NFL Blows Whistle on Concussion Study Using Helmet Sensors

By Kavitha Davidson, Bloomberg View | February 26, 2015

  • February 26, 2015 at 12:30 pm
    Killing The Breeze says:
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    It’s more important to get helmet safety right than get it to market fast. Concussions are real. http://killingthebreeze.com/concussions-and-the-nfl/

  • February 26, 2015 at 2:04 pm
    Mickey Dee says:
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    I think the NFL should put the sensors on the heads of the wives and girlfriends of their players to measure blows to their heads.

    • February 26, 2015 at 2:11 pm
      Agent says:
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      Good one Mickey. Perhaps Rice’s wife needed a helmut for protection when he knocked her out.

  • February 26, 2015 at 2:34 pm
    FFA says:
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    Its a violent sport. Those that go into it know this before they walk on the field. Its like getting hit with a foul ball at the baseball park. There has to be some assumption of risk by the participants.

    • February 26, 2015 at 3:12 pm
      Agent says:
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      FFA, all they need to do is ban the modern helmet altogether. Make the players wear the old style leather helmet and I promise you they wouldn’t be leading with their head and concussions would not be mentioned again as a problem.

      • February 26, 2015 at 4:48 pm
        FFA says:
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        Old School Leather Heads.

        • February 26, 2015 at 5:23 pm
          Agent says:
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          FFA, didn’t Red Grange play for the Bears back in the formative days of the league? They wore leather helmets back then and I haven’t read of any players having to retire from concussion injuries. Maybe the players were smarter back then. Of course the players were not as big or fast back then, but films I have seen doesn’t show tackles with the head either. Even Dick Butkus did not tackle with his head. He did like wrapping a back up and then falling on him with his full weight.

      • February 26, 2015 at 4:56 pm
        SWFL Agent says:
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        Not a bad idea but some of the head injuries are not caused by head to head contact. Tim Tebow incurred a concussion in college when his head was knocked into the knee of another player. Helmet technology can only go so far and it can’t do much when an abrupt stop occurs and the brain slams against the skull.

      • February 26, 2015 at 5:21 pm
        Dave says:
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        Agent, I’ve been saying the same thing for years now. When helmets became “so good” as to protect the head against very hard impacts, players began using their helmets and heads as weapons. One would never do that with a less than inch thick leather helmet.

        This is a huge problem for the NFL, players and cities which built the coliseums, I mean stadiums they play in. It’s a violent sport, that’s part of what brings out the fans. The danger to players is apparent and the duty owed to them is debateable, but the recent $750 million settlement puts a lot of blame on the league. I don’t know how they fund for the next wave of suits they may have and if the league can survive. And if not, what to do with those coliseums, um I mean stadiums. And what about high school and college football?

        Chris Conte of the Bears recently said he’d gladly give up a couple years of this life to have the opportunity to play ball and live the life of a professional athlete. How would guys like him feel if the league had to fold up over these issues? And I think about boxing. No helmets in a sport where the object of the game is to give your opponent a concussion, to knock him out. I guess because that’s an individual sport where there is no owner to sue, nobody questions that. I don’t know what the solution is, but football’s very survival depends on one. I’m thinking make the sport as safe as possible and have the players assume most of the responsibilities for what happens to them in the coliseum, um I mean field. We’ll see.

        • February 27, 2015 at 12:52 pm
          FFA says:
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          “Chris Conte of the Bears recently said he’d gladly give up a couple years of this life to have the opportunity to play ball and live the life of a professional athlete”

          Chris Conte don’t play like a pro. Please take him off the Chicago Roster. BTW, he is also made of glass.

          • April 2, 2015 at 9:52 am
            Agent says:
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            FFA, since this story came out, the NHL players are also wanting benefits from concussion injuries. Have you noticed their little baby plastic helmets? They are very similar to bike riders girly helmets that Obama uses when he is on one of his numerous vacations. I think the NHL may have more concussions from fights they get into during the game.

          • April 2, 2015 at 3:24 pm
            Agent says:
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            Hey FFA, a little off subject, but I think I have found a job for Stan, the unemployed.

