For First Time, NFL Acknowledges Link Between Football and Brain Disorders

[IDemo]

Source: NBC News

For what's believed to be the first time ever, a senior NFL official acknowledged Monday that there's a direct link between playing football and developing degenerative brain disease — a significant shift in the discussion over head trauma caused by America's most popular sport.

Jeff Miller, the NFL's executive vice president for health and safety policy, acknowledged the connection during a roundtable discussion convened by the House Government and Commerce Committee, which is investigating concussions in the military, sports and other dangerous pursuits.

Asked by Rep. Jan Schakowsky, D-Illinois, whether he believed "there is a link between football and degenerative brain disorders" like chronic traumatic encephalopathy, or CTE, Miller noted research by Dr. Ann McKee of Boston University and said:

"Certainly, Dr. McKee's research shows that a number of retired NFL players were diagnosed with CTE, so the answer to that question is certainly yes."

Read more: http://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/first-time-nfl-acknowledges-link-between-football-brain-disorders-n538381

[elljay]

1. And?

The NFL has finally admitted what has long been obvious. What happens next? Will they pony up the money to do the research necessary to diagnose CTE before death? Will they develop technology to minimize trauma to the brain? Will they support rule changes for youth football to minimize impact injuries?

[IDemo]

3. They agreed in the 2013 lawsuit to "do research"

As for the particulars of who does the actual research and to what end, I don't know.

I'm on a severely throttled connection and don't do video, but the link includes an hour and a half discussion with perhaps more answers.

[cstanleytech]

4. Other than changing the game to flag football I am not sure what if any changes they could really do

to truly remove the risks from a game like football which involves alot of physical contact between players of opposing teams, sure they could setup a program for treatment during players time playing and maybe for their retirement but you can be sure they will probably make the players pay for it by offering them far lower salaries than they get now.

[MADem]

7. I have a good idea....I think it would make the game MUCH MORE FUN....

Adapt the game to look more like this....

[Stuart G]

2. All I can say is....

It took awhile to admit the truth...a long while.....

[cstanleytech]

6. Ya but this isnt ballet and you would think that the players themselves should have realized decades

ago that a game like football where they are taking alot of impacts might have a potential to have long term side effects to their health just like any job has its risk be it working outside in the sun (potential for skin cancer) to downstacking a semi truck at a grocery store (potential for an ACL tear which my brother did).
I mean its not like the NFL exactly concealed newton's 3rd law from the players and the fans, heck alot of the fans watch the game to see the 3rd law in action.

[rpannier]

9. The NFL denied direct link

They did for years
The ran a coroner in Pennsylvania out of his job and he couldn't get one until he wound up in Stockton
The NFL has paid medical teams to deny a direct link
Jerry Jones said in 1999 that there was no medical evidence to show a link between concussions and brain injuries and he even had neurologists to confirm this (that he paid)

Do not lay this on the players
That's giving an organization that tried to ruin a man's life an out
And, lied to conceal what was going

[cstanleytech]

10. Still you would think common sense would have prevailed with the players

that repeated blows might have a repercussion down the road to their health.

[SoapBox]

5. About fricking time...

And barely acknowledging it.

Time to get aggressive about this NFL.

[6chars]

8. new rule: maximum 2000 pounds per team on the field at one time

have weigh ins. use technology to instantly check. penalty for violation like 12 men on the field. would lead to fascinating strategy in both drafting/trading to build the team and in running the team during the games and season. Would you want one bull running back at the expense of a lighter linebacker? Opens it up for women who in some positions would pack more performance per pound.

lower impacts, better athletes (selected for being in top 1/100th of 1% of skill not size), no competition to get bigger because other teams are getting bigger.

and the game would be just as exciting, exactly the same rules so not really changed, probably more exciting, faster, shiftier.

Could shift into it by imposing 3000 pound rule to start and ramping down to 2000 over 10 years.

actually, this is sounding pretty good.