NFL Finally Admits Concussions Cause Damage

League will now support head injury research it has dismissed

By Kevin Spak, Newser Staff

Posted Dec 21, 2009 6:55 AM CST

(Newser) – The NFL for the first time acknowledged that concussions have long-term effects yesterday, as it announced a plan to donate $1 million or more to head trauma research. “It’s quite obvious from the medical research that’s been done that concussions can lead... Read full story »

COMMENTS

Read the comment policy

You need to Log in to Newser to comment. Don't have an account yet? Sign up now!

10 comments

A snapshot of the day's best news stories.

View Larger Grid

All Today Yesterday Pick a Date

What's Popular Now on Facebook

'Serpent Pastor' Dies of Snake Bite

Oosp: Romney's New App Misspells 'America'

New York Times (Source Grid »)

Sports • Science

NFL • football • concussions • Boston University • head trauma • football concussion rules

More Newser Stories

Junior Seau's Brain to Be Checked for Damage

Brain injuries associated with other players' early deaths

(NEWSER) - Doctors will inspect Junior Seau's brain for any evidence of injury from his football days, following an agreement with his family. Several early deaths among football players have pointed to brain injury, the Los Angeles Times notes. "The family was considering this almost from the beginning, but they didn't want to make any emotional decisions," says the San Diego Chargers chaplain. Finally, "they came to a joint decision that absolutely this was the best thing." More»

Researchers Want a Look at Junior Seau's Brain

To look for signs of repeated head trauma

(NEWSER) - Did Junior Seau have football-related brain damage? The Boston University Center for Traumatic Encephalopathy wants to look at his brain to find out, Peter King reports on Twitter today. The Center has studied the brains of a number of deceased football players, and almost every time it's found evidence of repeated head trauma, according to Pro Football Talk , which suspects that a Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy diagnosis on Seau would be a " watershed moment ." More»

Former Players Sue NFL Over Brain Injuries

Three ex-athletes want league to monitor all ex-players

(NEWSER) - Three retired football players are suing the NFL because they say they got banged up so much in their playing days it left them with brain injuries. They want the league to set up a program to monitor the problem among all former players, reports Bloomberg . The three former athletes—Harry Jacobs, Jerome Barkum, and Tommy Mason—each suffer from brain injuries caused by frequent tackles during their careers, according to the federal lawsuit. They're also seeking unspecified personal-injury compensation. More»

Teen Dies of Football Brain Injury

Ridge Barden collapses on field during NY game

(NEWSER) - A 16-year-old New York high school athlete collapsed during a football game with a head injury and died hours later from bleeding in the brain. Linesman Ridge Barden passed out after a "blunt-force trauma" collision during the third quarter of a game in Homer. "I don't think anyone could have ever, ever seen this coming," said the head of high school football in the region. "It's just very sad that something like this does happen. Accidents do happen." But the tragedy has underscored growing concerns about head trauma and football, particularly for young players, notes ABC News . A new law in New York now requires "concussion management teams" of sports staff and health professionals in every school district to monitor programs. More»

Lawsuit: NFL Hid Concussion Effects for 90 Years

75 ex-players suing the league

(NEWSER) - A group of 75 former NFL players is suing the league, claiming that it has been hiding the harmful effects of the concussions for nearly a century. “The NFL knew as early as the 1920s of the harmful effects on a player's brain of concussions,” the lawsuit reads, according to a copy obtained by TMZ . "However, until June of 2010 they concealed these facts from coaches, trainers, players, and the public." More»

NEWS FROM OUR PARTNERS

What is Newser?

Face it: there's too much news. At Newser, we choose the most thought-provoking and entertaining stories from hundreds of US and international sources and reduce them to a headline, picture, and two paragraphs. And we do it 24/7—you can come back morning, noon, night (and in between) for something new that matters. Read less, know more.

Learn more »

Partnering with: Slate

View Newser on the mobile website

NFL Finally Admits Concussions Cause Damage

League will now support head injury research it has dismissed

NFL • football • concussions • Boston University • head trauma • football concussion rules

MOST POPULAR STORIES

[ By Views ]

[ By Comments ]

More Newser Stories

Junior Seau's Brain to Be Checked for Damage

Brain injuries associated with other players' early deaths

Researchers Want a Look at Junior Seau's Brain

To look for signs of repeated head trauma

Former Players Sue NFL Over Brain Injuries

Three ex-athletes want league to monitor all ex-players

Teen Dies of Football Brain Injury

Ridge Barden collapses on field during NY game

Lawsuit: NFL Hid Concussion Effects for 90 Years

75 ex-players suing the league

About Us

Site

Community

Site Maps

Tools

More News

What is Newser?