Today was a big day for the future of the NFL as the league reached a settlement in the concussion lawsuit brought against it by retirees. The settlement will hopefully slow down the NFL's march towards flag football.
As our knowledge of concussions has grown, the NFL has worked very hard to stop head injuries. Cynics will claim the league was more concerned with the pending lawsuit by retirees than it was with they safety of their players, but I think we can all agree trying to reduce injuries is a good thing.
The problem is that the league has gone too far.
For a long time, I dismissed the doom and gloom predictions that likened the NFL to boxing. Many argued the new rules and fears over concussions would end up ruining the NFL's popularity and that it would subsequently fade into obscurity just as boxing did. I refuesed to believe that a multi-billion dollar industry would simply fall apart. From what I have seen this preseason, however, I have become legitimately concerned.
EVERYTHING has become a penalty. Every time you touch a quarterback, every big hit, everything is flagged. I was especially bothered when the leauge fined Jon Bostic for his hit on Mattie Willie. Willie catches the ball, takes two steps up field and is blasted. Bostic was fined as Willie was deemed a 'defenseless' receiver. If that qualifies as a defenseless receiver, then every receiver is defenseless. It's ridiculous.
I applaud the league's efforts in trying to prvent head injuries. Players should not aim for other players' heads, nor should they lower their own head when trying to make a tackle. When players like Bostic get fined, however, that changes the game because it takes awy some of the LEGAL plays and hits that make the game great. When you start talking abot taking away kickoffs, you are changing the game. When you begin contemplating taking away lower body hits to prevent injuries like we saw happen to Dustin Keller, you change the game. There is simply no way to prevent injuries like that in a tackling league. Today's NFL is the most popular sport in America. At this rate, however, tomorrow's NFL is going to look very different.
The problem is that the lawsuit caused a disconnect between the league, the players, and the fans. Usually when there is a massive outcry following a rule change or a blown call, the league hears and responds. Last season, a labor dispute between the league and the referees forced the NFL to use replacement officials to start the season. When the debacle in Green Bay happened, the outcry forced the NFL's hand and by Thursday, the regular referees were back. The threat of this lawsuit, however, has deafened the NFL's ears to complaints from the fans and the players. Even when replays show one hit was actually to the shoulder rather than the head, or a roughing the passer call was actually the quarterback tripping over his own feet, the NFL continues to encourage the referees to continue making those calls. Rather than listening to the fan base that has made the NFL what it is, they ignore bad call after bad call all in the name of safety.
The stupidity of this is that it could all be fixed so easily. Do you think the player's union is not just as concerned over head injuries? Players these days are aware of the health risks associated with football, risks that former players may not have fully understood, and they still choose to play. The NFL should start a dialog with the union. They need to discuss what the league needs to do to keep the players safe, but also what risks the players are accepting by playing in the NFL. Make them sign a waiver saying they accept those risks so long as the NFL fulfills its obligations to keep them safe. Done. Problem solved. Maybe it is a bit more complicated than that, but I know the league and players could come to an agreement that acknowledges the inherent risk of playing football.
The league's tough stance on big hits stems from its fear over this concussion lawsuit. Now that it has been settled, I hope an actual solution can be reached because what I've seen in this preseason is not NFL football.
Showing posts with label concussion. Show all posts
Showing posts with label concussion. Show all posts
Thursday, August 29, 2013
Friday, October 12, 2012
Should RG3 Play this Sunday?
Last Sunday, all of DC collectively held its breath as
Robert Griffin III struggled to get up after a crushing hit to the head. He managed to stagger to his feet, but he was
soon taken to the locker room where he was diagnosed with a mild concussion.
The question on everyone’s mind this week has been whether Griffin would be ok to play Sunday against the Vikings. Griffin has practiced all week and has not exhibited any concussion symptoms. He has passed every test administered by doctors and, barring any setback between now and Sunday, it appears he will be able to play.
But should he? There seems to be little discussion among the Redskins’ coaches or the fans in DC. Why would you sit the most exciting player to play for the Redskins in at least 20 years? Nationally, however, many are asking why the Redskins would risk it (as a quick aside, I find it ironic that the Nationals were skewered for even considering shutting down Stephen Strasburg, but now everyone thinks Griffin should sit. Granted the Redskins are not playoff bound and we are only talking about one week, but I still find it ironic). Concussions are very tricky. They affect everyone differently and are very hard to predict. The severity of concussions and their symptoms may worsen with successive injuries, even if a subsequent injury occurs months or years after the initial one. Griffin suffered a concussion last year at Baylor and now five games into his NFL career he has already suffered another. If he is concussion prone it is likely that each one will be more difficult to recover from and recovery from severe concussions can take up to several months (see Nicklas Backstrom).
