to be held responsible to a certain extent. Their process allowed a guy to go back into a game when he clearly shouldn't have been allowed to go in. No doubt at times when there was a lesser emphasis on the rule that these guys were going back regularly.

As I said, I have no problem when the player willingly assumes the risks involved. This is beyond that. The guy couldn't get up and fell flat on his face. IMO, the decision is no longer his provided he even had the capacity to make a decision in the first place. The staff sent him in there with a concussion and when you put someone in harm's way, you then assume some of the responsibility regardless of the inherent risks that may be present to all players.

 

[links18]

Couldn't disagree more with this post and most of the thread.

 

[hra8700]

And to try and hold the NFL somehow accountable is ludicrous by any rational, normal, common sense way of looking at things. PERIOD!

Except that these lawsuits are gaining heavy traction and the nfl is terrified because there is a very real chance they will lose. Lawsuits making these types of arguments are successful frequenly...a lot goes into a person being legally informed of risk. You can say "that's what's wrong with our legal system" or whatever you want but these are jury trials...so in any case your world view is not the only "rational...normal...common sense" view...because people disagree with frequency on the only stage that matters.

Anyway, this argument is not relevant at all. The NFL is for this rule. The players union is for this rule. The only people against this rule are fans that care more about their own entertainment than the safety of their fellow human beings.

 

[JPostSam]

Not even close.

If you were right then there should be some new rules against RB's wearing cleats. After all, guys cleats have gotten caught in the turf and knees have been torn up. And cuts should be illegal with a 15 yd penalty because injuries have occurred making cuts. And, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .


Im sure you're rather proud of your self perceived clever little post, but it has zero merit on any level.

you may be an alright guy... but if you think the league ought not to protect players from brain injuries that lead to a lifetime of memory loss, spasms and worse, just because you enjoy seeing men get smashed and then struggle to wobble off the field, then you need to step back and reevaluate your humanity.

how's that for clever?

 

[Nightman]

Yes the players are bigger, stronger and faster, but they also wear less protection. Just look the tapes from the early 90's and the shoulder pads were huge. They also wore neck rolls, which you hardly ever see anymore. The league had to make a new rule to force the players to wear thigh, hip and knee pads. Form tackling is also a thing of the past, as players launch themselves at runners instead of squaring up. The fundamentals are severely lacking. All in the name of speed.

The players know the risks and have to make their own decisions. No one is forcing them to play, but if they don't, someone else is more than willing to take their place. Most choose the big time money over long term health, but now they want it both ways. Eric Dickerson is criticizing the new helmet rule, but is also one the players suing the league for concussions. It stinks, but the game as we know it is over. Many HS will start banning the sport because of liability issues. Do you see any high dives at swimming pools these days? Once the lawyers and insurance agents get their hooks in, it's over.

 

[lane]

another great post erod.

thanks for mentioning electricians.

i'm an industrial electrician working in a very old refinery built in 1945.

i know the danger yet know that my job feeds my family.

there is a sign leading out of the refinery saying this:

you are now entering the most dangerous atmosphere you will encounter..
the public highway.

be safe

 

[Idgit]

Here's an example of technology that already exists that could be helpful.

It seems they're available to license it to the helmet manufacturers if they were required by the league to use it. The manufacturers themselves are unlikely to adopt an additional standard if for no other reason than they won't want to imply their equipment put players at risk to begin with.

 

[Teren_Kanan]

One hell of a post. Good job.

 

[djmajestik]

I've been reasonably certain for a fairly lengthy span of my lifetime that playing football - particularly of the NFL variety - could have future implications on overall health. Knees don't bend in enough directions for football, shoulders aren't particularly suited, and repeatedly ramming your head into other hard surfaces seems to carry with it a possible undesired consequence.

That's knowledge I've stored neatly in the "genius file" in my brain, along with "Don't forget your anniversary" and "Don't pee on an electric fence." It's filed under D, for "duh".

So here we have this collection of former players, obviously broke and struggling with their sudden irrelevance, not to mention kicking themselves for umpteen other bad decisions along the way, ready to skewer and *******ize the league that gave them so many opportunities during and after their careers.

