In the past few years, there has been controversy surrounding concussions in the National Football League (NFL). It all began to snowball in 2002, where Dr. Bennet Omalu identified chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) in the brain of Mike Webster, 50, a former Pittsburg Steeler whom committed suicide. Webster being the first case of CTE found in American football players.
CTE is a very scary degenerative brain disease most prevalent in athletes, military veterans, and others with a history of repeated brain trauma. CTE is characterized by Tau protein aggregating and killing brain cells; the same protein plays a role in Alzheimer’s disease. Symptoms of CTE include memory loss, confusion, decreased cognitive functioning, behavioral changes, impaired judgement, and eventually progressive dementia. As with any degenerative diseases, symptoms worsen over time.
CTE is caused by many repeated blows to the head, which have been nearly unavoidable in football. These hits, combined with the magnitude of force behind them are a significant cause of concern for the immediate and future safety of the players. However, it was not until March 2016 where the NFL openly admitted to a connection between football and CTE. This statement was only after copious amounts of irrefutable research and film was presented to the NFL.
Later in 2016, the NFL and NFL Player’s Association implemented a new policy to enforce a concussion protocol, and a similar concern was echoed by Commissioner Goodell to increase the safety of the game specifically by attempting to reduce the number of head injuries sustained as well as offer better protocols for those who have suffered an injury.
Such actions involved having a neurologist on the field to determine if a player has suffered a concussion after a significant blow to the head. Other actions include making certain blocks and hits involving specific head to head contact illegal. Particular care was placed on plays during kickoffs, which have proven to be the most dangerous plays, which makes sense because you have 300 lb men sprinting as fast as they can 70 yards and hitting others as hard as possible making a very dangerous situation for both the receiving and the kicking team.
In the 2016-17 season, the impact of these new restrictions was lackluster, there were very few penalties called by the referees. Therefore, when there was a call made correctly as implicated by the new rules, many players, coaches, and fans alike would become very frustrated. This inconsistency of calling opened the NFL up to criticism by many.
Moreover, a study published in July 2017 identified CTE in 99% of deceased NFL players’ brains. The players donated their brains for the study, so the study is not 100% reflective of the NFL as a whole, but the sheer magnitude of 99% (110/111 players) should be met with a striking concern.
Moving forward in the 17-18 and 18-19 season, referees have become much more consistent and aware to which plays are illegal and deserve to be penalized. Many fans are still upset about the rules and a common sentiment being, “it changes the integrity of the game.” This is inherently true, but as the players adjust to the tighter hitting restrictions, there will be fewer interruptions due to appropriately called penalties, and the game will continue on.
Yes, the game will never be the same. But, do we really want a game where the players are receiving head injury after head injury causing them to have severe neurological issues? The safety and well-being of the players should reign over the “big hit” mentality. There will undoubtedly still be big hits, just not hits by a head or to a head.
https://www.cnn.com/2013/08/30/us/nfl-concussions-fast-facts/index.html
http://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/24743994/really-changed-nfl-call-action-concussions
