The NFL is launching a new set of concussion-related initiatives under which the league will devote $60M to "technological development, aimed in part at improving helmets for players," according to Mark Maske of the WASHINGTON POST. The league also will put $40M toward "funding medical research into the effects of head injuries." NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said the $100M "Play Smart. Play Safe" initiative "builds on what we’ve done the last few years but it takes it to another level in a variety of areas." He said the effort is "all about protecting our players." Goodell: "We’ve seen some very positive things. But we’re not satisfied. We’re not comfortable." In an open letter explaining the initiative, Goodell said that the NFL "intends to do a better communications job going forward with its concussion-related efforts." He also acknowledged that the public might be "skeptical about the NFL’s efforts related to head injuries" (WASHINGTON POST, 9/14). Goodell said the new initiative "will change the game immediately.” Goodell: “We have invested significantly in the past to further research, but we’ve also not waited on research. We’ve made rule changes. We’ve made changes in our equipment. We’ve done things to improve the way the game is played. We’ve changed our protocol to make sure that we are monitoring the play more closely, and we can get care to our players at the earliest possible opportunity. So we're going to invest in science, some of that will take a few years to develop. But we think we’re changing the game today” ("Today," NBC, 9/14).
RULES NEED TO BE RULES: The debate over the handling of Panthers QB Cam Newton during the Week 1 game against the Broncos continues to fester, with Fox' Mike Pereira noting the end-game situation "obviously ... was not officiated correctly." Newton suffered a helmet-to-helmet hit from Broncos S Darian Stewart during the last minute of play as the Panthers were attempting a game-winning drive, but he was allowed to stay in the game. Pereira said, "The refs should have taken Cam Newton to the sideline, period. They are a part of this process. They have been told -- and I have seen video after video of the type of hits and the type of reaction of the players that they have told the referees to get involved -- stop the game, take him off the field." He added, "Cam is on the ground, Cam rolls over, Cam is on all fours. ... That's the type of video they showed us and said, ‘You get him off the field and have them make the analysis on the sideline.'" FS1's Jason Whitlock said, "Don’t throw out common sense here, though. The referees are smart enough to know that it’s the end of the game, final drive. ‘If I do something that puts Cam Newton on the sideline, I’m looking at a potential riot here.’” Pereira: “Don't say anything to me about player safety then. ... If you are going to say 36 seconds is the time frame that you want to let him play with a concussion, does it become a minute, does it become a minute and 10 seconds? I don't think you want to put the people in that position to make that decision" ("Speak For Yourself," FS1, 9/13).
SIGN OF THE TIMES: ESPN's Ed Werner noted the NFL and NFLPA have launched separate investigations into the situation, as the two entities "are not cooperating with one another." The union "wants to know the answer to two questions: Should Cam have been evaluated for a concussion and if not, who is responsible for making that decision?” ESPN’s Trey Wingo said, “The big news there would have been if those two investigations were together, between the NFL and the NFLPA, because that would have been something we haven't seen in a long time” (“NFL Live,” ESPN, 9/13).
