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
Showing posts with label Philadelphia Eagles. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Philadelphia Eagles. Show all posts
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
Monday, September 13, 2010
NFL Week 1 Injury Report: Concussions
There is a developing trend among contact sports, in particular those involving head to head, head to shoulder, or even head to leg contact that is an ever present phenomenon and is one that should not being taken lightly. Concussions were at the forefront of the NFL Week 1 injury report, noting that four players (Eagles QB Kevin Kolb and LB Stewart Bradley, Panthers QB Matt Moore and Giants TE Kevin Boss) were properly assessed, treated and diagnosed for head related injuries sustained within the normal scope of play during Sunday's opening weekend.
While co-chairman of the NFL's Brain, Head and Neck Medical Committee claimed that, "he did not see the four concussions sustained by players in the first weekend as a trend,” one has to believe that the physical nature of the game, in conjunction with the size, speed, quickness and unrelenting play displayed by NFL players should raise red flags in the Exercise and Sport Science community. The so called "anti-concussion" helmet that Riddell developed roughly five years ago has been used widely throughout the league and rules preventing players from leading the with head (helmet as weapon), attacking defenseless receivers or illegally contacting someone else’s helmet/facemask are all in place, but when does it become less about the equipment and rules and more about the injuries condescend to violent contact sports like football.
With that being said I guess the ultimate debate lies in the transition point between the recognition of symptoms, subsequent testing and diagnosis. On Sunday Eagles LB Stewart Bradley returned to the field of play after Bradley, “banged his head on a teammate's leg, struggled to get up, took a couple steps and fell helmet-first onto the ground." Bradley not only re-entered the game, but it was not until being re-evaluated in the locker room at halftime that he was deemed unable to perform. So here's my question, where do we draw the line between a player "saying" he is okay (after taking a severe shot to the head), the coach wanting the player to return to play, their teammates own desires to see them return to play and the medical professionals opinion on how to ultimately make an overriding decision? As Dr. Adam Shunk states, "Some (players) are very responsible with their own health and others are going back to play because it determines their salaries and bonuses," he said. "But athletes generally are aware now that they have to think about whether they should return to play or not."
While these comments are reassuring, I feel that until athletic trainers, team doctors and other licensed medical professionals can conduct their work within the scope of their profession and truly make the tough decision to sideline a player, the politics and mindset/mentality involved in football will override that of the team physician. I feel that the ultimate goal is to preserve the safety and integrity of these athletes and to prevent conditions like Second Impact Syndrome or other traumatic brain injury from decrementing the livelihood of these players now and into the future.
For more information on Second Impact Syndrome visit:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2672291/
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