We've discussed the long-term effects of repetitive concussions on brain health here before and the concerns of the NFL retired players about the relatively cavalier treatment that the NFL had been giving to the issue. Fortunately, the message seems to finally be getting through to the NFL. The new co-chairmen of the NFL's independent brain injury panel have totally removed the panel from any association with the previous disgraced panel, a committee that led one member of Congress to tell the two new co-chairs: "You have years of an infected system here that your job is to some degree to mop up.�
So, there is progress and that is important. How important became even clearer to me this weekend after reading this column in the Chicago Sun-Times by Rick Telander. Telander was a cornerback for Northwestern from 1968-70, during a period in which the Cats regularly contended for Big Ten titles and would have been bowl participants in each of his years there had the Big Ten not still had its rule that only the league champ could go to a bowl, which of course was the Rose Bowl. Oh, and no school could go to the Rose Bowl two years in a row back then either, although admittedly, that wasn't Northwestern's problem. Telander's visit with Dr. McKee is very sobering, especially if you have played, or any of you siblings or children have played, football at any level. Her research, which is partially funded by the NFL, is beginning to show to that brain damage due to football may begin as young as 18. Now that is truly scary.
UPDATE: This story is apparently just the first entry in a nine part series which I can't wait to follow; it promises to be equally dramatic.
UPDATE: This story is apparently just the first entry in a nine part series which I can't wait to follow; it promises to be equally dramatic.
