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