CFL boss: 'no conclusive evidence' on link between football, CTE

The CFL and NFL differ in the number of downs and size of the field, but they’re also apparently far apart on the matter of concussions in football.

While an NFL executive admitted to Congress this year that there is a link between football and degenerative brain injuries, CFL commissioner Jeffrey Orridge said Friday in his state of the league press conference that the jury is still out on the matter.

Orridge told reporters that there’s no proof football plays a big role in the high rates of CTE among former players.

“The league’s position is that there is no conclusive evidence at this point,” he said, noting that concussions in the CFL had dropped from 50 to 40 this year.

“We continue to work with (the medical world) and monitor the progress that they’re making in terms of getting a greater understanding of whether or not there is a linkage.”

Orridge also said he couldn’t comment on specifics because of a pending lawsuit by former players – much the same tack he took a year ago, when he trumpeted the CFL’s work with the NFL on developing a concussion protocol.

“I can say that … we’re invested in what we’re doing in terms of health and safety going forward,” he said Friday. “I can’t speculate on what the NFL’s findings have been and what led them to that conclusion.

“But at this point, you know, it’s still, last I heard, it’s still a subject of debate in the medical and scientific community.”

The comments sparked an immediate reaction on social media.