Ex-players more worried about concussions than current ones
Jamal Anderson never was opposed to physical contact as a running back. (AP photo)
If football were all about the foot and the ball, we wouldn’t be here.
Defensive ends wouldn’t resemble 18-wheelers on the road to mayhem. Offensive linemen wouldn’t look for somebody to pancake on a screen play. Borderline psychos wouldn’t dangle $10,000 bounties as a means of motivation.
We’re here because football isn’t about merely the foot and the ball. It’s about collisions and who wins them. It’s about blocking and tackling and the ugliness, pain and too often the tragedy that goes with it. The NFL is facing 76 concussion-related lawsuits involving more than 2,150 former players. The numbers will continue to go up, and it’s not a stretch to suggest that how all of the cases are resolved could impact the league and the game like no issue before it.
The avalanche of litigation was a long time coming. We, the viewing public, have tended to minimize or completely ignore the potential effects of head trauma in collision sports because we embrace the violence. It’s exciting. It fuels our inner-caveman. Also, because it’s not our head.
The dichotomy is that no current NFL player is going to take a stand on concussions or the safety of the sport because they know what they signed up for. They get rich. They become famous. They love the game.
As former San Francisco lineman Randy Cross, a longtime Atlanta resident, said: “All of the guys who are playing say they accept the risks. But that’s easy to say when you’re 25 or 28. You’re probably out of the game for 20 years before the bill comes due.”
Cris Carter would confirm: Jessie Tuggle was as physical a player as there was in the NFL. (Celine Bufkin/AJC)
That is why head trauma is more of an issue among the alumni than active players. They’re the ones filing the lawsuits, focusing on improving player safety, charging that the league has covered up evidence about the long-term effects of concussions.
Sadly, it has taken tragedies involving retired players to bring this issue into national focus: The suicides of Junior Seau, Dave Duerson and former Falcons Shane Dronett and Ray Easterling.
The lawsuits involve dozens of former Falcons. A suit filed in federal court two weeks ago in Atlanta named 114 plaintiffs, including 29 former Falcons. Among them are two of their more popular former players: Jamal Anderson and Jessie Tuggle.
This won’t end the NFL. But it could — and should — mandate that players sit out games more often, even to the detriment of a team’s record. Rosters could be expanded, equipment made safer.
Change is overdue.
Anderson was a physical running back. He enjoyed the collisions. “I had a high-percentage of runs where I just ran into other guys,” he said.
He is paying the price. His problems aren’t major: headaches, sleeplessness. But, “The headaches are frequent enough that they cause me concern. Some days I wake up and everything is sore and I think, ‘Wait, I didn’t play the Rams yesterday.’”
Anderson’s greatest concern is the unknown of long-term effects, and he wants to make the game safer.
“I fully expect to have issues down the line,” he said. “I hear some of the horror stories, and I cross my fingers and just hope that’s not me one day.”
Tuggle was undersized for an NFL linebacker but hit like a behemoth. According to the Atlanta lawsuit, he “suffers from multiple past traumatic brain injuries with symptoms including, but not limited to, memory loss, difficulty concentrating, vision impairment, and depression.”
Tuggle said by phone he wanted to think about it before agreeing to an interview. A few days later, he declined via an email. But he wrote that he recently was in Kansas City for his son’s graduation and read a newspaper story about former Kansas City Chiefs defensive end Art Still.
“It sounds just like my story and others,” Tuggle wrote. Still outlined similar post-career issues.
Cross has not yet joined one of the lawsuits. He has some post-career concussion symptoms, though he joked, “I’m 58, and I don’t know how much of it is just being 58.”
He has done a lot of research on head trauma and said one of the problems is “you can’t get anyone to agree on anything.” For example: What’s a concussion?
When asked how many concussions he had in his career, Cross said: “How do you define it? If you have to be knocked out, five times since high school. If we’re talking about being disoriented and wobbly going back to the huddle, probably 10 to 12 times a season.”
He played 13 seasons. Do the math.
Lining up for a play while still dizzy from the previous one was commonplace, he said.
“I’d sit to watch film on Mondays, and sometimes I was seeing a play for the first time.”
That may seem funny to us. But there are long-term and cumulative effects to those hits, and the NFL has ignored the issue for too long.
