Tag Archives: football

Our final GelDefender Impact Player is Class of 2006 Hall of Famer Harry Carson. During his 13 years with the New York Giants, Carson suffered his share of concussions (about 10), and now he’s paying for it with post-concussion syndrome.

He has made it his mission to educate others about the dangers of head injury in sports, having experienced the consequences (even, by his own admission, suicidal thoughts). He speaks at high schools and concussion forums to raise awareness and reaches out to those who are already suffering to get them help. He says if he knew the cost when he first started playing, he wouldn’t have played football at all. And though there’s nothing he can do about that decision now, he can and is spreading the word both to those who are now making that choice, so they can make educated decisions, and to those who have already suffered head injury.

It was almost assumed that, when 4,000 other former NFL players started a lawsuit against the NFL, the outspoken Carson would join up – he was even asked to be a lead complainant. But he said no. Asked why?

“People will think that I'm only speaking out for my own financial well-being," he said to Newsweek. "It's more important for me to deliver the message but allow it to stay pure and not have it be influenced by money."

So for his tireless efforts to promote head injury awareness and his open and honest participation in the conversation surrounding the consequences, we name Harry Carson our final Impact Player.

*Scientists have no conclusive evidence as to whether or how the reduction of g forces during impacts reduces the number or degree of concussions and head injuries. GelDefender^TM products provide supplemental padding as well as cooling and comfort benefits when used with helmets and caps. Participants in activities in which head impacts can occur should always use tested and approved helmets for protection. However, no helmet or supplemental padding can protect the user from all serious head or neck injuries that can result from impacts.

The NFL draft has become perhaps the most important annual sports activity that involves no activity on the field.

When NFL commissioner Roger Goodell strides to the podium Thursday night—shortly after 8 p.m. ET—to announce the first selection in the 2013 draft, he’ll be in front of a packed house at Radio City Music Hall in New York and over 8 million viewers on ESPN and the NFL Network.

Such viewership, not even including months of pre-draft speculation and post-draft analyses, makes the NFL draft a television powerhouse that approximates viewership for hallmark sports events such as the final round of the U.S. Open, the Indy 500, NBA playoffs and most NASCAR events.

Typically, given the geography, fans of the New York Giants and New York Jets dominate the live audience and annually provide collective groans or cheers depending upon the fan view of the choices made by team executives.

This year, it is likely that the most vocal of those reactions will come from fans of the Jets, who watched their team end a disappointing 2012 season plagued by the Mark Sanchez/Tim Tebow quarterback puzzle and are now debating the pros and cons of the recent trade of star quarterback Darrelle Revis to Tampa Bay for the Bucs 13th pick in the first round and a chump change pick in 2014.

Jets fans unhappy with current starting quarterback Sanchez may plead for West Virginia QB Geno Smith, but the Jets are most likely to grab LSU linebacker Barkevious Mingo if he’s still available.

After several years packed with quarterback talents including Robert Griffin III, Andrew Luck and Cam Newton, Smith may be the only QB taken in the first round, with Matt Barkley of Southern Cal and Ryan Nassib of Syracuse slipping to Friday night’s second round.

Most of those considered in the “can’t miss” category in 2013 are beefy offensive and defensive tackles. If Kansas City doesn’t trade down, watch for Notre Dame’s Luke Joeckel or Texas A&M’s Eric Fisher to be called first by Goodell as the Chiefs try to keep new QB Alex Smith protected from the concussion problems that knocked him out mid-season in 2012.

The first round of the draft concludes Thursday night, rounds 2-3 are Friday evening and rounds 4-7 are Saturday afternoon.
 

*Scientists have no conclusive evidence as to whether or how the reduction of g forces during impacts reduces the number or degree of concussions and head injuries. GelDefender^TM products provide supplemental padding as well as cooling and comfort benefits when used with helmets and caps. Participants in activities in which head impacts can occur should always use tested and approved helmets for protection. However, no helmet or supplemental padding can protect the user from all serious head or neck injuries that can result from impacts.

In a recent interview with The New Republic, President Obama was asked a tough question that lurks in the minds of football fans everywhere: Does he “take less pleasure in watching football, knowing the impact that the game takes on its players”?

It’s an uncomfortable question – not one with a cut-and-dry answer and not one we like to contemplate. Now that we know how harmful those hard hits are to the men making them and the men taking them, are we still just as happy to watch the concussions-in-progress as we were when ignorance was bliss?

