NFL Teams To Send Doctors, Trainers To Concussion Meeting

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell has “ordered all 32 NFL teams to send doctors and athletic trainers to a special meeting on concussions,” according to Peter Keating of ESPN THE MAGAZINE. The meeting, which will be held June 19 in Chicago, will be the “first leaguewide conference on concussions; the NFL had a similar briefing on issues surrounding heat and hydration” following Vikings OT Korey Stringer’s death from heat stroke in ’01. NFL VP/PR Greg Aiello said the meeting is being held for “teams to hear from the [NFL’s Committee on Mild Traumatic Brain Injury] and outside experts and directly review the work of the committee, ask questions and consider new initiatives.” Keating notes the roster of speakers at the conference “reflects Goodell’s ongoing insistence that the committee involve new scientists and research in its work.” In “half a dozen cases, presentations will pair members of the committee with outsiders” (ESPN.com, 5/1).