The blur of lawsuits seem to indicate the bill has come due.
By Jeff Schultz
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151 comments Add your comment
Doc
May 19th, 2012
12:57 am
Problem is football is a school or county sanctioned event in a huge scale. 5150 I am not sure what you are arguing now. Do you buckle up before you drive?
5150 UOAD
May 19th, 2012
1:04 am
Doc…A Life lived without taking Risks isn’t much of a Life now is it? Video Games cause censures too.
5150 UOAD
May 19th, 2012
1:08 am
So the Schools & Counties are to blame. Schools in winter areas Play High School Hockey and have Ski teams.
Buckling up is great but Airbags can cause brain damage too and they are Government mandated. Cops don’t have to wear Seat belts.
5150 UOAD
May 19th, 2012
1:10 am
Buckle up to drive well we need to make a Law that you have to have everybody in a car wear a helmet too.
5150 UOAD
May 19th, 2012
1:17 am
Doc….Loud music can cause hearing damage. I guess we should stop Bands in all schools and colleges too.
Doc
May 19th, 2012
1:20 am
5150 I have skied some of the steepest chutes and slopes in Taos ski valley and alta Utah only reached by hiking to them. I was at much greater risk as a high school sophomore playing center against an all city linebacker weighing 50 pounds more than me hammering my head with his huge forearms at each practice. Every night I had a headache as my 175 pounds didn’t match up to his 225 which in 65 was huge and a significant disadvantage. This happens every day and the long term damage of repeated daily concussions like in boxing that puts folks at risks that really people are just now coming to grips with.
As I stated neuropsyche testing should be part of any physical exam in any contact sport before and after seasons to assure injuries don’t go unrecognized as bruised brains won’t show except in functional exams. Be proactive. Seems you got some antipathy there coming forward as well and not sure why towards players who really were never given this info during their careers like my favorite john Mackey who died from head trauma insults showing as Alzheimer’s.
Your own views show significant ignorance to the scope of the problem or certainly what needs to be done to protect kids from permanent injury. Do you think this should be ignored in the young who are at greater risk for permanent injury? What do you want, nothing?
Doc
May 19th, 2012
1:23 am
5150 I get it, the damage is already done.
5150 UOAD
May 19th, 2012
1:34 am
Doc I understand your arguments. You are a great example because you survived and are smart enough to have gone through medical school. Muhammad Ali is whatever he is but George Foreman is basically fine. George burns Smoked most of his life and he lived to be 100. Some people take the risk and are OK others take the Risk and are not. It is no reason to SUE because a person used their God Given FREE WILL and it turned out bad for some and not for others. Coaches in Lil Leagues need to teach proper form in tackling YES. Maybe LESS safety equipment is needed like rugby. With More Equipment the Invincible Feeling has grown not reduced.
Doc
May 19th, 2012
2:38 am
5150 I was arguing to education of the masses to the true devastation of these injuries that are not seen on the surface, are very subtle but extremely obvious if you pay attention. Your arguments belittled these thoughts and not sure even now what your point was. I am promoting intelligent inquiry. Against this falcon was just like you in denying its relevance until he spent some time with Mackey. That experience raised his level of interest and now five years later this has become a very hot item that all wanted to sweep under the rug.
As far as George foreman, I doubt he is as all right as you say he is. His power of reasoning and judgment is suspect to me. Ali is the example of head trauma at its worst. Listen to these guys as they talk of their football injuries. Those from the battleground are a troubling sequelae as well beyond just shell shock though a form of it. I now am in alternative medicine treating these folks as well or doing my best to and the gains are small but hopefully their lives can be resumed in some small way.
Head trauma has been a particular interest of mine for over twenty five years now. It is something I won’t back down on or away from. What is going on in the nfl is necessary and will filter down to force lower levels to be aware of the risks or risk personal losses themselves.
