Concussion Means It's Time to Retire, Moron

(NEWSER) - When Willis McGahee was wheeled off the field during the AFC championship game, “it was impossible not to fear the worst,” writes Wendy MacLeod in the Washington Post. And when she tried to find his status online, she turned up a YouTube video entitled, “McGahee Gets ‘Jacked Up’ … Hardest Hit Ever!” It’s hard not to conclude that “we've become like the jaded spectators who watched the gladiators in ancient Rome.” More»

(NEWSER) - A sixth former NFL player has been diagnosed posthumously with a rare brain disease, lending credence to claims that concussions sustained playing football can have a cumulative, even deadly, effect, the Tampa Tribune reports. Tom McHale, who played for the Buccaneers, died from an overdose of painkillers and cocaine in May. But doctors think his poor judgment could have been the result of chronic traumatic encephalopathy, commonly associated with boxers. More»

Scientists focus on effect of repeat injuries

(NEWSER) - Celebrated Bears safety Dave Duerson killed himself this week at age 50, and his family is donating his brain to science to see whether his suicide may have been related to concussions and brain injuries received as a player. "He had informed (his family) at some point that he wanted his brain to be studied so people could learn more about the effect of brain trauma and so kids could play the game more safely in the future," a co-director of the Boston University School of Medicine tells the Chicago Tribune. More»

Pittsburgh dominated, then held on

(NEWSER) - The Pittsburgh Steelers advanced to their third Super Bowl in six years thanks to a big-play defense that returned a fumble for a touchdown and staged a late goal-line stand in a 24-19 victory over the New York Jets. Pittsburgh, which led 24-0 in the first half and held on, faces the Green Bay Packers in the Super Bowl in Dallas in two weeks. The Packers beat Chicago 21-14 earlier today. More»

Hopes of a 2-game suspension dashed

(NEWSER) - Pittsburgh fans can forget any hope that Ben Roethlisberger will get off with a slap on the wrist. The league today suspended Big Ben for the first 6 games of next season for violating its personal conduct policy, reports ESPN . Some in the Steelers organization had actually feared an 8-game penance over the rape allegations. More»