Concussion Recommendations Presented to Teams

NASHVILLE, Tenn.--At today's owners' meeting, the league presented the teams with a set of medical recommendations for handling concussions suffered by players.

The recommended practices were drawn up by the league's committee on mild-traumatic brain injury, and include a "whistle-blower" provision in which anyone can anonymously report an incident in which a doctor is pressured by a team to clear a concussion-plagued player to play.

As NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell previously had indicated, the league is requiring teams to conduct an annual neuropsychological test of each player, and will strictly enforce its rule requiring each player to properly fasten the chin strap on his helmet during games.

The policy announced by the league also says that each player will be given a brochure to educate him about concussion symptoms and treatment, and indicates that decisions about a player's status are to be made by medical personnel without consideration of competitive issues. The policy says that the league's concussion committee is to operate independently, and teams are to share information on evaluation procedures.

The league has scheduled a concussion conference for team doctors and trainers on June 19 in Chicago.

By Mark Maske |  May 22, 2007; 4:24 PM ET  | Category:  League
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