Big Ben: Players may not confess to head hits

Ok, question about concussions: I feel like I'm seeing more reports of them this season than ever before! Is that because they are more frequent than ever, or because they are now being reported more often instead of guys simply, "playing through it"? FEEDBACK?

Brain injuries are perhaps the most debilitating and devistating injuries suffered by wounded veterans. Maybe the NFL should make it mandatory for all players to make regular visits to V.A. hospitals so they can witness the effects first hand.
That might help to shock the players into a more realistic attitude about the seriousness of brain trauma AND lend a small amount of moral support to the families of our vets who are suffering from these types of injuries.

@ Justin post #23

I'm sorry what does this have to do with the Patriots again? I don't see them, Tom Brady, or Bill Belichick mentioned once in this article. I fail to see the reasoning behind you rant. However, I guess 4 SuperBowl trips, 3 Superbowl wins, 2 SuperBowl MVP titles, 2007 NFL MVP, holds the record for most TD passes in a season, 101-27 as a starter in the regular season, 14-3 as a starter in the postseason isn't accomplishing much...what has your QB done?

Concussions i.e. head injuries are becoming a huge problem in the NFL...it starts in Pop Warner Football when these players start their careers at age 8...by the time they get to the pros many have had dozens of concussions...Mike Webster of the Steelers who played 18 years in the NFL more than likely had severe brain damage as a result that maybe (could have possibly) played a part in his death only a few years after his retirement from the NFL...trauma to the brain on a weekly basis is never "good." I imagine if every player (except maybe the kickers) were given a league wide Cat Scan, or MRI one would find that a large number have brain damage...think about players like T.O. and Packman Jones and their bizarre actions on and off the field in recent years...one can only imagine how damaged their frontal lobes and brain stems must be from all that physical head to head contact...Solution: medical testing of every NFL Player at the beginning of the season to map out the brain...testing at the conclusion of the season to see if there is any damage...Also the NFL should take a large amount of their record profits, including a portion of every players pay, and get research labs like the ones at MIT, Harvard Medical, and others to design and build a Better, Safer, device to protect the players brains...we do not need thousands of guys in our society who are punch drunk 24/7...just remember last nights national game and the blank look in the eyes of Big Ben of Pittsburgh...it is obvious he has had yet another major concussion...

for once goddell has done something good for the No. Fun. Leauge.
he needs to lighten up though. and get out of brady's ass. why is that
chump the poster boy of the NFL anyway. he really hasn't accomplished much.
him and his hobo clothes wearing cheating coach.

Ground control too R Goodell...Ground control too R Goodell...Take your protein pills and put your helmet on..............

Just have to wait for Tom Crybaby from the Patsies to get a concussion and the 10 Mississippi rule will be enforced for quaterbacks.

ok, all you out in NFL land....these guy all know what can and WILL happen to them...if these jackass want to turn what is left of there so-call brain in to @#$% , then let them do so....they get paid well for it...and they can afford to paid top dollar for insurance....(not like the rest of us)...unlike any other sport where the medical staff will pull out a player amd make sure they are ok....before feeding his ass to the lions.... remember that that medical staff gets PAID by the team they work for...areyou still getting it now...it's all about the f##king money...go see the COWBOY play in Dallas...$150.00 buck for a very cheap seat and dont forget the $75.00 parking...and have you seen all them bumbass people who blow there family's money on the piss poor game...with all the babies playing and the clown asses that want to do the @#$% and all that monkey jumping. it just not football anymore...if you call that entertaqinment then you should see a doctor because you just may of hit your head.

ok, all you out in NFL land....these guy all know what can and WILL happen to them...if these jackass want to turn what is left of there so-call brain in to @#$% , then let them do so....they get paid well for it...and they can afford to paid top dollar for insurance....(not like the rest of us)...unlike any other sport where the medical staff will pull out a player amd make sure they are ok....before feeding his ass to the lions.... remember that that medical staff gets PAID by the team they work for...areyou still getting it now...it's all about the f##king money...go see the COWBOY play in Dallas...$150.00 buck for a very cheap seat and dont forget the $75.00 parking...and have you seen all them bumbass people who blow there family's money on the piss poor game...with all the babies playing and the clown asses that want to do the @#$% and all that monkey jumping. it just not football anymore...if you call that entertaqinment then you should see a doctor because you just may of hit your head.