5150 UOAD
May 19th, 2012
2:57 am
Jessie Tuggle’s part in this lawsuit should be immediately dismissed. If JESSIE is so concerned then WHY is his Son STILL Playing College Football? WHY is Jessie 100% behind his son moving to Defense so he can get on the field MORE? Less than 6 months after Justin switched positions to play more Jessie SUES because the Game is too Dangerous? Jessie MAKE YOUR SON STOP PLAYING FOOTBALL RIGHT NOW or STFU.
http://www.bcinterruption.com/2012/1/1/2675428/justin-tuggle-the-son-of-former-atlanta-falcons-linebacker-jessie
Justin Tuggle, the son of former Atlanta Falcons linebacker Jessie Tuggle, revealed Sunday that he made the switch to defense two weeks ago. “I think it’s a positive thing, because it’s a way for me to possibly get on the field,” Tuggle said. “I know my father said he was excited about it but that’s mainly because he knows this is what I want. He always backs me up, 100 percent. I’m sure he’ll have more advice for me in the future.”
Tuggle started his career at Boston College and spent one season at Blinn College, a Texas junior college, before landing at Kansas State. He has been the Wildcats’ third-string quarterback behind Collin Klein and Sammuel Lamur all season.
Tuggle’s only action this year has been on special teams.”I feel like if I was to dwell on negative things, that wouldn’t do me any good,” Tuggle said. “The only way anybody is ever able to be able to be successful is to work through failure, to not give up.”
Former Quarterback Justin Tuggle on switch to linebacker
I know Larry Morris and he is in very bad shape with Alzheimer’s but Football made a very good life for his Family. His son Shan played at Auburn too. How Many of the NFL players Suing have Sons or Nephews playing right now that are not FORCING family members to STOP PLAYING FOOTBALL immediately?
5150 UOAD
May 19th, 2012
3:08 am
Doc….part of my point is that if it is so Bad then WHY does these Old NFL players still let their kids play? Why do they want to work for ESPN to make money talking about a Game that is too dangerous?
Doc I know it is dangerous and maybe the Whole truth wasn’t know years ago, but SO WHAT. It sux that these Men chose a dangerous job but it is what life is all about. Maybe now that players know more they will not PARTY all their money away they make playing ball and keep some for their old age care.
5150 UOAD
May 19th, 2012
3:18 am
We will now Fight All WARs on Video games. Football will be a Video Game Only Sport too. Anything in Life that is dangerous will now be made on a Video game for us to experience it by. Madden World Championship Football will be the ONLY FOOTBALL that can exist on the Planet. The best thumb and finger football player in every state can win a Video Football Superbowl Ring and we can bet on it in Vegas.
The Factor
May 19th, 2012
5:17 am
@5150
Why are you so pinheadish tonite? The fact remains, as the Doc said, too many people coaching are uninformed. Kids, even at the jr high level, do not pull themselves from practice or games due to peer pressure and potential loss of playing time. It starts that young. Coaches must act like parents to the younger crowd to get the message across about the dangers of not sitting out. Too many don’t because of their own peer pressure and job stability.
Dalton Trumbo
May 19th, 2012
8:05 am
Some people take the risk and are OK others take the Risk and are not. It is no reason to SUE because a person used their God Given FREE WILL and it turned out bad for some and not for others.
I have to agree with that. Your life is about taking informed risks. Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose.
Wha???
May 19th, 2012
8:21 am
JS, Has Ray Easternling’s death been ruled a suicide? I missed that.
I feel for the players that are legitimately injured. Just as I am the car wreck victim who chose not to wear a seatbelt. The injuries were inevitable, but one has empathy for them all the same.
I’m not sure that I buy into the players suing the league for something that any moron, regardless of medical training, would have known was a bad idea….playing with multiple concussions. The league covered it up, maybe. My point is that the grown men could not have been blind to the possibility of long term problems, and now, having accepted the terms during their career, are trying to have it both ways by suing the league.
BMOC
May 19th, 2012
8:44 am
I think Jamal’s sleeplessness may be attributed to peruvian marching powder.
Dongle
May 19th, 2012
9:03 am
@5150- Alot more Ryan Stewart types on the lawsuit than TO types. At least TO played long enough to possibly have a case. Ryan and others like him are clearly piling on for a pay day.
