The upcoming release of Columbia Pictures' "Concussion," which focuses on brain trauma in football, has the "potential to do what a Hall of Famer's suicide, protracted lawsuits and reams of scientific data could not: present the horrors of football's concussion crisis in such simple and compelling fashion that no one will ever see the NFL in the same way again," according to Nancy Armour of USA TODAY. She writes, "Think 'The Insider,' but about football instead of tobacco" (USA TODAY, 9/1). ESPN's Jemele Hill said the trailer, which was released yesterday, "very much reminds me of the movie that broke down the tobacco industry" ("His & Hers," ESPN2, 8/31). ESPN's Michael Wilbon said the movie "seems powerful to me," and noted the NFL "ain't going to like it" ("PTI," ESPN, 8/31). THE NATION's Dave Zirin wrote the trailer released yesterday should be giving NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell "night sweats" (THENATION.com, 8/31). WIRED.com's K.M. McFarland wrote, "It's not quite The Insider-with-football, but that's the tone it's going for with its dark hallways and threatening businessmen." Whether this is "truly a hard-hitting corporate cover-up along the lines of 'Michael Clayton' or something more flimsy remains to be seen -- but it will sure be fun to watch the NFL attempt to bury or explain this film away come December" (WIRED.com, 8/31). FS1’s George Wrighster said, “The NFL shut down ‘Playmakers’ and it shut down a whole bunch of things that they have not wanted people to see because they have so much power. I am wondering if this is going to be the 2015 version of ‘The Interview’ where it’s going to be straight-to-DVD and they’re going to find some way to squash it” (“Fox Sports Live: Countdown,” FS1, 9/1).
WON'T IMPACT LEAGUE MUCH: ESPN’s Jeff Saturday, who played 14 seasons in the NFL, said the film will not damage the league. He said, “We know the inherent risks in our game now. Those things have been discussed and talked about, people are understanding more. I think potentially where it could hurt the NFL is … the cover-up.” ESPN’s Michael Smith said the NFL “definitely did” cover-up concussion effects. Saturday: “People wanted to cover-up the game, they wanted to protect the game at all costs.” He added, “Everybody has risk in their profession that they know about. As players, we just wanted to know what it is, just clearly defined what can happen and be honest and be open about it. We’ll make the decision. The game’s not going away” ("His & Hers," ESPN2, 8/31).