            Our new Secretary of Defense Ash Carter (the one who Joe Biden groped his wife) is now getting desperate for recruits. He is now giving the opportunity for older guys to sign up and promised he would help them pay off their college loans with big bonuses. Stan could sign up, they could make a man out of him and if he is lucky, he could get sent to the Middle East where the action is.

      • February 27, 2015 at 7:41 am
        CL PM says:
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        Question: Does anyone know the data about concussions in professional rugby overseas? Lots of tackling and hitting in those leagues, but no helmets so I presume no leading with the head. Could be interesting case study for this idea.

      • April 1, 2015 at 5:45 pm
        YouDub says:
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        While that would certainly prevent the concussions from spearing using their helmets, the world of Rugby is having their own concussion issue right now and it is looking like it may be even MORE dangerous than American football as far as concussions go. Players may know and assume the risk, but then again… how many were smart enough to even get into college in the first place if it weren’t for their football skills? Many don’t have a lot to fall back on if they can’t make it big in the NFL.

        • April 2, 2015 at 11:47 am
          Agent says:
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          I think we can all agree that football players are not exactly rocket scientists. They make a lot of money for a short time, then one injury and they are retired, make bad investments and the money is gone. Dwight Freeney was an all pro defensive end for the Colts and then was traded to the Chargers. He is suing Bank of America for fraud for a restaurant investment he made with their advice. Had to close it down. He is 35 now and is probably through as a player. If he doesn’t win, he may be washing cars soon.

  • February 27, 2015 at 8:31 am
    UCT says:
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    The older players, circa 1940’s & 1950’s, tackled at the waist. Watch any of the old games and you saw guys lowering their shoulder to make a tackle, but they never went after an opponent’s head. The helmet, while it make look all fancy, has not improved anything. It has made even the youngest of players go for the head shot instead of learning to properly lower the shoulder and actually tackle someone.

    I don’t think it matters how many sensors they put in the helmets, or how safe they claim the newest models are. When you have a 250lb linebacker who has never been taught to tackle, he is going to do what they do now, aim for the head.

    I would also like to see some studies done on Steroids and Growth Hormones being used amongst NFL players. When I was working out at one particular gym, the gym manager came down with Parkinson’s in this mid 30’s. He was also a former bodybuilding competitor and a massive user (admittedly) of both HGH and Steroids. Many former bodybuilders end up with brain issues, usually beginning in their 40’s, but some have happened earlier. Are we absolutely positive these brain injuries coming from the NFL are all due to concussions? I think if they really wanted to do the research, they would, and they may find that the combination of all the drugs they pump into their body have more to do with these brain injuries than concussions alone.

  • February 28, 2015 at 9:32 am
    Steve says:
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    Three things we know, Boxers with Glass jaw are prone to punch drunk syndrome, then pugilistica dementia or CTE. Wood peckers endure emence forces due to strengthened necks, jaws and cartilage structures. UPMC has discovered recently the majority of concussion is related to vestibular issues,inner ear, cervical spine and facial nerves. Sensor and helmets for that matter can do nothing to effect these areas proven in history. So why the focus on helmets and sensors. New data shows neuromuscular dentistry has made significant in roads to discovering new methods in optimizing neck and upper trunk strength and symettry and aligning cartilage structures.

  • May 11, 2015 at 11:18 am
    Sweetness says:
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    After a 12 year career in Pro football…2 semi-pro and 10 pro as a high speed special team and whatever you need guy, I can tell you that there is no device that is going to eliminate head trauma. As much as you think you can keep it out of the way ..you can’t..therefore stop all the BS and insure the players..take some of the revenue and put a cap on the type of head trauma and be done with it. Right now the current players and all of those at the watering hole drinking from the pool of wealth developed by the “players that came before” the ones that called attention to this problem because they are the ones suffering from the decline of mental acuity of CTE and other physical problems that are being denied coverage because of statute of limitations…eg 10 year window..etc..you get the idea! Give it up for the older player at lease allow them “Quality of Life” an give them “Parity of Pension” and you wont hear form most of us again!



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