Jay Dawg
May 19th, 2012
9:12 am
The technology is here to lessen the risk of this occurring. I do not understand why professional teams/players who have the money do not implement a technology such as Guardian Caps. A softer shell lessens impact similar to safer barriers in NASCAR. That just seems like common sense. I’ve been reading the exchange between Doc and 5150. It all boils down to me to understanding the risks and deciding whether or not to take them. I get the point about being young and seemingly invincible as we all were. I think we are starting to understand more of the risks related to head impact trauma than ever before. If the rewards are great enough somebody will be willing to take the risks. The reward might be making millions, college scholarship or just winning period.
bali
May 19th, 2012
9:18 am
football is a violent game..from the time a kid puts on the shoulder pads he is subject to getting hit…i just do not see how you can make the game that much safer without changing the whole structure of the game..improved helmets, keeping players out of games, better coaching of tackling techniques all may help, but injuries are going to happen…saw on tv the other night that girls soccer has seen a dramatic increase in head injuries, but have read nothing on headgear for soccer or changing the structure of the game…guess i am a caveman because i love football..the big hit is a part of the game..i feel sorry for the former players having problems today but lifetime injuries are sometime the result of playing a sport they love..
Delbert D.
May 19th, 2012
9:25 am
Some schools used helmets with a foam pad on the outside from front to back in the early 1960s; Oklahoma and Duke were 2, as I recall. The technology wasn’t there yet, as those plastic coated pads didn’t slip when contact was made. It appears that the technology is better, based on that Guardian product.
I think the most effective helmet would be one that absorbs serious impact by crushing, which is the technology used on the better motorcycle helmets. The one I have is the Z1R helmet, which won awards as one of the best at protecting from impact, yet it is one of the least expensive full face helmets out there. When the test reports were release, there was a rush that exceeded supply to buy those helmets.
This technology is available at reasonable cost, yet a large segment of the motorcycle enthusiasts ignore it and use “brain buckets”, which look cool in their opinion but conform to the minimum extent to the safety requirements. They typically do not wear armored kevlar jackets and gloves, either. It clearly is a matter of choice and group conformity.
JSS
May 19th, 2012
9:30 am
George Foreman has been one of the most vocal advocates regarding head trauma among boxers… Don’t get it twisted… He’s been publically advocating for changes to round length, the qualifications of ring side physicians, medical qualifications for trainers and referees, (and gasp) the mandatory use of MRIs and imagery scan on boxers throughout their AAU/Olympic careers to track their health… He’s been advocating mandatory headgear use in professional fights as well since the early 90s…
Doodaddy57
May 19th, 2012
9:54 am
Doc and 5150: get a room already.
JSS
May 19th, 2012
9:55 am
And the saddest thing all of this back and forth “about personal choice” is that you’ve missed the key component of the former players suit. That point is the concerted efforts by NFL teams and by use of their training staffs in minimizing the effects of these traumas and by the overuse of painkillers. This is what is going to be contested… And the NFL is doing their best to suppress 30 years of brain science and sorry to inform on this one POAD; the NFL collectively bargained agreement with the owners does not indemnify the NFL from the same workplace responsibilities that have existed since the Nixon administration… Guess what? They choose to ignore their responsibilities, time to pay the piper! Workers and owners do not bear the same legal responsibilities…
5150 UOAD
May 19th, 2012
10:06 am
JSS……….over Boxing it think MMA type fighting is the most Violent sport there is at this time. They use almost every type a of blow to the head you can imagine.
The solution to me is Yes better coaching for the youth on Blocking & Tackling with Reduced Safety Equipment.
As equipment has Improved so has the Players ability to more violently hurl their Bigger and Faster Bodies at one another.
I don’t know the numbers but how does Rugby & Aussie Rules Football compare on the Injury front to American Football?
If we allowed Better technique to be taught to the young with more padding then gradually reduce the safety equipment as children get older and better so that when they are pros they have minimal Helmets and Shoulder Pads maybe the injuries would go down.
5150 UOAD
May 19th, 2012
10:14 am
JSS…..I get that owners were not doing everything in the best interest of the players, but you can’t tell me that the player was so STUPID to not know they were hurt. Players could say NO more at some point. The players could have decided at ANYTIME to stop. The players IMO could say NO and go get a regular job at any point, but they chose to continue to play.
Paul in NH
May 19th, 2012
10:14 am
If workers in a chemical plant or paper mill are injured by dangerous substances through the neglect of their employers – and their employers even claim that the substances are non harmful – people would be rightly up in arms. Make it the NFL and fans claim the players knew what they were in for and their employers are not liable.
