The Curious Case of Concussions: 75 Former Players Sue NFL for Fraud, Negligence

Concussions cause injuries to the brain? Really? Who would have thought that getting railed by a mack truck and having your head snap back like a jack-in-the-box would create permanent damage? [Please tell me you got the sarcasm in that]

Apparently, 75 former players didn't understand that their brains were in danger during their time in the NFL and now they want to be compensated for their loss.  According to the motion filled, "The NFL knew as early as the 1920's of the harmful effects on a player's brain of concussions; however, until June of 2010 they concealed these facts from coaches, trainers, players and the public."  

My question is, how is it that these football players did not know the effects of a concussion before the NFL finally made a statement about it.  The last time I checked the NFL was not the medical board.  Most doctors in any generation would certainly tell you that repeated shots to the brain, whether wearing a helmet or not, will cause some sort of brain damage.  

This pack of former players is suing the NFL for fraud, negligence, and fail to warn.  The NFL's reluctancy to issue a statement about the risk of concussions certainly hurts them in this case.  In fact, they went as far as saying that there was "no evidence of worsening injury or chronic cumulative effects" from multiple concussions.  

The NFL knew that if they admitted that there were serious repercussions from one of the sports most common injuries it would create a ripple effect though out the sport on every level, damaging the product that they put on the field every Sunday.  But, the facts could not be ignored any longer and this unshocking truth was finally revealed:

Concussions are bad. Brilliant!

There are probably several ways that the NFL can get out of this.  

One that jumps to mind right away would be to claim that any "reasonable" person should realize that constant blows to the dome is going to seriously fuck up the most important organ in your body.  The NFL's committee that made the claims above could tell you that concussions create a fabulous alternate universe where gnomes massage your back and hot wings of all flavors are served to you throughout the experience.  But, a reasonable person should know that this is absolute bullshit.

My brother-in-law (a former wide receiver for the University of Hawaii) once talked to me about "the flash of light" that players often see when getting ripped by an opponent.  Apparently, when players are violently jociled, it is common for them to witness a brief light flash in their head.  It goes away after a while, but a part of the game nonetheless.    

At first, this seemed strange to me. It seemed like an obvious case of the brain repeatedly being injured.  But, the more I thought about it, I realized that at the speed that these hits are occurring, it is really just a part of the game.  It's not like these coaches are hiding the violent nature of the sport.  

People aren't surprised when they hear about a boxer suffering from brain damage.  "If he is stupid enough to get into a ring, then he deserves it", a buddy of mine used to say.  The same is not that different for football players.

Football players knowingly cross onto the gridiron with the understanding that it is not uncommon for their fellow player to get injured.  While broken bones are much easier to diagnose, brain injuries are still not that simple.  But looking back at that boxing example, how could these players not know the danger that they were putting their brains in.  This isn't touch football.

Yes, they are wearing helmets, but that doesn't protect the whiplash effect that effects their neck and continues onto the brain. If you talk to anyone that has every had a concussion, they will tell you that they automatically knew that something was wrong in their head, and that there are almost always lingering effects that resurface (head aches, sensitivity to light, etc.).

The facts were available for these players to learn more about concussions, but many players refused to look passed the smoke that the NFL bellowed.  The NFL is every players' their dream job and nothing, not even permanent injury, will get in their way. 

Don't get me wrong. I think the NFL needs to pay ALL injured players for the damages that they suffered under the league's watch.  They should not be forgotten like yesterday's lunch.  They need to take care of the players that make this league what it is by acknowledging the players that made the league the monster that it is today.  

However, I feel like there has to be a better way than just attacking the NFL on concussions and their feeble attempt to hide the truth.  There are a bevy of injuries that occur on the gridiron and NFL players should be compensated well after retirement for sacrificing their bodies to entertain the nation. With a new deal eminent between the NFL and NFLPA, though, these battered bodies might find themselves left behind in an uninsured ditch.