Nevermind the vials of horse steroids and whatnot they pumped through their bodies back then. Disregard the lifestyles many of them led, the drugs and alcohol they may have used, the intentional cheap shots they personally delivered, or the self-inflicted financial disasters they incurred. Pay no attention to all the great advice and common sense they ignored and set aside along the way.

The smell of money is in the air. A gang mentality is forming. And the me-first attitudes that took control of professional athletics in the 80s is kicking in.

Screw the game. They want theirs.

The world has gone stupid. Mayors are outlawing big coke cups because people are getting too fat. Educators are banning homework because it's unfair to single-parent kids. Teachers in the UK are prohibiting students from having "best friends" because it might hurt feelings. You can name a hundred more examples of massive overreaching and overlegislation that is now just commonplace in the world of misfits we needlessly appease.

And now, we've decided banging your head around might not be completely safe. Amazing.

Why would football players be any different than boxers? Did they not see Muhammed Ali deteriorate, and hundreds of fighters before him? Have they not heard Joe Frazier speak? Virtually every fighter of the past struggles to speak and effectively communicate later in life from too many jars to the head over too much time. This is not news.

And haven't occupational hazards been around for some time now?

Skywalkers know they might fall building skyscrapers. Rodeo clowns know the bulls aren't amused. Evil Kneivel drove his bike off the ramp without being pushed. High school graduates sign up willingly for the Marines knowing the risks. Electricians, pilots, stuntmen, all of us....we take chances in our lives, in work and play. Just sitting in a cubicle can make you fat and develop bloodclots. but that isn't the fault of your company.

Bottom line, there's a reason NFL football players are compensated the way they are, and it isn't only for their talent. They willingly do something that most aren't willing to do. It's not war, and they're not actually gladiators, but it's pretty much the next thing to it. It's a big part of why we love the game and admire them for taking the risks to play it.

Plus, these guys did this to each other. So why isn't Jim McMahon suing Ronnie Lott? Is it the NFL's fault that guys like Lott, Blount, Tatum, Lynch, etc, take such incredibly immense pleasure in crushing a man's skull with his own? Granted, the NFL marketed it, and we ate it up, but no one made anyone do anything against their will.

Yet, here we are. It has come to this. Fearing the coming onslaught of lawsuits, the NFL has just neutuered some of the best players in the game: Adrian Peterson, Marshawn Lynch, Stephen Jackson, and our very own Demarco Murray. A big part of their arsenal is gone, and with it, one of my favorite parts of the game.

Forever, running backs have been able to deliver the same blows they take disproportionately, but no more. Now, they'll have to duck out of bounds or hit the floor, or just brace themselves for the blow. For lowering their head could cost their team 15 yards and the ball. This new rule is so unfathomably stupid, I'm shocked it was passed, and by 31-1 no less. Owners are scared to death.

So now, running the football just became more risky for coaches. Yes, by all means, let's throw it more, as if 50-60 times per game wasn't enough already. We don't need kickoffs anymore, so why bother with running it either? Throw it, throw it, throw it some more.

I hate where this game is headed. It's only going to get worse. My interest in waning. My season tickets are up for sale.

Thankfully, I have some real football games on VCR tapes.

Great post!! Thank you for sharing!! Could not agree more!!

 

[Zimmy Lives]

Lawyers have and are ruining the game of football, they will do it every time..

Lawyers aren't ruining anything, they are just taking advantage of an opportunity; like sharks.

Blame society, if you will, for fostering this entitlement mentality.

 

[AMERICAS_FAN]

You make a lot of good points. But players should have the right to sue IF they can prove they were intentionally misguided by the team officials when team doctors concluded/recommended otherwise and this was ignored. Still a massive burden of proof should be on players because I agree that they're knowingly playing a dangerous hazardous sport, and in part being compensated for that.

As far as the rule changes are concerned, I somewhat disagree with your insinuation that owners are scared to death of being sued over players miss-health. If you look closely, this extreme emphasis on player safety really started when the salary cap emerged. Why? Because now contracts are guaranteed, and players need to be kept healthy enough to play them out.

