Earlier this week I wrote and article highlighting the growing concern of concussions and Second Impact Syndrome in professional football and offered some insight into the NFL's on-site diagnosis, treatment and evaluation standards. Just yesterday, Richard Sandomir of the New York Times, weighed on the immediate reaction to Eagles Middle Linebacker Stewart Bradley's concussion by Fox NFL Sunday announcers Troy Aikman and Joe Buck, who were on location in Philadelphia to call the Eagles vs. Packers game on opening week.
Having watched the live broadcast and seen the hit in real time, in addition to a number of replays from three or four alternative angles, it was clear that the hit Bradley took was a one and done contact injury that should have sidelined him for the rest of the game. As the article highlights, Aikman and Buck were astonished to see him return to the field only minutes later and begin play. Aikman and Buck expressed their concern and immediate surprise to seeing his return to the game stating that, "it was hard to watch," and that he appeared, "dazed and confused."
Although Bradley did not play in the Eagles final defensive series before the half, all signs pointed to Bradley having passed his sideline concussion screening, having been cleared by medical professionals to take the field. Whether or not this is true is still inconclusive, but as highlighted earlier this week, he was held out of the second half and has yet to pass post concussion testing at the Eagles facility this week following the hit.
With a degree Exercise and Sport Science it is easy for someone like myself to recognize the signs, symptoms and overall body language of a player that has sustained contact induced head trauma, but for seasoned announcers to do the same is a statement to the severity of the injury at the point of contact. While sideline reporter Pam Oliver did not weigh in on the issue before half, it was apparent that the broadcasters were put in a situation where there was an uncertain line between what was deemed acceptable to say, and what was not.
With Aikman having a series of concussions in his NFL medical history it was apparent both from the broadcast and article that he was aware of the situation and I feel he, as well as Buck, should have weighed in on the issue or at least drawn comparison to the situation and used it as an opportunity to continue to educate viewers. I feel that it is important for broadcasters and announcers, and I have thought so for some time, to be educated or understand the injury or trauma related to the sport with which they cover. As the voice of the game, I feel that it is within the scope of their profession to understand game related physiology and to weigh in on such issues during broadcasts.
It would be great to gain insight and add value to the discussion of injuries and offer advice to younger views, parents and fans on what the injury was and how it impacts their performance on a more scientific level. While this might be asking for too much, I feel that if we continue to neglect these issues it is only a matter of time before the inevitable happens, that being catastrophic injury, disability or death on the field during an NFL game. It has happened before and will happen again, the question is when will someone truly take action to protect the players at all cost and educate them on the value of respecting their bodies, and more importantly, their minds.
*A link to the NY Times article is below and the footage can be seen by clicking on the title of this post.
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/17/sports/football/17sandomir.html?_r=1
Friday, September 17, 2010
Football Friday: Return of Eagles Bradley leaves Fox announcers stunned
Earlier this week I wrote and article highlighting the growing concern of concussions and Second Impact Syndrome in professional football and offered some insight into the NFL's on-site diagnosis, treatment and evaluation standards. Just yesterday, Richard Sandomir of the New York Times, weighed on the immediate reaction to Eagles Middle Linebacker Stewart Bradley's concussion by Fox NFL Sunday announcers Troy Aikman and Joe Buck, who were on location in Philadelphia to call the Eagles vs. Packers game on opening week.
Having watched the live broadcast and seen the hit in real time, in addition to a number of replays from three or four alternative angles, it was clear that the hit Bradley took was a one and done contact injury that should have sidelined him for the rest of the game. As the article highlights, Aikman and Buck were astonished to see him return to the field only minutes later and begin play. Aikman and Buck expressed their concern and immediate surprise to seeing his return to the game stating that, "it was hard to watch," and that he appeared, "dazed and confused."
Although Bradley did not play in the Eagles final defensive series before the half, all signs pointed to Bradley having passed his sideline concussion screening, having been cleared by medical professionals to take the field. Whether or not this is true is still inconclusive, but as highlighted earlier this week, he was held out of the second half and has yet to pass post concussion testing at the Eagles facility this week following the hit.
With a degree Exercise and Sport Science it is easy for someone like myself to recognize the signs, symptoms and overall body language of a player that has sustained contact induced head trauma, but for seasoned announcers to do the same is a statement to the severity of the injury at the point of contact. While sideline reporter Pam Oliver did not weigh in on the issue before half, it was apparent that the broadcasters were put in a situation where there was an uncertain line between what was deemed acceptable to say, and what was not.
With Aikman having a series of concussions in his NFL medical history it was apparent both from the broadcast and article that he was aware of the situation and I feel he, as well as Buck, should have weighed in on the issue or at least drawn comparison to the situation and used it as an opportunity to continue to educate viewers. I feel that it is important for broadcasters and announcers, and I have thought so for some time, to be educated or understand the injury or trauma related to the sport with which they cover. As the voice of the game, I feel that it is within the scope of their profession to understand game related physiology and to weigh in on such issues during broadcasts.
It would be great to gain insight and add value to the discussion of injuries and offer advice to younger views, parents and fans on what the injury was and how it impacts their performance on a more scientific level. While this might be asking for too much, I feel that if we continue to neglect these issues it is only a matter of time before the inevitable happens, that being catastrophic injury, disability or death on the field during an NFL game. It has happened before and will happen again, the question is when will someone truly take action to protect the players at all cost and educate them on the value of respecting their bodies, and more importantly, their minds.
*A link to the NY Times article is below and the footage can be seen by clicking on the title of this post.
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/17/sports/football/17sandomir.html?_r=1
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