The President, a self-proclaimed football fan, acknowledged the danger and need to change. He said football fans, himself included, are going to have to come to terms with the idea that the game might have to become less exciting in order to make it safer for the players, and then perhaps fans “won't have to examine our consciences quite as much.” He admitted that if he had a son, he’d have to think long and hard before letting him play the game.

He also stated that he worries about college players more than NFL players. He said NFL players are unionized and old enough to make the decision to takes the risks, and most are “well-compensated for the violence they do to their bodies.” One the other hand, he said college players are younger and have nothing to fall back on when faced with brain injury.

*Scientists have no conclusive evidence as to whether or how the reduction of g forces during impacts reduces the number or degree of concussions and head injuries. GelDefender^TM products provide supplemental padding as well as cooling and comfort benefits when used with helmets and caps. Participants in activities in which head impacts can occur should always use tested and approved helmets for protection. However, no helmet or supplemental padding can protect the user from all serious head or neck injuries that can result from impacts.

The BCS Championship game was definitely a letdown for many people, particularly those in Indiana. However, there are plenty of good things to take away from the college football finale. The Notre Dame program has taken leaps forward in one season, in a way that doesn’t usually happen without multiple seasons and great coaching. Next, the team will benefit by being in a great position to recruit new players.

The Alabama Crimson Tide will be the first team to repeat national championships in quite a long time. Also, they have won three of the past four championships total, an astronomical number that’s nearly impossible to achieve. Most of the critics feel that this feat will never be repeated again. It is definitely a monumental accomplishment which has also helped Alabama quarterback A.J. McCarron’s chances to get drafted in the first round.

The game highlights were extremely one-sided even from the beginning. When the game started Alabama was clearly in control. Alabama possessed the ball for 10 minutes more than Notre Dame in the first half alone. The score also reflected that domination, as the Crimson Tide scored four touchdowns (28 points) in the first half. Notre Dame’s national linebacking sensation, Manti Te’o, did not play like his usual self. Instead, he looked quite slow and was unable to stop either of Alabama’s running backs at the point of attack.

The game was a rather high-scoring affair as Alabama eventually tallied 42 points, a miraculous feat in and of itself given Notre Dame’s undefeated season. We will see how this will play into next season’s rankings, attract a better class of recruits and increase bowl game exposure for both high-powered football programs.

Unfortunately, games of this caliber and importance do not come along very often. The players play harder because the stakes are higher. Injuries riddled both teams as a result. Take Barrett Jones, for example. The Alabama center played the entire game with a torn ligament in his foot, while knowing the risk. Next, Alabama Linebacker, C.J. Mosley suffered from a serious knee injury that Coach Nick Saban stated was “not serious”.

On the opposite side of the field, Notre Dame also had a significant loss. Kapron Lewis-Moore actually suffered a severe knee injury. He will have to endure surgery due to a catastrophic ACL injury. Also, severe leg cramps plagued Notre Dame quarterback, Everett Golson near half-time. These injuries all call for the need for better safety measures during high-stakes games. Several of the injured players were slated to begin meaningful workouts for their NFL draft portfolios. The injuries could completely wipe out their chances for a spot.

*Scientists have no conclusive evidence as to whether or how the reduction of g forces during impacts reduces the number or degree of concussions and head injuries. GelDefender^TM products provide supplemental padding as well as cooling and comfort benefits when used with helmets and caps. Participants in activities in which head impacts can occur should always use tested and approved helmets for protection. However, no helmet or supplemental padding can protect the user from all serious head or neck injuries that can result from impacts.

This past weekend yielded several incidents that piqued curiosity and started some very serious conversations in the sports world.

The first is the rise (and fall) of two relatively obscure cornerbacks in Seattle. Richard Sherman and Brandon Browner were quickly becoming two of the biggest reasons the Seattle Seahawks have the NFL’s number one secondary. For both of these players, this placement is a giant step in the right direction. Both were late-round picks and cut from the Canadian Football League. However, following suspicion that they were playing a bit above their talent, both cornerbacks were tested for PEDs. The tests found positive results for Adderall, and now both face four game suspensions if their appeals are disregarded.

Another of our highlights hit hard – literally. After taking a hard hit on Sunday, Denver QB Peyton Manning was taken into the locker room and evaluated for “concussion-like” symptoms. The jury is still out on whether or not he suffered an actual concussion, but one thing is clear. After the incredible year the Denver Broncos are having at the hands of Peyton Manning, they can’t afford the possibility of losing him for two weeks due to a concussion.

