Concussions drawing more attention from NFL

At the NFL CBA meeting, along with wages and other news, they will be discussing player safety and how to deal with injuries such as concussions. I am glad they are taking more action with concussions, which in my mind are a highly urgent topic to discuss. I believe that if you eliminate factors such as sending players back in with concussions, it will make a difference. This will also decrease the possibility of getting Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy. If we all work together we can make a difference.

Connor Sudderth

Helmet hits cause head drauma

Concussions are more common with young-players then people think. Young athletes today in football are taught differently than NFL players were taught. Some coaches teach their players to go in with their head which is a major safety issue. Players who go in with their helmet when tackling are 90% more likely to be injured then a player who does not. The NFL today deals with those type of helmet to helmet hits, but all they really do is just yell at them and then fine the player. If I was a coach and one of my players used his helmet and got flagged, I wouldn't yell at him, I would just take him aside and talk to him about how to tackle. CTE is a major issue today and can be fatal. So don't do helmet to helmet hits because I know you don't want to deal with all the "head drauma".

Connor Sudderth

My abstract video

Christopher Nowinski interview

Link to Christopher Nowinski interview

http://www.npr.org/2011/01/20/133053436/brain-injuries-haunt-football-players-years-later

Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy video

Check out this video about Owen Thomas who got Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy.

http://search.espn.go.com/results?searchString=outside

Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy is a disease that affects the brain and is caused by repeated head drauma. This disease kills cells in the brain responsible for mood, emotions, and executive functioning. Boston University created CSTE, Center for the Study of Traumatic Encephalopathy, to conduct studies and look at former athletes brains and determine the causes of Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy. At the site, it offers the chance for people after they've died, to donate their brain to CSTE and have it used to conduct studies and research on Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy.

Connor Sudderth

Check out this video

Pat White is knocked out by this helmet-helmet hit.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E2ypsZwelKY

Concussions easy to get

Concussions are getting worse but the way players are getting them is getting worse. Owen Schmitt, one of West Virginia's best full-backs of all-time, got a concussion after a punt. But it wasn't during the punt at all, he suffered a concussion after the play when he slammed his helmet into his head because he had made a bad punt. It was later reported that this was Owen's only concussions/injury during his entire college career. The ways players get concussions these days are getting more ridiculous every year. I respect Owen, but give me a break, who bangs their helmet against their head for a bad play. Anyone can get knocked down, but it takes a true player to get back up again, and keep on fight'in til the end.

Connor Sudderth

Injuries not holding back players

In the NFL 97% of all players suffer an injury during their football career. But in that same study, the NFL found that 57% of players who are injured in a game go back into the same game while they are injured. This isn't good for the athletes because they have a 78% of their injury getting worse. Chicago Bears quarterback Jay Culter, who could not go back in because he was injured, was criticized by the fans because they thought he wasn't injured and that he just didn't want to get hit anymore. Jay Cutler did go back in for 1 series but the extent of his injury increased. I applaud Jay, who is one my favorite quarterbacks, by choosing the right decision to play it safe. Mr. Cutler, like all players, wants to be looked at by the fans as the best, but who really cares??? Just because the fans won't like if you doesn't mean you should take the risk of injuring yourself even more. You may not have the respect of the fans, but you'll have the respect of me.

Connor Sudderth

Concussions effecting football more

In a Oustide The Lines (OTL) report, former NFL players who were effected by concussions, said they would not let their children play football because of what happened when they were still in the game. In a study, it was found that 12% of parents with kids, would not let their children play football. Out of that 12%, 94% said it was because of head injuries, while 6% said of medical conditions. Parents shouldn't keep their kids out of the game, if they want to prevent concussions, they should take more precautions.

Connor Sudderth

Concussions, finally showing their effects?

On December 16th, 2009, Chris Henry, injured wide-reciever for the Cincinati Bengals, was riding in the back of a truck being drive by his fiancee when Henry fell out of the truck backwards on his head. He was rushed to a hospital immediately, but died the next day. It was later reported that Henry had suffered head injuries before the accident. This is an example of the aftermath of concussions. This doesn't always happen, but there is a risk it could.

Connor Sudderth