Michael Kasdan discusses the breaking evidence showing that the extent of football’s link to brain trauma is serious and far worse than expected.
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A few weeks ago, in this very space, I wrote that “Perhaps its a failure of imagination, but I cannot at this point imagine pro football wilting and withering away.” But I also said that “I do feel that we are beginning to grapple with, think about, and discuss the troubling issues of health and safety, violence and misconduct, and their connection to the NFL more so than ever before. Who knows where that discussion and exploration may one day lead.” Thanks for the segue.
Because on the issue of health and safety, we’re going to start having that discussion now and its a serious one.
The NFL’s concussion problem just got worse. A lot worse.
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Today, PBS Frontline released new data in its analysis of medical records of retired NFL players:
As the NFL nears an end to its long-running legal battle over concussions, new data from the nation’s largest brain bank focused on traumatic brain injury has found evidence of a degenerative brain disease in 76 of the 79 former players it’s examined.
The findings represent a more than twofold increase in the number of cases of chronic traumatic encephalopathy, or CTE, that have been reported by the Department of Veterans Affairs’ brain repository in Bedford, Mass.
Researchers there have now examined the brain tissue of 128 football players who, before their deaths, played the game professionally, semi-professionally, in college or in high school. Of that sample, 101 players, or just under 80 percent, tested positive for CTE.
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The report acknowledged that the data is skewed, because testing may only be performed posthumously and many of the players who have donated their brains for research suspected that they may have had CTE while still alive. However, doctors connected with the study expressed their strong view that this data clearly shows a link: “playing football, and the higher the level you play football and the longer you play football, the higher your risk.”
Among the players who were found to have CTE were former Chicago Bears safety, Dave Duerson, who committed suicide in 2011, and KC Chiefs linebacker Jovan Belcher, who shot and killed his girlfriend before committing suicide at the Chiefs practice facility in 2012.
This is the latest in the ongoing NFL concussion saga. As we’ve previously discussed:
For many years, the NFL has obfuscated and sought to sweep this problem under the rug. While disturbing, this is not so surprising. I had always considered the concussion issue the most difficult issue for the NFL to deal with. If they admit that the game is unsafe and they knew it, it puts the whole game at risk. All of it.
Just a few weeks ago, another disturbing story broke on the NFL’s other high profile problem: concussions and the overall safety of the game. The big news? According to the NFL’s own estimates in their class action lawsuit against former players who had sued the league, alleging that the NFL had hidden the dangers of concussions from them, almost 1/3 of players are expected to suffer from brain trauma. This is a number that shocks the conscious.
Today’s PBS Frontline Report, an update to their 2013 documentary ‘League of Denial,’ shows that the depth of the problem may be even worse.
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According to the report, an NFL spokesperson did not respond to several requests for comment.
But the mounting evidence cannot be ignored. And the ethics of playing – and watching – this game, has never been brought further into question.
The NFL can no longer be The League of Denial.
The question rapidly is becoming, can the NFL be anything at all?
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(Photo: AP/File)
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For more Good Men Project Sports coverage of the recent issues coming out of the NFL, check out:
- Roger S. Goodell, Will You Please Go Now? (Sept. 22, 2014)
- The National Football League: Too Big To Fail? (Sept. 13, 2014)
My 49er room mate I found living under an overpass in 2012. He asked, “Do you think there’s anything wrong with me?”
Channel 13 News Sacramento 10/29/12 Terry Tuatolo interview
http://sacramento.cbslocal.com/video/7898539-former-nfl-linebacker-falls-into-homelessness/
Old Coach Helps Former 49er Battle Back From Homelessness – CBS 13 Sacramento
http://sacramento.cbslocal.com/2014/08/17/old-coach-helps-former-49er-battle-back-from-homelessness/
George Visger
I agree with getting rid of helmets. I recommended that to Dr Rich Ellenbogen, co-chair of the NFL’s Head, Neck and Spine Injury group in 2010 (see Sports Digest, December 2010 – The Visger Rules). As a member of the 81 SF 49ers Super Bowl team, I developed hydrocephalus from concussions and underwent emergency VP Shunt brain surgery. I was told I could keep playing with the plumbing they installed in my head. Four months after our Super Bowl XVI win, my shunt failed I had two more brain surgeries 10 hrs apart, a coma, and was given last rites.… Read more »
Eric-
I’d love to see your article when you have a link.
Mike
Eric: I was just talking to a friend today who proposed that same solution. Its an interesting, albeit massively counter-intuitive idea. Another proposal from a friend was to return to the age of all players being two-way-players. Players would be smaller and defenders probably wouldn’t hit at the head knowing that they were possible targets on the other side.
The other idea is that we can all just play Madden on Playstation 😉
good point about smaller players, rugby union used to be a balance between the front play of big lads scrumming and smashing into each other, and the back play of backs sidestepping and twinklingtoe evading tackles like 1980s aussie legend david campese here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0rfTcww49zM when the game turned professional in the early 90s, the players became alot bigger while still being as fast, space on the pitch got smaller, and the game became more about a grindfest of big body running forward one meter and smashing into another big body. two way players or widening the pitch would mean that… Read more »
In football with helmets, players use them not for protection, but as weaponry
thats a very good point, ive often wondered about that too.
do you, or anyone else reading, know if sports science has studied whether not wearing a helmet (especially for elite girdiron players) would reduce head injuries
In my newspaper column today (sadly, not yet available online) I propose my solution to the concussion problem – get rid of helmets and shoulder pads in football. Having played football without a helmet for five years during my late 20s and football with a helmet for a few years in my early 20s, I can say conclusively that, in rugby (football without a helmet), players instinctively get their heads out of the collision zone. In football with helmets, players use them not for protection, but as weaponry. In football, brain damage stems from the brain sloshing around and banging… Read more »
It’s funny how the NFL has not found evidence of that link but they did right no evidence that soccer has links to brain injury….really soccer has nothing to do with the NFL ….the commission just feel threatened by MLS to take NFL fan base out and has to point fingers….if anyone cares to read it http://www.theonion.com/articles/nfl-releases-new-study-on-dangers-of-concussions-i,36438/
The Onion is a parody website. This article is a joke.