Nfl: Two Violated Concussion Rules

[RFIP]

http://espn.go.com/nfl/playoffs/201...keenan-lewis-violated-nfl-concussion-protocol

BOSTON -- Two players violated league concussion protocol during last weekend's wild-card games, according to a letter sent by the NFL's head, neck and spine committee chairmen to all team doctors and trainers.

In a document obtained by The Associated Press, Drs. Hunt Batjer and Richard Ellenbogen said one player re-entered the game and another refused to leave the sideline.

The doctors did not identify the players, but one was Green Bay tackle David Bakhtiari, who went into the game for an extra-point try despite being examined for a concussion and not cleared. The other player was Saints cornerback Keenan Lewis, who remained on the sideline but did not get back on the field.

"On two occasions last weekend, and contrary to the advice of the team medical staffs, players who had been diagnosed with a concussion and therefore declared ineligible for play nonetheless refused to leave the sidelines as required by league concussion protocols," the letter said. "In one case, the player went back onto the field for one play before being removed from the game."

The doctors found "no fault" in how the team medical staffs conducted themselves.

"If a player refuses to follow your advice and leave the sidelines after being diagnosed with a concussion, we recommend that the head athletic trainer seek assistance from the player's position coach (or another member of the coaching staff) or from another team official to remove the player from the sidelines as soon as possible," the letter said.

The NFL's Madden Rule requires a player diagnosed with a concussion to be taken to the locker room or another quiet location.

"We will continue working with the league to ensure that team doctors, coaches, trainers and other members of a team's medical staff enforce return-to-participation protocols," the NFL Players Association said in an email. "Players naturally want to play and ultimately, the game-day medical and coaching staffs have the responsibility and obligation for player protection and care."

The Saints and Packers declined comment. No fines will be imposed for the violations.

Bakhtiari's season is over because Green Bay lost to San Francisco. But Saints are playing Saturday at Seattle, and Lewis has been practicing.

Batjer and Ellenbogen noted in the letter how players may resist being kept out of the game, particularly during the postseason.

"But [the rule] is an important element of the league's protocol and intended to safeguard the player's well-being and enhance his ability to recover from his injury," they wrote.

 

[PhxRam]

Why is it called the Madden rule?

 

[RFIP]

Why is it called the Madden rule?

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.co...ull-players-if-you-even-suspect-a-concussion/

NFL to teams: Pull players if you even suspect a concussion

The NFL distributed a memo to all 32 teams this week in which the medical staffs were reminded that there should be absolutely no situation in which a player sets foot on the field after he has suffered a concussion.

The memo, which was forwarded to PFT, also makes clear that if the medical staff thinks a player could have suffered a concussion but hasn’t formally diagnosed one, that’s enough to take him out of the game.

Under the heading, “WHEN IN DOUBT LEAVE THEM OUT,” the memo states: “If you have any suspicion about a player being concussed, remove him from the game. Always err on the side of caution.”

Dr. Hunt Batjer and Dr. Richard Ellenbogen, the co-chairs of the league’s Head, Neck and Spine Committee, wrote the memo, which also notes that once a player is pulled, he can’t go back in until both the team doctor and an independent doctor say he’s ready to go.

“Any player suspected of having a concussion is a ‘NO GO’ and does not return to play in the same game or practice, and cannot return to play at all until he is cleared by both his team physician and an independent neurologist,” the memo says.

Medical staffs were also reminded of what’s known as the “Madden Rule.”

“Named for John Madden, who suggested it, this rules states that, if a player is diagnosed with a concussion and removed from a game, he must leave the field and be immediately escorted to the locker/training room, and a member of the medical staff (e.g., an ATC, paramedic, MD, fellow, or resident capable of medical intervention) must remain with the player to observe him if his injury does not require immediate hospitalization,” the memo says. “There are no exceptions to this rule and the player is NOT to return to the field under any circumstances. The Madden Rule is intended to protect the players. It provides a quiet environment to permit the player time to recover without distraction. This rule has been endorsed by the NFL Competition Committee and approved by the Commissioner.”

We’ll surely see situations in which players think they’re OK to play and say they don’t want to be escorted to the locker room. The NFL is telling medical staffs that they have the authority to order a player to the locker room whether he wants to go or not.

 

[Thordaddy]

Why is it called the Madden rule?

Cuz part of the protocol is if the player knows what Turducken is?

 

[mr.stlouis]

This is lame...

Never shoulda let doctors, lawyers, or billionaires put their nasty taints on our game. The officiating has gotten worse because of those three mentioned, as well.