Concussion research conducted by the NFL was "far more flawed than previously known," as more than 100 "diagnosed concussions were omitted from the studies," according to Schwarz, Bogdanich & Williams of the N.Y. TIMES. That included "severe injuries" to stars like future HOFers Steve Young and Troy Aikman. The league for the past 13 years has "stood by the research," which was supposed to be based on a "full accounting of all concussions diagnosed by team physicians" from '96-'01. The NFL's concussion research committee as a result "calculated the rates of concussions using the incomplete data, making them appear less frequent than they actually were." The missed diagnosed cases made up "more than" 10% of the total in the study. League officials acknowledged that teams "were not required to submit their data and not every club did." The NFL in a statement said that this fact "should have been made clearer." It added the missing cases were not part of an attempt "to alter or suppress the rate of concussions." Schwarz, Bogdanich & Williams report some retired NFLers "have likened the NFL's handling of its health crisis to that of the tobacco industry, which was notorious for using questionable science to play down the dangers of cigarettes." Though the investigation "found no direct evidence that the league took its strategy from Big Tobacco," records "show a long relationship between two businesses with little in common beyond the health risks associated with their products." The records "show that the two businesses shared lobbyists, lawyers and consultants." Personal correspondence "underscored their friendships, including dinner invitations and a request for lobbying advice" (N.Y. TIMES, 3/24).
NFL'S RESPONSE: The NFL has released a statement in response to the N.Y. Times report that reads in part, "Since learning of the proposed story, the NFL provided the Times with more than 50 pages of information demonstrating the facts. The Times ignored the facts." The statement notes the "sensationalized story is further refuted by the NFL’s ongoing commitment on the issue of player health and safety." The statement: "Contact sports will never be concussion-free, but we are dedicated to caring for our players, not just throughout long careers but over the course of long lives" (NFL).
CONFLICT OF INTEREST: In San Jose, Elliott Almond reports the NFL's PAC has "given nearly $300,000 in campaign contributions to 41 of 54 members" of the U.S. House Energy & Commerce Committee. The nonprofit MapLight said that its analysis of campaign finance data since '08 has "found the NFL's Gridiron PAC has supported members" of the committee that "began informal hearings last week" on the league's concussion issues (SAN JOSE MERCURY NEWS, 3/24).