The position affected most here is QB and this is why player safety targeted this position first. Now there is focus on RB, because they no longer last their first contracts end.

So in the end, owners are not scared to death about players getting hurt or being sued over player safety. What scares them is having to pay large sums of guaranteed dollars to players who cannot physically play. Hence the need for rules changes focused on player safety, to help insure that guaranteed investment.

 

[burmafrd]

LOL a those blaming the league for everything.

These players are adults. They bare just as much responsibility.

And as regards the better helmets, etc

Tell me what the Union has done on that?

 

[Death Star]

Look at this, everyone. Look at all the horrible people posting in this thread! This is the worst of humanity put on display, and sadly you can't throw rotten tomatoes at them through the internet!

Yes, let's turn a blind eye to all the kids in high school and college who are giving themselves brain damage for zero compensation, the vast majority of them never playing an NFL down.

Sure, we should probably suggest that uninformed children and low-income parents are making cogent and informed dicisions about their health, and that they know all about CTE.

However, we should probably ignore that the average NFL career is 3 years and these guys don't make nearly the money y'all suggest, and that they are uninsirable when they retire. We should also conveniently forget that the vast majority of NFL players are broke within 5 years of retirement due to bad financial advice/decisions.

Oh, insurance? Yeah, let's also ignore that the medical bills these guys will face will be ridiculous, and they will likely be broke and uninsured.

Good lord.

 

[Nightman]

Look at this, everyone. Look at all the horrible people posting in this thread! This is the worst of humanity put on display, and sadly you can't throw rotten tomatoes at them through the internet!

Yes, let's turn a blind eye to all the kids in high school and college who are giving themselves brain damage for zero compensation, the vast majority of them never playing an NFL down.

Sure, we should probably suggest that uninformed children and low-income parents are making cogent and informed dicisions about their health, and that they know all about CTE.

However, we should probably ignore that the average NFL career is 3 years and these guys don't make nearly the money y'all suggest, and that they are uninsirable when they retire. We should also conveniently forget that the vast majority of NFL players are broke within 5 years of retirement due to bad financial advice/decisions.

Oh, insurance? Yeah, let's also ignore that the medical bills these guys will face will be ridiculous, and they will likely be broke and uninsured.

Good lord.

The average career is 3 years because they count all those guys that get signed or drafted and never play a down. The guys that actually make it past that hurdle usually play 6-8 years and make a lot money. Concussions are hard to diagnose and most players will lie about it at first. It's not like a broken leg or separated shoulder. And then you suggest we are supposed to feel bad because they blew all of the money they made and now have to live the rest of their lives like the rest of us. Most people have to work well past the age 30 and these guys have been given a gigantic financial head start.

Construction workers, firemen, cops, soldiers, fishermen, oil riggers and many others face dangers and even death at work every day. But people need to feed their families. I'm not going to place pro athletes above any of these guys because they are more famous. They all were given a chance at a college degree, made lots of money and lived like princes for many years. I do sympathize with their suffering, but I don't consider this thread to be anything like your characterization, "This is the worst of humanity put on display"

 

[jobberone]

The average career is 3 years because they count all those guys that get signed or drafted and never play a down. The guys that actually make it past that hurdle usually play 6-8 years and make a lot money. Concussions are hard to diagnose and most players will lie about it at first. It's not like a broken leg or separated shoulder. And then you suggest we are supposed to feel bad because they blew all of the money they made and now have to live the rest of their lives like the rest of us. Most people have to work well past the age 30 and these guys have been given a gigantic financial head start.

Construction workers, firemen, cops, soldiers, fishermen, oil riggers and many others face dangers and even death at work every day. But people need to feed their families. I'm not going to place pro athletes above any of these guys because they are more famous. They all were given a chance at a college degree, made lots of money and lived like princes for many years. I do sympathize with their suffering, but I don't consider this thread to be anything like your characterization, "This is the worst of humanity put on display"

Those professions are not at risk for CTE and all its signs and symptoms either. Not minimizing their risks either just pointing out the differences.