The Redskins are not headed to the playoffs. Let’s be real. They’re 2-3 right now, and their schedule is going to get increasingly more difficult. They are not the terrible team they have been over the past few years, but they still are not a playoff team. What do they gain, therefore, by playing Griffin only a week after his concussion?
I’m not a doctor so I’m not saying definitively whether Griffin should sit or play, but while most people are asking if Griffin can play Sunday, there’s a more important question that needs to be asked: will Griffin be less likely to suffer a concussion if he does not play this week? Obviously he won’t be concussed if he doesn’t play, but barring that, would there be any benefit to his health if he were to sit? The Redskins should not just be concerned with whether Griffin passes the concussion tests, they should be thinking about how to prevent him from getting his next one.
Even if he does play, there are things the Redskins can do to better protect their quarterback. Kyle Shanahan has come out and said Griffin’s injury will not affect his play-calling, but that’s probably just him posturing. The Redskins have to be smarter offensively and they have already altered their calls accordingly. In the first four games, Griffin averaged over 10 rushing attempts per game. He had only one against Atlanta. If teams think the playbook is wide open, however, they will have to prepare for it, explaining Kyle’s seemingly hard-line stance.
Griffin will also have to slide better. He has taken more than a few shots this season that perhaps he did not have to take. He has worked on sliding in practice this week, so hopefully we will see more of it as the season continues.
Ultimately, it all comes down to what the doctors say. Concussions have become a major issue for the NFL so it is not as if he will be allowed to play before he is ready. The issue is whether some “Strasburg” like precaution would benefit Griffin. Even if he passes the concussion tests, will he benefit from sitting out this week? If the doctors say he is completely fine and that another week won’t help him, then by all means let him play. If there is any possibility, however, that it could help prevent another concussion. You have to sit him. Is the chance to go 3-3 worth risking your franchise QB? Not to me.
The question on everyone’s mind this week has been whether Griffin would be ok to play Sunday against the Vikings. Griffin has practiced all week and has not exhibited any concussion symptoms. He has passed every test administered by doctors and, barring any setback between now and Sunday, it appears he will be able to play.
But should he? There seems to be little discussion among the Redskins’ coaches or the fans in DC. Why would you sit the most exciting player to play for the Redskins in at least 20 years? Nationally, however, many are asking why the Redskins would risk it (as a quick aside, I find it ironic that the Nationals were skewered for even considering shutting down Stephen Strasburg, but now everyone thinks Griffin should sit. Granted the Redskins are not playoff bound and we are only talking about one week, but I still find it ironic). Concussions are very tricky. They affect everyone differently and are very hard to predict. The severity of concussions and their symptoms may worsen with successive injuries, even if a subsequent injury occurs months or years after the initial one. Griffin suffered a concussion last year at Baylor and now five games into his NFL career he has already suffered another. If he is concussion prone it is likely that each one will be more difficult to recover from and recovery from severe concussions can take up to several months (see Nicklas Backstrom).
The Redskins are not headed to the playoffs. Let’s be real. They’re 2-3 right now, and their schedule is going to get increasingly more difficult. They are not the terrible team they have been over the past few years, but they still are not a playoff team. What do they gain, therefore, by playing Griffin only a week after his concussion?
I’m not a doctor so I’m not saying definitively whether Griffin should sit or play, but while most people are asking if Griffin can play Sunday, there’s a more important question that needs to be asked: will Griffin be less likely to suffer a concussion if he does not play this week? Obviously he won’t be concussed if he doesn’t play, but barring that, would there be any benefit to his health if he were to sit? The Redskins should not just be concerned with whether Griffin passes the concussion tests, they should be thinking about how to prevent him from getting his next one.
Even if he does play, there are things the Redskins can do to better protect their quarterback. Kyle Shanahan has come out and said Griffin’s injury will not affect his play-calling, but that’s probably just him posturing. The Redskins have to be smarter offensively and they have already altered their calls accordingly. In the first four games, Griffin averaged over 10 rushing attempts per game. He had only one against Atlanta. If teams think the playbook is wide open, however, they will have to prepare for it, explaining Kyle’s seemingly hard-line stance.
Griffin will also have to slide better. He has taken more than a few shots this season that perhaps he did not have to take. He has worked on sliding in practice this week, so hopefully we will see more of it as the season continues.
Ultimately, it all comes down to what the doctors say. Concussions have become a major issue for the NFL so it is not as if he will be allowed to play before he is ready. The issue is whether some “Strasburg” like precaution would benefit Griffin. Even if he passes the concussion tests, will he benefit from sitting out this week? If the doctors say he is completely fine and that another week won’t help him, then by all means let him play. If there is any possibility, however, that it could help prevent another concussion. You have to sit him. Is the chance to go 3-3 worth risking your franchise QB? Not to me.
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