Reid defends handling of concussions
The Philadelphia Daily News - Eagletarian
Reid defends handling of concussions
Andy Reid reinforced his support for head athletic trainer Rick Burkholder and the way the Eagles handled the concussions suffered by Kevin Kolb and Stewart Bradley in Sunday's loss to Green Bay. Asked if reporters could speak with Burkholder, to clarify questions arising from the fact that Kolb and Bradley both returned to the game after suffering their injuries, Reid said he would not make Burkholder available. "I gave you everything that needed to be done," Reid said.
Kolb was initially diagnosed with a jaw injury, after being driven into the turf by Clay Matthews, and the Eagles said he would return to the game. Bradley was down after his head collided with Ernie Sims’ leg. He got up and then tumbled over. Bradley left briefly, then returned to the game.
“We stuck to the criteria there and then followed up on it,” Reid said. “That’s the most important thing. We didn’t stick [Bradley] out there without following the protocol and we stayed on top of it and made the decision to take them out when symptoms were there.”
As for the evaluation after Bradley came off the field the first time, Reid said, “When he came off the field and went through the protocol and the testing, he was clear-minded and was able to pass through them.”
Reid said he did not see Bradley stagger live, but saw it on the replay. He said he talked to Bradley after the game and he was “as clear-minded as can be and relayed that to me.”
Asked if Bradley hadn't shown disorientation -- one of the NFL's concussion criteria -- on the field, Reid referred again to the concussion protocols administered on the sideline. He did not answer the original question.
As for the medical staff, Reid said, “Nobody does it better than what Rick does and our docs. The important thing is we took care of them and got them out of there.”
He later said, “The [medical staff] goes to the extreme to make sure they follow the medical protocols that are set for anything. It was no different for this situation.”
Reid said Kolb and Bradley were at the Eagles' facility this morning and were evaluated. They were then sent home and did not watch film with their teammates. Reid said, "They didn't feel great."
Reid said Kolb and Bradley will again be evaluated three days after the concussion (Wednesday) and then visit a Center City specialist Dr. William Welsh at five days (Friday). The doctor will then provide the team an evaluation. Once a player has been deemed out with a concussion, the NFL guidelines call for an independent evaluation.
“You’ve got to go through this protocol,” Reid said. “I can’t tell you [whether they will play this week]. We have to go through and do exactly what the protocol calls for. I don’t want to do anything that puts these guys at risk. That’s not what we’re here to do. That’s very important for all of us to do."
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In other injury news, center Jamaal Jackson tore his triceps -- not his biceps, as the Eagles said Sunday -- and will have surgery tomorrow. That is expected to end his season. Reid said he was looking at options on the roster.
Leonard Weaver has a very severe ACL tear. See our separate post, with quotes from Weaver. No date for surgery has been set.
“That wasn’t a pretty picture from an ACL standpoint,” Reid said. “It’s severe. They won’t know about further damage, if any, until they get in there.”
In other injuries, Antwan Barnes has a wrist strain, Mike Bell has a toe strain, Brodrick Bunkley has an ankle sprain, Todd Herremans has an ankle sprain, Trevor Laws and has an oblique strain and Jason Peters has a knee sprain.
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Reid confirmed that Jason Davis was in for a workout today, along with ex-Seahawk Owen Schmitt. Davis, a former Eagles, tweeted this morning about his visit, as we told you on Eagletarian.
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Reid again said, “Kevin Kolb is the No. 1 quarterback.”
As for Michael Vick, who seemingly will likely start against Detroit, Reid said, “He did some good things. I think if you ask him, there were a couple of throws there he would like to have back. I don’t want to take anything away from him. He did a heck of a job. There is a chance this week he will be called on to be the starter. He just needs to be build on what he started this week. He’s watched the tape and he’s evaluated his play. He knows the things he can get btter at.”
Vick's postgame comment that raised eyebrows -- he said he thought the Eagles could have won had he been out there for four quarters -- was not meant to slight Kolb, Reid said. Instead, it was Vick expressing disappointment that time ran out on the Eagles as they were making a comeback, Reid said.
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I don't like the idea of every team having it's own doctors. There needs to be an independent medical opinion available at every game, someone who is not employed by the Eagles or the NFL. The guy's legs wobbled and he fell down with a dazed expression on his face. I've never been a Reid basher, but on this he can go F himself. Burkolder's not available to comment? Well why not?! I think heads should roll over this.— p-diddy- Shame about Leonard. Season and career over after that one.— CiceroSpuriousDeodatus
- So why didn't anybody ask Andy about contributing to Jackson's injury by running him out there with no pre-season games, and very little contact drills? It's not it wasn't predicted on these boards that he would get injured early on.— jimmyj
- i am glad the BIG RED put an end to the QB controversy..'KK is the number one QB'..thank you BIG RED..case closed move on..2012-SB.....wolf.— wolf 4
- Andy is a fraud his team is poorly coached and please stop doing the same thing over and over again— kaddiej
3-13.— citysims
Losing Bradley is huge - the middle of the D was like to grand canyon after he went out. They're better off with Kolb watching the game from upstairs with a clipboard in his hand. The next 2 games are cucaske - eagles will win both easily (assuming Vick is the starter for those games).— CosmoK- Instead of looking to chock Reid for listening to his staff. You bozos need to stop tip toeing around the poor play Kolb had prior to the concussion. If it were Vick or McNabb, all of you would be slapping up headlines "So and So Sucked Big Time", etc. let's see some of that stuff.— PhillyFanSouth
Comment removed.- Let's see... a completely disorganized, unrehearsed, talentless effort by the Eagles, while McNabb beats the Cowboys further down I-95. Splitting up McNabb & Reid means we finally get to see which one was making the other look good and which one really needed to go, and I think we got a hint of the answer yesterday. The best thing about the Eagles right now is the view they have of the champs across the street.— Coniglio101
- What else would you expect Reid to say....."duh, I put him back in so I could ruin his brain" What a foolish article....and as to who is the starter.....Again, to say anything other than Kolb is the starter would be make himself the idiot for his own master plan.....Remember, he considers himself the smartest man in football....and the fact that he has never earned a Super bowl Ring is no way a relection on his poor schemes, poor drafting, poor game day coaching or overall poor performance.— nuggett
- GONNA BE A LONGGG SEASON. BE PREPARED!!!!— rwolffd12
- can you imagine the glee in the Vick camp today? whether he starts another game for the eagles or not, barring injury he will be an opening day starter for some team next year. meanwhile AR is stuck trying to nurture along a QB who is so soft he can't take the types of hits other QBs (good ones and bad ones) take without getting a concussion, who can't escape the disasters created by the line AR built, who can't read defenses after 4 years of preparation, whose smallish wide receivers can't get consistently open against tight coverage, and who has no power running game to take off the pressure.— barrywil
- "citysims 3-13." That's interesting since they'll have 2 wins before October.— bobbyd24
- Coniglio101 Did you watch that Redskins game or are you just a bit slow? McNabb's offense mustarded up an amazing 6 total points on 2 field goals. I wouldnt say he was amazing. We lost by 7 to a good team while fighting a ton of injuries...some of you are the reason people hate our city and fans. Just one Monday I challenge you to use an average amount of brain cells— BoredAtWork
