Read the debate intro and Bleacher Fan’s argument.
Obviously – and unfortunately – concussions are part of the game of football. It is nothing new. If you are a San Francisco 49ers fan you know all about concussions since Steve Young’s last play as a professional football player was taking a sack that caused a concussion. Troy Aikman suffered many concussions as a player, too. This senior quarterback fella for the Florida Gators named Tim Tebow suffered a concussion earlier this year. And more recently, Ben Roethlisberger and Kurt Warner suffered concussions, not to mention Brian Westbrook, DeSean Jackson, and Clinton Portis. The list goes on and on. Wow, now that we mention it, concussions really have been abundant this year. This really is not a debate on how serious concussions can be if not treated properly. Let’s be honest, that really is not a debate. Treating a concussion properly includes sitting out the game after the injury takes place.
Concussions are so serious that even Congress is getting involved in the matter. The Sports Debates even touched on Congressional involvement about this issue in a debate in October. While I do not believe that Congress needs to interfere, I do believe that the NFL needs to treat concussions seriously.
Let’s look at Kurt Warner, shall we?
Warner admitted that he gave serious consideration to hiding the fact that he was still experiencing post-concussion symptoms so he could be able to play last weekend against the Titans. He certainly would not be the only one to hide that fact. In fact, 30 of the 160 players surveyed by the Associated Press last month said they have hidden or played down the effects of a concussion. Let’s say Warner decided to play with those post-concussion symptoms that he experienced due to the concussion he received in the game the week before. Maybe he plays the game and nothing happens to him. But maybe he takes a big hit from Keith Bullock or another Titans player and goes down with a major head injury, something that effects not only his season but the rest of his career and his life. The possibilities are endless as to what could have happened. Is it really worth that risk? Obviously, there is risk every time a player lines up between the hashes. But, to further that risk by playing just a week after suffering a concussion is irresponsible on the part of both the league and the player. Chances are the competitive nature of the player is going to make the player want to play. It is up to the NFL to set a policy to not allow players to play the week after being diagnosed with a concussion.
I am all for toughness in the NFL. It is what separates professional football from other sports. It is one thing to play a game the week after a spraining an ankle or hurting a shoulder. It is quite another to play the week after suffering a concussion. Concussions have lingering effects that quite possibly impact the rest of a person’s life. There is just absolutely no sense in risking it just for one week when there is possibly so much more at risk.
The NFL’s Head Case…or the Roethlisberger Debate
Well, we really want to win. We’ve got our starter jackets on and our team colors and we are tailgating our Sunday away for our home team.
Nobody likes a loser.
It is a ‘no pain, no gain,’ refrain. T-E-A-M.
The NFL has concussion syndrome and we are conflicted because we want to be the wild card at least, or better yet, be in the bowl of supers. Once again, the American sports machine collides head first with the idea of ethical conduct. Our compass is so damaged we are unable to tell.
Choose. Choose. Choose.
Now look, you could have the thrill of victory today or the agony of memory disease defeat tomorrow. Come on, it is a no brainer. I mean of course to say, proceed with your swelled brain and scattered thoughts and before you know it you can be like Hansel and Gretel in your own home, dropping sunflower seeds to find your bathroom.
Beware of Mr. Ward with his slippery tongue, confused on loyalty and justness by his blindness for the machismo machine that for so long has given us mean joe’s and the curtains of steel where head on head contact and horse collars are penalized but celebrated.
Mr. Goodell, take a stand, forget the money, think of what is right, kind, safe and you will be a hero, a leader, an MVP among each and every pony leaguer and aspiring QB, RB, DB, OL, WR. Put on your helmet Roger and take the hits necessary to change and evolve this culture of suck it up and lie it up and shoot it up. Get out of the midfield and step around this minefield and be a revolutionary and renaissance man who above all protects and pads a man’s brain for after all, you should know, because of the brain, they are all the little engines that can.
Stop playing the blind sided leader. In this game, there is none.
Well turned and clever writing!
Excellent comment!
That’s basically what I was trying to say, though I think you actually got the point across better than I did!
I’m not sure how realistic it is to expect a true competitor to want to sit out after a concussion, especially in a chase for a playoff spot. Therefore, I think the league should take matters into its own hands and make it mandatory to sit out. No questions asked. This takes the pressure off the player to make that decision.