5150 UOAD
May 19th, 2012
10:29 am
Paul in NH….I understand what you said but again WHO doesn’t have enough Common Sense to Know that Using your head as a Battering Ram is bad for your brain?
5150 UOAD
May 19th, 2012
10:44 am
Even given all the Facts there will be plenty of players that will sign up to take the risk for the Life Style and $$$ NFL players make.
Remember in Sea Biscuit when RED was hurt? He didn’t tell anyone he was Blind in one eye because he wasted to compete. He wanted to be a jockey. There ate Thousands of kids that would still want to play football. NFL football money has changed many poor families lives dramatically over the past 50 years. Many a Father or Son has sacrificed a lot for the betterment of his family and I truly believe these players would do it again if they were put in the exact same situation. Many were given a chance at College they never would have had. Many were able to set their Mothers up in homes, business and/or never work again. Many were able to marry or bed the most beautiful women in the world and without the NFL that would never have happened. I don’t see MANY of these players ever turning down those chances even if they knew All the risks.
Beast from the East
May 19th, 2012
11:37 am
Paul in NH,
I always respect your well thought out opinions, but don’t you think this is just a money grab? If I’m not mistaken, during last year’s lockout, the NFLPA never brought up player safety at all.
When does this stop? Are we all going to try and use our Pop Warner coaches, high schools, etc? I’m not saying the NFL did not turn a blind eye, but so did every single one of those players. They bear as much or more of the blame. Why? Because they just wanted to GET PAID for playing a game…instead of having to go out into the real world to earn a living. Now, after taking millions in compensation, they want to cry FOUL!?!? I call BS.
5150 UOAD
May 19th, 2012
11:40 am
BEAST…………if it were so BAD then why is Jessie Tuggle allowing his son to still play college football after he decided to join the Lawsuit? Jessie wants MONEY and he still wants his boy to play in the NFL for the $$$ too.
JSS
May 19th, 2012
11:45 am
It is not about stupidity, it is about “responsibilities!” In legal matters (which this now is), one does not overrule that other… You know that the producer of product causes A, a long term causation effect, even if B (the player) knows it gives you brain damage, then party A knows that they have responsibility to care for party B in that event.
JSS
May 19th, 2012
11:50 am
The NFLPA brought up player safety time after time… There were more than two parties at the table, the NFLPA Alumni are always in the mix because a large part of player dues go to administration of the retirement trust and the long-term medical care instrument of the CBA. They filed friend of court motions in the district and in the appeals court…
5150 UOAD
May 19th, 2012
11:54 am
JSS……….we have become too ready to SUE. It is this entitlement attitude. The PLAYER didn’t have to Buy the Producers product. Take RESPONSIBILITY for your Choices. Should every Alcoholic be able to SUE the Producer for legal fees and court costs for DUI’s? The Producer knows that Alcoholics can’t say NO and the Alcoholic knows he can’t say NO but after a few drinks the Alcoholic can no longer make rational decisions to not DRIVE so the Producer is just as much to blame right?
wxwax
May 19th, 2012
12:00 pm
Nice job, Jeff.
JSS
May 19th, 2012
12:07 pm
Oh get off that libertarian line, this nation is no more litigious than it has always been since the founding. Now, it is only a matter that injured parties actually get their day in court now… Hey, the NFL owners are a nearly trillion dollar venture… If they’ve done no wrong, the courts will find in their favor… Problem is, that case is a loser! They lied… They got caught in the lie… That is what happens, they could have taken care of this in 1975 when it was first put on their plate… Instead they acted like the Tobacco companies did and now it is going to cost them big…
5150 UOAD
May 19th, 2012
12:15 pm
JSS add to the lawsuit all the media outlets over the years that Helped to SELL FOOTBALL as a great game and way to make a living. If Football wasn’t Written about and Showed on TV people wouldn’t have made it so popular and such a money maker that FORCED those poor players to Have to play the game. LOL
5150 UOAD
May 19th, 2012
12:18 pm
SUE the equipment makers too. Their products must not do their job very well. Like Tobacco Advertisers said it was safe Riddell said their helmets protect/reduce against head injuries.
