By NICHOLAS NEGRON
Contributing Writer
Concussions have been blamed for early retirement, memory loss, depression and even suicide. Football is a sport where head injuries are prominent. These injuries have caused the establishment of committees that study the long-term effects of concussions. The NFL has been under scrutiny for a long time on how they handle their players who suffer from concussions.
A concussion is described in a dictionary as an “injury to the brain or spinal cord due to jarring from a blow, fall, or the like….shock caused by the impact of a collision, blow, etc”. The study of concussions in sports is not new. There has been controversy for over 20 years in the NFL over long-term damage from repeated head trauma. The MTBI (Mild Traumatic Brain Injury Committee) was approved by then NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue in 1994. From the start there was backlash over Tagliabue’s choice to head the committee. Dr. Elliot Pellman, a rheumatologist, was selected as the chair. Rheumatologists normally study issues involving vasculitis, joints, soft tissues, and autoimmune diseases. He is not a neurologist, a person who studies the brain, spinal cord and peripheral nerves.
Professor David Hovda is quoted by ESPN’s Outside the Lines speaking about the committee saying “The paranoia was they [NFL] wanted to find zippo. They wanted to find that this was not a problem. They wanted to keep it sequestered.”
An unknown source spoke with ESPN’s Outside the Lines about Dr. Pellman saying,“He’s a brilliant politician… He morphed his position on the Jets to a position with the NFL… He’s completely unqualified.”
Tagliabue defends his choice saying “ [It] was based on his experience in sports medicine.. and recommendations from Jets ownership and management.”
Steven Fainaru and John Barr of ESPN’s Outside the Lines write “In 2003, the NFL — with Pellman still in charge of the committee — published the first of 16 studies, many of which suggested concussions were not a significant problem in the NFL. Tagliabue had previously expressed skepticism about the seriousness of the league’s concussion problem.”
Dr. Pellman writes in a study “ Return to play does not involve a significant risk of a second injury, either in the same game or during the season.”
This cannot be farther from the truth. After a concussion, someone is twice more likely to become injured a second time. After that second time they are even more likely to become injured a third time, and so on. Dr. Pellman himself had irresponsibly examined players on the sidelines and sent them back into the game. Pellman resigned from the committee in 2007. Three years later he resigned from the Jets. Roger Goodell , the current NFL commissioner, has downplayed the role of Pellman in interviews. Goodell states the NFL was the first to establish a committee. He also says Pellman was not working alone, and that there were many members on the committee.
Dr. Pellman is quoted in Outside the Lines saying, “As an administrator, I take full responsibility…But everyone on that committee had a say and nothing went on paper without a consensus”.
Fainaru and Barr go further to say to Outside the Lines “Pellman’s relationship with Tagliabue is certain to be explored thoroughly if the lawsuit filed by more than 4,800 retired players against the NFL moves forward. The league has distanced itself from the MTBI committee, asserting that its work was independent. The league also says its Head, Neck and Spine Committee, which replaced the MTBI group, operates independently of the league office. Last month, a judge ordered the two sides in the lawsuit to mediation to seek a settlement.”
Many former football players have filed lawsuits against NFL over their negligence when it comes to the issue of head injuries. Kyle Brady, a former Jets tight end joined a lawsuit with Kevin Mawae, a former center for the Jets. Both men were seriously injured during games. Brady describes to Outside the Lines the “worst concussion of his career” from a helmet to helmet collision in a January 1999 game, “My eyes were flashing, I heard the roar of the crowd and I wasn’t even aware of where I was. I had a ringing in my ears and immediately felt nauseous like I was going to vomit”.
Brady was examined on the sideline and was cleared for the next series. He was disoriented to the point where he could not remember plays or how to line up.
Dave Duerson was a former Chicago Bear safety who committed suicide. He left a note asking that his brain be examined. He then wrote to look for evidence of football-related damage. A wrongful-death lawsuit was filed against the NFL and helmet maker company, Riddell. This lawsuit was merged into and addressed along with the other thousands of lawsuits brought up against the NFL and Riddell. The NFL and over 4,500 former players have settled the lawsuit with a $765 million settlement that would fund medical research and exams as well as compensation.
Of course, the NFL is not the only sport with significant concussion related injuries. However, the way helmets are made and the way players play are once again being re-evaluated. It is truly cruel for an organization to allow its athletes to play when they are not fit to do so. Owners and coaches may care more about winning or their own paycheck than the wellbeing of their players. It glorifies the viciousness of football without taking the time to evaluate risks.