In other NFL news, longtime Jets superfan Ed Anzalone is retiring as “Fireman Ed,” a surprise to many fans, as he has been an iconic figure in the Jets Metlife Stadium seats. Although he attributes his decision to unruly Jets fans who taunt him into confrontations, many suspect the Jets’ terrible state is fueling his choice to hang up his helmet. He is well-known for having received the game ball from coach Rex Ryan after the Jets upset the Patriots in 2009. Whatever the reason may be, it is truly a sad day for Jets fans everywhere.

What was your favorite highlight from the weekend?

*Scientists have no conclusive evidence as to whether or how the reduction of g forces during impacts reduces the number or degree of concussions and head injuries. GelDefender^TM products provide supplemental padding as well as cooling and comfort benefits when used with helmets and caps. Participants in activities in which head impacts can occur should always use tested and approved helmets for protection. However, no helmet or supplemental padding can protect the user from all serious head or neck injuries that can result from impacts.

A plethora of eye-opening and astonishing stories in the sports world have arisen, as of late. Evidence has been brought to light that the NFL knew about the debilitating effects of repeated blows to the head when Commissioner Roger Goodell testified to Congress in 2009. Goodell said then that the NFL reported no ill-effects of head injury but were in fact quietly paying 3 former players disability benefits. Reports from independent doctors verify that the individual players were disabled from impacts sustained while active. Moving forward the NFL will undoubtedly have to take ownership in the issue of its players’ safety.

In a related story, the San Fransisco 49ers and Chicago Bears played one another last night, each without their starting quarterbacks. (The 49ers won 32-7 partially due to their sub quarterback Colin Kaepernick’s excellent performance.) This game marked a rare yet somber occasion, one of the few times in history that two teams have squared off against each other using backup quarterbacks due to concussion disabilities. This points to a new, dangerous era in football, and sports in general.

In U.S. soccer news, the L.A. Galaxy and the Houston Dynamo will square off in a rematch of last year’s MLS cup on Dec. 1. The Houston Dynamo has been soccer’s Cinderella story this year, barely staving off defeat to sneak into the playoff bracket. Popular opinion is that the Galaxy will walk away with the hardware this year, but that is up for debate. It will definitely be a match to remember.

The NCAA recently made a substantial change to the structure of the Big Ten Conference, which has been slowly inviting and accepting more competitive teams than in the past. Welcome Maryland, the newest member of the Big Ten. As viewership has dwindled as of late, there have been many attempts to shake up the league. This will bring about quick change and bring in Maryland football fans.

*Scientists have no conclusive evidence as to whether or how the reduction of g forces during impacts reduces the number or degree of concussions and head injuries. GelDefender^TM products provide supplemental padding as well as cooling and comfort benefits when used with helmets and caps. Participants in activities in which head impacts can occur should always use tested and approved helmets for protection. However, no helmet or supplemental padding can protect the user from all serious head or neck injuries that can result from impacts.

A fair amount of chatter recently has been dedicated to the mythological “concussion-proof helmet,” that elusive piece of safety equipment that can perfectly protect the brain from harm. In response, various “solutions” to the sports concussion problem have been popping up in the form of protective products.

So, to clear up the issue from the get-go, we’ll state the facts: there is no such thing as a concussion-proof helmet. Contact sports will always have some modicum of danger involved for the brain. The second someone tries to sell that, run the other way.

The brain’s movement within the skull causes concussions, not the impact itself. According to the Mayo Clinic, “A violent blow to your head and neck or upper body can cause your brain to slide back and forth forcefully against the inner wall of your skull.” It also states that sudden acceleration or deceleration can have similar effects.

So the issue is what happens when the head is moving swiftly in one direction (which happens during running, skating, or bicycling) and then suddenly stops or changes directions (as in an impact or another abrupt change). First, the brain sloshes forward, hits the front of the skull, and then over-corrects and subsequently hits the back of the skull before finally settling. There’s nothing that can stop the brain from moving around in the skull, so there’s no way to completely protect against concussions.

*Scientists have no conclusive evidence as to whether or how the reduction of g forces during impacts reduces the number or degree of concussions and head injuries. GelDefender^TM products provide supplemental padding as well as cooling and comfort benefits when used with helmets and caps. Participants in activities in which head impacts can occur should always use tested and approved helmets for protection. However, no helmet or supplemental padding can protect the user from all serious head or neck injuries that can result from impacts.