Concussions are for suck. Lubaolong should be consulted on all medical issues. He's super bright and pawns everyone who tries to say he's stupid. He's the smartest gas station attendant in all of Kentucky.

You are all IDIOTS. You think that the players should put their lives on the line for your enjoyment. These issues are not small issues This is not Big Ben not wanting to play. This is the medical experience of Neurologists. A concussion is something that can leave a person in a coma, or even worse dead. Get a grip and some class.

This just in: NFL to outlaw helmet to helmet contact. No touching of the helmet allowed. Also, flags will now be worn and no tackling is allowed. Goody Goodell wants to make the NFL "safe" .... outlaws contact.

Hello. It's a dangerous sport. Play at your own risk. You knew the consequences of playing a rough sport. There's a price to be paid for big money and glory.

@post #1:

This is the NFL, not some damn WWF match where ass clowns act stupid for your personal enjoyment. Cell phones, bribe jokes, sharpies, commercial posing, and everybody running to the end zone and doing soul train DOES NOT BELONG IN PRO FOOTBALL. You want clowning? Go watch SNL or HBO. The NFL was awesome before the 2000 without all these head cases that have to text all their friends before they do a dance in the end zone. If you don't enjoy hard hitting football action without all the showoff nonsense, then go watch pro wrestling. You idiots who like that crap have tiny peanut brains anyway.

this is a very serious matter football is thje end of the players life

I was ready to give Matt a high 5 for filling in OK but he cost the game by not throwing the damn ball straight at the good recievers waiting to catch it!!

Big Ben? More like Big B*tch.

I think that these guys should be allowed to play no matter what because if the coaches and the player who got a concussion want to make their team have a better chance at losing, so be it. I do like the passing out rule though. Roger, come on for once though. I think the only good thing that you have done as the commisioner of this great game of the USA is the horse collar rule. What is moving the Pro Bowl to Miami going to do? The only thing it will do is sell maybe 900 more tickets.

So as a medical professional I feel obligated to say that “(being) woozy, has general dementia (and) memory loss,” are all symptoms of a concussion. Therefore if the player has any of those than they are not asymptomatic and should be held out anyway. Doing otherwise is pretty much negligence on the medical team's part. that said, players will continue to hide some symptoms of concussions, especially if they know if certain symptoms over other ones will immediately bar them from the game.

So as a medical professional I feel obligated to say that “(being) woozy, has general dementia (and) memory loss,” are all symptoms of a concussion. Therefore if the player has any of those than they are not asymptomatic and should be held out anyway. Doing otherwise is pretty much negligence on the medical team's part. that said, players will continue to hide some symptoms of concussions, especially if they know if certain symptoms over other ones will immediately bar them from the game.

This is football!!! tackle football .. s... happens... go play intermural brother

in response to comment 3 (Neophyte), I believe the part that's not being told is that the long term affects on the players is starting to come to light. I would say that if they could prove that they were placed in harms way by the NFL not applying proper medical care at key times, then the NFL could get hit hard in the pocketbook with lawsuits.

Wish it was a decision just for the players benefit...

Hmmm....

Ben slammed his head thru a windshield in his motorcycle accident. That probably accelerated the effects of these concussions.

This is a very good thing for the league. Players are going to say they are fine and try to get back on the field. This is not a decision that should be left up to the player. Brain injuries have long term effects on a player's future and caution should be the rule in these cases. I hope college football is serious about this problem, too.
A football fan in Kansas City

This just sounds logical, and we all know Goodell doesn't like the logical.

There's something this story is not telling here. Otherwise this is the very first time Goodell is considering the welfare of the players and not just his wallet.