-Slap-
05-15-2007, 02:24 AM
I just saw a report on REAL SPORTS With Bryant Gumbel regarding the long term effects of concussions on NFL players. Most of this information has been out there for awhile, but this 20 minute report did a very concise job of illustrating this very disturbing problem. It also encouraged me to research a little deeper and I believe this problem will get a lot worse in the next several years. Especially since the NFL is, predictably, in deep denial about current medical findings linking repeated concussions to clinical depression, dementia and the early onset of Alzheimer's disease.
Chris Nowinski played defensive tackle at Harvard. Nowinski and future NFL standout inside linebacker Isaiah Kacyvenski formed The Polish Connection (http://www.thecrimson.com/article.aspx?ref=98572) on the Harvard defense back in 1999. While Kacyvenski went on to become an excellent pro player, Nowinski chose a different career path. The Ivy League trained sociology major decided the best way to utilize his advanced education was as a professional wrestler with the WWE. Did I mention he's Polish? He was forced to quit wrestling in 2003, after suffering at least six concussions. When he began researching the long term effects of concussions, he became very worried about his future. He was concerned enough to write a book called Head Games: Football's Concussion Crisis. That book and links to several articles by Nowinski related to the subject can be found at his website (http://concussioncrisis.com/).
One player Nowinski learned about was Andre Waters, former safety of the Philadelphia Eagles. Known as Dirty Waters during his playing days, he had a well deserved reputation as a cheap shot artist. I feel sort of bad saying that about the guy because clinical depression, possibly related to multiple concussions suffered during his career, caused him to eventually take his own life (http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?sec=health&res=9B06EFD81130F93BA25752C0A9619C8B63).
The two saddest players in the piece were former Saints safety Gene Atkins and Hall of Fame Colts tight end John Mackey. Atkins can't recite a sequence of six numbers or the months of the year. He's in his early 40s. Early dementia is the diagnosis. He spends every day sitting in his darkened house, struggling with the same dark thoughts that eventually claimed Waters.
John Mackey's wife must care for him now like he's a small child. The man she married is gone, replaced by a shuffling and unknowable stranger, who's only desire is to get in the car and go somewhere, anywhere. He makes this request of her constantly during the course of each day. She had to invent an imaginary mechanic named Randy, and tell her husband as soon as the car is ready, he'll call and let them know. This answer will pacify him temporarily and then they'll repeat the conversation over and over again. The greatest tight end of his era, perhaps ever. It was tough to watch Mackey and his wife without getting a little choked up.
Ted Johnson's bitterness is a common theme from some of the younger players who are afflicted. He harbored deep resentment towards Bill Belichick and Patriots medical staff, saying they cleared him for full contact scrimmage just a couple days after he suffered a concussion, but has recently softened his stance a bit. Johnson claims he still feels lingering effects from the second injury (http://www.boston.com/sports/football/patriots/articles/2007/02/02/i_dont_want_anyone_to_end_up_like_me/) and he fears the symptoms will only get worse.
The NFL admits half of all players who suffer concussions are sent back into the game in which they're injured. This is about the only concession they will make. NFL doctors contend concerns over head injuries are overblown. They refute any connections between repeated concussions and problems like dementia, depression and the early onset of Alzheimer's. The NFL refuses to test retired players for these illnesses, which is very consistent with their callous attitude towards their retired athletes. The NFLPA is, of course, completely worthless and ultimately complicit in this head-in-the-sand approach to the long term health of the men who helped build the multi-billion dollar operation that is the NFL.
Chris Nowinski played defensive tackle at Harvard. Nowinski and future NFL standout inside linebacker Isaiah Kacyvenski formed The Polish Connection (http://www.thecrimson.com/article.aspx?ref=98572) on the Harvard defense back in 1999. While Kacyvenski went on to become an excellent pro player, Nowinski chose a different career path. The Ivy League trained sociology major decided the best way to utilize his advanced education was as a professional wrestler with the WWE. Did I mention he's Polish? He was forced to quit wrestling in 2003, after suffering at least six concussions. When he began researching the long term effects of concussions, he became very worried about his future. He was concerned enough to write a book called Head Games: Football's Concussion Crisis. That book and links to several articles by Nowinski related to the subject can be found at his website (http://concussioncrisis.com/).
One player Nowinski learned about was Andre Waters, former safety of the Philadelphia Eagles. Known as Dirty Waters during his playing days, he had a well deserved reputation as a cheap shot artist. I feel sort of bad saying that about the guy because clinical depression, possibly related to multiple concussions suffered during his career, caused him to eventually take his own life (http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?sec=health&res=9B06EFD81130F93BA25752C0A9619C8B63).
The two saddest players in the piece were former Saints safety Gene Atkins and Hall of Fame Colts tight end John Mackey. Atkins can't recite a sequence of six numbers or the months of the year. He's in his early 40s. Early dementia is the diagnosis. He spends every day sitting in his darkened house, struggling with the same dark thoughts that eventually claimed Waters.
John Mackey's wife must care for him now like he's a small child. The man she married is gone, replaced by a shuffling and unknowable stranger, who's only desire is to get in the car and go somewhere, anywhere. He makes this request of her constantly during the course of each day. She had to invent an imaginary mechanic named Randy, and tell her husband as soon as the car is ready, he'll call and let them know. This answer will pacify him temporarily and then they'll repeat the conversation over and over again. The greatest tight end of his era, perhaps ever. It was tough to watch Mackey and his wife without getting a little choked up.
Ted Johnson's bitterness is a common theme from some of the younger players who are afflicted. He harbored deep resentment towards Bill Belichick and Patriots medical staff, saying they cleared him for full contact scrimmage just a couple days after he suffered a concussion, but has recently softened his stance a bit. Johnson claims he still feels lingering effects from the second injury (http://www.boston.com/sports/football/patriots/articles/2007/02/02/i_dont_want_anyone_to_end_up_like_me/) and he fears the symptoms will only get worse.
The NFL admits half of all players who suffer concussions are sent back into the game in which they're injured. This is about the only concession they will make. NFL doctors contend concerns over head injuries are overblown. They refute any connections between repeated concussions and problems like dementia, depression and the early onset of Alzheimer's. The NFL refuses to test retired players for these illnesses, which is very consistent with their callous attitude towards their retired athletes. The NFLPA is, of course, completely worthless and ultimately complicit in this head-in-the-sand approach to the long term health of the men who helped build the multi-billion dollar operation that is the NFL.