Tag Archives: NFL

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.

Commissioner Roger Goodell’s speech at Harvard University made several things clear to the media and  public. The number of concussions is not necessarily linked to the fact that some players are playing short weeks with the addition of Thursday night games. No research data exists to support that theory yet. A number of other factors need to be taken into account.

First, Commissioner Goodell stated that the need for better physical equipment is at the top of his priority list. Given that most of this week's concussions were suffered by quarterbacks, perhaps the equipment (specifically, the helmet) is less effective for that position. As a result, he is proposing an equipment change for different position players to wear different helmets. This would prevent the players who are the most vulnerable from sustaining the most damaging hits.

Next, the commissioner wants to move forward research in new protective technology for players in all positions. Players and fans alike want each player to have a long and productive career, and the current state of the game puts this goal in jeopardy.

The commissioner even believes that the way the game is played is perhaps hindering the game. Although we are used to seeing harder hits and a faster pace, Goodell is not convinced this is the best thing for the game. According to him, the “all out mentality” of NFL players is partially responsible for the rough hits being made in football today. It is clear that something has to change, whether it is the way the game is played, or, more likely, players' equipment.

*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.

Following the numerous injuries this past week in pro football, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell decided that it was important to address the growing concerns of concussions in football publicly. The total impact of concussions is still not fully understood, but a variety of negative correlations between concussions and the appearance of mental health problems later in life have been identified.

Commissioner Goodell is speaking at Harvard University today at 3:00 p.m. EST to address the growing number of injuries and the need for change in the game. This speech is definitely long overdue, as the speed of the game and the velocity of football tackles have been increasing steadily for a number of years now. The speech carries great importance and will undoubtedly result in increased scrutiny on all levels.

Some of the issues at hand are the length of time required for players to come back from concussions and the concussion testing criteria for medical staff on the sidelines. Also, the decisions made for the player, medically speaking, are of paramount importance right after a potential concussion. Additionally, expect a large fine increase for players who are deemed to have maliciously caused concussions. This will hopefully make players refrain from initiating vicious hits on other players.

*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 weekend brought earth-shattering stories to the forefront of the sports world. With the NFL-season in full swing, many fans don’t realize how short the NCAA football season actually is. As a result, official BCS standings are becoming more and more relevant by the day.

Alabama Crimson Tide had been the fan favorite to walk away with the BCS title, especially after the convincing defeat of Les Miles’s LSU Tigers, another SEC juggernaut. However, after a jaw dropping defeat Alabama has fallen three spots in the BCS standings to number four. Now the Crimson Tide is on the outside looking in and will almost certainly not get a chance to play in the BCS title game.

If the season were over today, then the high-profile Oregon Ducks would play the Kansas State Wildcats, the biggest surprise of college football this year. Both teams match up exceptionally well, and the only sure thing is that this would be an explosive game.

In other news, NFL players suffered from an inordinate number of concussions and related injuries this weekend. Many critics are pointing to the up-tempo speed of the game and the comparatively unsophisticated professional equipment that the NFL provides as the causes.

Most of the injured players are high profile starters on their team, including three star quarterbacks. Jay Cutler of the Chicago Bears took a vicious hit during Sunday night’s showdown versus the Texans. Next, the Philadelphia Eagles’ quarterback, Michael Vick, was knocked out of the game with a concussion, a hit that allowed the Dallas Cowboys to capitalize on the weakened Eagles. Finally, the San Francisco 49ers’ Alex Smith was taken off the field with concussion-like symptoms during a game against the St. Louis Rams.

Many fans pointed to the fact that none of these teams could muster a win. However, we feel the unifying theme is that these players are lucky to be okay! We wish you speedy recoveries!

In basketball-related news, the Los Angeles Lakers have fired controversial coach Mike Brown following the Los Angeles Lakers’ reportedly disappointing start combined with Lakers fans’ high expectations for the season. Top-ranked center Dwight Howard left the Orlando Magic for his chance to become a part of a championship-caliber team. Also, veteran guard Steve Nash joined the Lakers this offseason in hopes to secure his own place in history this season. New Coach Mike D’Antoni is expected to turn the season around before it heads any further in the wrong direction.

Lastly, one of the most enduring records in the soccer world, set by Pelé in 1958 for most goals scored in a calendar year, was shattered by international soccer sensation Lionel Messi. Once again, he was named man of the match during the momentous event. Arguably the best player on the world stage, Messi has gone on record claiming none of the goals he scores are as meaningful as the ones he dreams of scoring at the highest level of the game: the World Cup. He has been unable to secure a World Cup title for his native land, Argentina. Perhaps in the upcoming world trials he will be ready for another chance to make this title a reality.

*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 past weekend was an incredibly active one in the sports world. There were inspiring stories and there were especially heartbreaking ones for fans and players alike. To kick things off, Jim Durham, we will sorely miss you. Your presence and your insurmountable contribution to the game of basketball will be remembered by many! Whether Jim was commentating for Bulls games during their legendary run or whether he was acting as the voice of basketball for ESPN, his commentary was always animated, relevant and entertaining. He left us much too early, at just 65 years old, and will forever be seen on a different plain for weaving masterful storytelling into his commentary.

After we received this heavy news, we were informed that the NHL has decided to cancel the Winter Classic game, which was scheduled to take place on January 1st, 2013. There are many enraged fans, particularly those from Detroit and Toronto, the two cities whose teams were scheduled to play. The NHL consistently receives its highest television ratings (with the exception of the Stanley Cup Playoff games) from this game. As a result the underlying question is ‘How is this going to affect the NHL when it was just beginning to shed its “second fiddle” status?’ Following the recent success of expansion teams such as the Phoenix Coyotes and Tampa Bay Lightning, the trend was finally headed north. We hope this won’t affect that trend negatively.

Some very interesting discussions have picked up of late surrounding the now-controversial New Orleans Saints of the NFL. After the astounding implications of the “bounty-gate” scandal, many people feel that the Saints will not be able to shed their negative criticism for a long time. However, one thing is clear -- Saints head coach Sean Payton is missed at the helm. After a sub-par start, the Saints are at the bottom of their NFC South division looking up at a surging Atlanta Falcons team that shows no signs of easing up. However, Payton’s contract extension has now been declared void by the NFL, and as a result, the next time Payton is eligible to coach, he may very well be in new colors from the familiar gold and black fleur-de-lis we are accustomed to.

Next, we’d like to congratulate Guan Tianlan! At just 14 years old, Guan will become the youngest player in history to ever compete in the esteemed Masters event next April. The China native of just 125 lbs has a drive of over 220 yards, but he will be up against the most talented competition he has ever faced. However, on a recent conference call, his steely response showed poise and confidence beyond his years. His idol has always been Tiger Woods, and individuals who have seen Guan play say that the same determination and focus are present in his game. We are excited to see how he fares!

Finally, Redskins Nation is up in arms about the recent comments of Head Coach Mike Shanahan. Shanahan infuriated Washington fans by insinuating that the season was over, and therefore why try? However, when he was questioned publicly his story was completely different, and he claimed his comments were misconstrued. It’s clear that the former Broncos coach is upset about the lack of growth on his young but exceptionally talented team. In the midst of such a lucrative contract we wonder how Redskins management will respond.

What were your favorite highlights from this past 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.