James Barrett, PhD

Finally, it appears that the NFL Is getting serious about concussions. The hope is that the example set by the NFL will trickle down to college and the pros.  Too often, young men and teens have felt pressure to conceal symptoms of a concussion for fear they will look weak or will be asking out of a game.  Players have learned that the need to “suck it up” and get back on the field.  Further, concussions used to be minimized by coaches referring to the injury as getting “dinged in the head.”  Concussions can have serious and long term neurological consequences and football players at all levels need to be aware of the symptoms and mandated to sit out if they experience a concussion.  Football is a violent sport with inherent risks, but there is no need to jeopardize the health of young men by ignoring or minimizing the risk of concussion.