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15 years ago


NFL, union begin approving independent neurologists for each team
 


Associated Press

WASHINGTON -- The NFL and its players union have approved independent doctors to evaluate head injuries for about half of the league's 32 teams as part of a new program.

The NFL Players Association medical director, Dr. Thom Mayer, told The Associated Press in a telephone interview Monday that "the quality of people brought forward has been first rate" and none of the doctors proposed by teams has been rejected so far.

The NFL said Sunday THAT it is requiring teams to find outside experts in neurology to aid their medical staffs when players sustain concussions. Mayer and the NFL's medical adviser are vetting the doctors jointly, a process that began in recent weeks, according to Mayer.

"The plan is simply to ensure that every team has a highly qualified neurologist or neurosurgeon working with its medical staff," NFL spokesman Greg Aiello wrote in an e-mail to the AP. "We are working with the union to identify and mutually approve those specialists for each team."

There is no deadline for implementing the new setup across the league, but doctors will start working with teams "as soon as the specialist is selected and on board," Aiello wrote.

Aiello cited the Pittsburgh Steelers as an example of a team that already has an arrangement in place, with the doctors that Philadelphia Eagles running back Brian Westbrook recently went to see about his concussion.

Some details of the program still need to be figured out, according to Mayer, such as who will pay the independent doctors, whether the doctors will be on the sidelines at games, and, if so, whether there would be one expert present per team or one per game.

"We are considering whether they should be paid by the teams, by the league or frankly by the union," Mayer said.

During interviews with 160 NFL players conducted by The Associated Press from Nov. 2-15, 30 replied they have hidden or played down the effects of a concussion. Half said they have sustained at least one concussion while playing football.

High-profile players such as Westbrook and Washington Redskins running back Clinton Portis have missed games in recent weeks because of head injuries.

On Sunday, the two starting quarterbacks from last season's Super Bowl -- Ben Roethlisberger of the Pittsburgh Steelers and Kurt Warner of the Arizona Cardinals -- left their teams' games after taking blows to the head. Three members of the St. Louis Rams -- quarterback Marc Bulger, linebacker Chris Chamberlain and offensive tackle Jason Smith -- are slated to be tested for possible concussions Tuesday.

These newly appointed neurologists would be "independent of the teams themselves, and they're rendering an opinion that is guided by expertise in concussions," Mayer said. "They're not part of the club medical staff, so they're an independent voice with regard to whether the player's ready to return or not."

In discussing the new policy about independent neurologists during an NBC appearance on Sunday night, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said: "We want to give players the best medical advice. This is a chance for us to expand that and bring more people into the circle to make sure we're making the best decisions for our players in the long term."

Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press


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beast (14h) : Oh yes, sometimes they make using a cellphone tough. I just wanted to make sure it was the correct article, & thank you for pointing it out.
jdlax (15h) : I can't believe one of my teams went out and wablammo just up and acquired one of the best players in the world overnight
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Mucky Tundra (23h) : Anything over 4 hours means he needs to get to the hospital
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Zero2Cool (28-Aug) : LaFleur texts "bleep me I cannot sit down"
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Mucky Tundra (28-Aug) : Ugh this trade happened right as my shift started and it's killing me
Zero2Cool (28-Aug) : Parsons wore 23 in high school.
Zero2Cool (28-Aug) : Packers just cost Lions more money with Hutchinson too huh
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buckeyepackfan (28-Aug) : Kenny Clark is the player, 2 1st rnd picks
Zero2Cool (28-Aug) : umm... what?
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Mucky Tundra (28-Aug) : RICKEY SCOOPS WAS RIGHT AGAIN!!!
Mucky Tundra (28-Aug) : ITS HAPPENING
buckeyepackfan (28-Aug) : DEAL IS DONE
buckeyepackfan (28-Aug) : MICAH IS COMING TO GREEN BAY!!!!!!!!!
wpr (28-Aug) : Me do-ed it gooderly,
Zero2Cool (28-Aug) : Bahah, I was like WTF why isn't anyone posting on PP.com ... oops no one has permissions
dfosterf (27-Aug) : tell her I reckon
dfosterf (27-Aug) : Micah Robinson cut. Probable PS player tomorrow. Has to call mom back and t
Zero2Cool (27-Aug) : New site so much better. Might make switch and deal with it.
dfosterf (27-Aug) : Mecole Hardman to our practice squad
dfosterf (27-Aug) : Nick Nieman from Texans our 5th linebacker. Special teams signing
TheKanataThrilla (27-Aug) : Looks like we signed Clayton Tune as QB3
wpr (27-Aug) : TKT people lose their minds over QB3. Point is almost none of them are ready that's why they are on the PS and other teams don't take them.
TheKanataThrilla (27-Aug) : Unfortunately he doesn't seem ready to be an emergency QB.
TheKanataThrilla (27-Aug) : As a Canadian and a follower of Canadian University football. I am rooting for him
dfosterf (27-Aug) : I bet a lot of us will follow the Taylor Elgersma journey with interest. Personally, got a Kurt Warner vibe goin' on. I like him
TheKanataThrilla (27-Aug) : Not sure if either will be claimed though.
TheKanataThrilla (27-Aug) : Tune or Hooker would make sense
dfosterf (27-Aug) : Clayton Tune cut by the Cards? Don't know if that's the guy, we shall see
TheKanataThrilla (27-Aug) : Per Bill Huber, the Packers will not be bringing back Taylor Elgersma or Sean Clifford on the practice squad, so a new third quarterback
Mucky Tundra (27-Aug) : Schefter must have deleted his tweet
dfosterf (27-Aug) : Hopefully Jerry reaches under the seat cushions and ashtrays of his jet and scrapes up the 45 million apr and spares us further nonsense
dfosterf (27-Aug) : Have to admit the PO'd Cowboy fan videos would be fun to watch. Problem with draft picks is half their fanbase barely knows what that is
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