Kraft said that the league is taking action, from creating new protective gear to changing the rules of the gameGETTY IMAGES
Patriots President Jonathan Kraft yesterday "defended the NFL's role in traumatic brain injuries" while speaking at the BIO Int'l Convention, according to Lindsay Kalter of the BOSTON HERALD. Kraft said, "We have a nine-figure fund that's doing huge research in this space. Our problem is our messaging. Look, it's on us. I'm not pointing fingers." Kraft was referring to a $100M initiative launched in September '16 by NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell -- "Play Smart. Play Safe." -- meant to "tackle prevention and diagnosis of head injuries." Kraft said that the league is "taking action, from creating new protective gear to changing the rules of the game -- players can now be ejected for lowering their heads to initiate contact." Kraft "lamented that the NFL seems to be damned if they do and damned if they don't." Kraft said, "It's funny. The same media that criticizes us on so many things then criticizes you for changing the rules of the game to make the game safer" (BOSTON HERALD, 6/6).
