As someone who grew up in North Carolina, I have always been a strong supporter of the Carolina Panthers. Some of my favorite memories from home include gathering around nachos at the living room coffee table and watching our Panthers compete. Whether they were losing every game or close to having a perfect season, my family loved to support the Carolina Panthers. However, the Panther’s 2016 season has taken an unexpected and rather ominous turn that sheds light on the lack of safety in the NFL.
As I am sure many of you reading know, Panther’s quarterback Cam Newton took several helmet-to-helmet hits during the Denver Broncos game. Only one of these hits received a penalty for the Broncos. Not only is this lack of attention to players’ safety rather alarming, but no one ever pulled the League MVP out of the game for a concussion diagnosis. Newton rose very slowly after the last hit administered during the Broncos game, but the NFL concussion protocol failed Newton and failed all the players in the NFL.
It does not matter whether you are the League MVP or the third-string punter… the concussion protocol should be consistent for everyone throughout the league. Cam Newton should have at least received some form of concussion testing after the game. Instead, the four helmet-to-helmet hits he received drew no medical attention and lots of public unrest.
During the Falcons game just this past Sunday, Cam Newton sustained a concussion early in the fourth quarter. He will now have to be cleared by a doctor before returning to the field. This brings the long debated topic of head trauma in the NFL back to center stage. The NFL still has a long way to go in terms of head trauma and concussion protocol.
On September 14, 2016, an initiative intended to increase the safety of the game in regards to preventing, diagnosing and treating head injuries was introduced by the National Football League Commissioner Roger Goodell. This initiative will provide 100 million dollars towards the support of engineering advancements and medical research. The 100 million dollars will be provided by the League and its 32 club owners. This initiative has received the name: “Play Smart Play Safe Initiative.”
It is important to note the changes the NFL is actively trying to make to avoid the continued head trauma of its players. Since 2002, the NFL has made 42 rule changes to protect players in response to the suicide of Mike Webster. The degenerative disease, CTE, found in Webster’s brain was caused by repeated head trauma. Like I said, the League has a long way to go. However, their effort thus far must be acknowledged.
