In the NFL, concussions are becoming one of the most talked about topics between players and the executives of the NFL. Players want to be safe when playing the game they love, but research is showing that concussions can severely affect the brain immediately and later in life. It can cause chronic traumatic encephalopathy, CTE, which is degenerative disease of the brain. The NFL believes their current system to protect players is enough, but the players and many fans disagree. The NFL needs to work harder on how to keep the players safe from concussions and their long term effects by giving more suspensions for illegal hits, higher fines, safer equipment, and searching for more research about the negative effects of concussions. The NFL
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He created the Mild Traumatic Brain Injury Committee and named Dr. Elliot Pellman chairman even though he was not experienced with brain injuries. From the start of the NFL’s attempt on researching concussions, they already started off very poorly. They had a doctor that had no idea what he was doing with brain injuries, especially concussions. In 2002 a doctor named Bennet Omalu, a forensic pathologist and co-founder of the Brain Injury Research Institute, discovered CTE in a former center from the Pittsburgh Steelers Mike Webster who was 50 years young and committed suicide. This was the first time that someone discovered CTE in a football player’s brain. This is a very important part of the history of the NFL because a lot of people were wondering if the NFL was safe for the players or not. Also Dr. Bennet Omalu identified CTE in two other former Pittsburgh Steelers in 2005-2006. Their names were Terry Long and Andre Waters and they both committed suicide. Dr. Bennet Omalu spoke on what had happened and said, “This is irreversible brain damage. It’s most likely caused by concussions sustained on the Football field” (Schwarz). This is when the people associated with the NFL really wanted answers from either scientists or the NFL about what was happening with recent retired players in the NFL. One scientist that examined these players was Dr. Ronald Hamilton from the University of Pittsburgh. He examined a new player, Justin Strzelczyk, which was only 36 and had died in a motorcycle accident. Dr. Ronald Hamilton said, “This is extremely abnormal in a 36-year-old. If I didn’t know anything about this case and I looked at the slides, I would have asked, ‘Was this patient a boxer?’” (Schwarz). When the NFL spokesman, Greg Aiello, was questioned about the findings of Strzelczyk he had no comments. Also Gene Upshaw, executive director of the N.F.L. Players
He created the Mild Traumatic Brain Injury Committee and named Dr. Elliot Pellman chairman even though he was not experienced with brain injuries. From the start of the NFL’s attempt on researching concussions, they already started off very poorly. They had a doctor that had no idea what he was doing with brain injuries, especially concussions. In 2002 a doctor named Bennet Omalu, a forensic pathologist and co-founder of the Brain Injury Research Institute, discovered CTE in a former center from the Pittsburgh Steelers Mike Webster who was 50 years young and committed suicide. This was the first time that someone discovered CTE in a football player’s brain. This is a very important part of the history of the NFL because a lot of people were wondering if the NFL was safe for the players or not. Also Dr. Bennet Omalu identified CTE in two other former Pittsburgh Steelers in 2005-2006. Their names were Terry Long and Andre Waters and they both committed suicide. Dr. Bennet Omalu spoke on what had happened and said, “This is irreversible brain damage. It’s most likely caused by concussions sustained on the Football field” (Schwarz). This is when the people associated with the NFL really wanted answers from either scientists or the NFL about what was happening with recent retired players in the NFL. One scientist that examined these players was Dr. Ronald Hamilton from the University of Pittsburgh. He examined a new player, Justin Strzelczyk, which was only 36 and had died in a motorcycle accident. Dr. Ronald Hamilton said, “This is extremely abnormal in a 36-year-old. If I didn’t know anything about this case and I looked at the slides, I would have asked, ‘Was this patient a boxer?’” (Schwarz). When the NFL spokesman, Greg Aiello, was questioned about the findings of Strzelczyk he had no comments. Also Gene Upshaw, executive director of the N.F.L. Players