By Kyle Anderson Staff Writer
Slurred speech, blurred vision, headaches, nausea and memory loss are some of the most common yet frightening side effects of concussions. And traditionally in the NFL, these were the side effects that many athletes would play through, from week to week.
Thankfully, the NFL and Commissioner Roger Goodell have enacted a new policy regarding concussions and a player's game eligibility.
Starting last week, any player who has sustained a concussion in a game or practice will be examined by a neurologist and must pass a neurological examination before returning to play.
As reported by the Associated Press, any player who has sustained a blow to the head and cannot remember simple plays, has memory loss, is dizzy or unbalanced, or has lost consciousness will not be allowed to return to the game or practice.
Considering the recent case of Steelers'quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, this new policy has arrived just in time.
After leaving a game against the Kansas City Chiefs on Nov. 22 with a concussion, the Pittsburgh Steelers decided to sit their franchise quarterback the following week against division rival Baltimore. While the concussion was Roethlisberger's fourth since 2006, he still caught flak from numerous journalists and teammates for missing the game.
In particular, Big Ben received heat from wide receiver Hines Ward, who felt that Roethlisberger could have played the game, despite lingering headaches. In effect, Roethlisberger's critics were telling him to forget about his throbbing brain, and focus on the game.
Players fight through injuries all the time in NFL. But don't be mistaken, playing through turf toe is not the same as playing with blurred vision and memory loss. It's time NFL players check their ego and their machoism at the door. And hopefully the NFL's new concussion problem will help end the debate over whether players should fight through head injuries.
Importantly, the policy requires all NFL teams to consult an independent neurologist in addition to the team's employed neurologist.
However, the policy continues by saying players "are to be encouraged to be candid with team medical staffs and fully disclose any signs or symptoms that may be associated with a concussion."
Considering an Associated Press poll of 160 NFL players found that 30 had lied about suffering concussions so they could return to the field, it is unlikely that all players will sit out due to the lingering effects of a concussion.
While the new policy certainly isn't fool-proof, it has paved the way for further guidelines protecting athletes. And now that the NFL has stepped up, it is time that the NCAA does the same thing.
Many NFL athletes play through serious injuries because their paychecks depend on it. No one wants to enter free agency after missing half of last season, so these players fight through the pain and frequently injure themselves worse.
While NCAA athletes are not earning a paycheck, they do face similar pressures. No college graduate wants to enter the NFL draft carrying the stigma of being constantly injured and weak. That being said, it is probable that many college athletes fight through similar head injuries in order to improve their chances of playing professionally. And while a few more professional careers may be born, countless other college athletes will suffer from the lingering effects of playing through injury.
Obviously without a football team, Loyola's training staff sees fewer concussions than many bigger schools, but the risk of head injuries is still very high in lacrosse and even soccer. At the club level, hockey and rugby also pose serious risks for those playing.
No one wants to imagine one of Loyola's student athletes playing through a serious head injury, and if the NCAA decides to enact a similar strategy as the NFL many injuries will be avoided.
If the NCAA puts a policy in place restricting the eligibility of injured athletes, the responsibility of playing injured is completely removed from the athlete. All aspiring athletes want to compete regardless of injury, but if they are not eligible, the entire decision making process has been removed. For the player's benefit.
While the new policy has the right motives, it is only a step in the right direction. Players will still find a way to play injured, (considering the clause which asks all players to be truthful about injuries) but it will be much more acceptable for athletes to sit out when hurt.
Hopefully further action will be taken by the NFL to protect players, but until then we will probably hear from more disgruntled teammates who wish their quarterback would man up and play with ringing in his ears and extreme nausea.
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