JSS
May 19th, 2012
12:31 pm
They aren’t the “producer” only the exploiting end-user party… Big difference, and equipment makers have a built-in liability waiver. The NFL does not… Equipment does not assure you will not get injured… Big difference…
JSS
May 19th, 2012
12:38 pm
By the way, alcohol producers pass along their liability to the end-user… Ask anyone who runs a bar or has party where alcohol is served… That is why liability insurance is sold…
Personal Responsibility
May 19th, 2012
12:48 pm
I think the NFL players need to take personal responsibility here. They got paid well, lived large and not want to get paid again. I say no way. They knew the risks and should now deal with it.
Take Junior Seau for instance. He played 20 years in the League. It sounds to me what he could not handle was losing his fame. In addition to the money and girls that come with their NFL fame, I think many NFL players also struggle with the loss of structure and programming in their lives once the game is over. After having many people kiss their feet since high school, they wake up and realize what am I supposed to do today. My answer is welcome to the real world, buddy. Unless you have saved your money where you don’t have to work, find a job with some structure and get after it.
Paul in NH
May 19th, 2012
12:59 pm
Beast,
Thanks for the compliment. Perhaps this is a money grab on the part of some of the ex-players but unless you can read minds it’s hard to attribute motives.
There is a huge difference between Pop Warner, High School and the NFL. The NFL is a multi-billion dollar business. Heck, they make money selling videos of the “greatest hits”. Management has just as much a duty to protect their employees from being hurt on the job as at any other company – and it doesn’t matter how well compensated they are. If one of my employees became dizzy from solvent fumes and I just told him to shake it off and sent him back to his job I could go to jail. If I ignored years of evidence concerning hazards on the job my company would be shut down.
JSS
May 19th, 2012
1:06 pm
Exactly… @ 12:59PM
dtanner
May 19th, 2012
1:13 pm
players knew of risk’s,now old and broke and looking to sue,and a bunch of ambulance chasing crooked money grubbing lawyers enabling them
redcoat
May 19th, 2012
1:20 pm
Their equipment should be taken away……….they’re using it now just to hit harder, not be safer. ????????
Beast from the East
May 19th, 2012
1:41 pm
Paul in NH,
My problem is that all of them knew there were health risks involved before they ever signed their contracts. You can’t rape the willing. I believe both sides ignored the problem and both sides profited from it. Now they want to place all the blame on the owners. I’d be happy with some new safety rules and more dollars kicked to the pension funds for the ex-players, but not a huge settlement soley out of the owners’ pockets.
They can turn it into touch football and the players will be playing for the love of the game because no one will pay to see it.
5150 UOAD
May 19th, 2012
1:44 pm
Football Players can’t be protected from INJURY. Yes if they are knocked stupid they should sit but the Hit that caused them to be knocked stupid in the first place IS THE GAME. All the Safety equipment in the world will not stop Injuries on the football field. All the technology has not stopped Collateral Damage in War and it never will. So a player gets a head injury and he stops playing for the rest of the game then can he sue if he is OK to play the next game and it happens again?
Write in in the contract that if a player get a concussion then the team can FIRE him only having to pay him the rest of that seasons salary. Long term contracts are VOID once a player has a concussion and see how many players say NO WAY. If you are not able to Play then you don’t get paid.
5150 UOAD
May 19th, 2012
2:04 pm
Would this work?
Cut the salaries in half(3yr max contract length), double the number of players/team and Maximum plays ANY player can play is 30/game. That should reduce injuries, the need to play hurt and let more college kids play in the NFL.
5150 UOAD
May 19th, 2012
2:12 pm
As of the end of the 2009 NFL season, the average number of plays in an NFL game for each team is between 60 and 70 plays or 120-140 combined between the two (2) teams.
So make the MAX plays a player can play a game is 40.
Paul in NH
May 19th, 2012
2:21 pm
Beast,
I agree with you that both sides ignored the problem and profited from it. We’ll have to agree to disagree about who is paying the price.
Shankit
May 19th, 2012
2:32 pm
Area 229 Valdosta.State Girl’s softball team plays UC San Diego at four o’clock this afternoon for national championship, just in case any of you area 704 fans care.