Flagging NFL's bogus response to film 'Concussion'
After seeing trailer of movie starring Will Smith, league claims it's encouraged by focus on player safety.
WE'RE CALLING BS on the NFL.
Yesterday, in response to the release of a trailer for the film "Concussion" starring Will Smith, the league issued the following statement:
"We are encouraged by the ongoing focus on the critical issue of player health and safety. We have no higher priority. We all know more about this issue than we did 10 or 20 years ago. As we continue to learn more, we apply those learnings to make our game and players safer."
What a crock.
The film stars Smith as Dr. Bennet Omalu, who discovered chronic traumatic encephalopathy, or CTE, while doing an autopsy on the brain of Steelers center Mike Webster in 2002.
Omalu, who also has linked football-related head trauma to dementia, is a member of the Brain Injury Research Institute, which has examined over 20 brains since 2002, including that of former Eagles safety Andre Waters, who committed suicide at age 44 in 2006.
BIRI determined that Waters' brain tissue was that of an 85-year-old.
And let's not forget former Eagles quarterback Jim McMahon, who, at 56, is struggling with the early onset of dementia. McMahon, who sometimes can't remember the names of close friends, and has - on occasion - forgotten his way home, has said he's had three to five diagnosed concussions.
He is one of thousands of former players who won a huge financial settlement after suing the NFL for not properly warning them about the long-term effects of concussions. As part of the deal, the league did not have to acknowledge any wrongdoing.
How convenient.
Notice the league that welcomes "ongoing focus on the critical issue of player health and safety" had to be sued to do the right thing.
"Concussion" will be released on Christmas Day. We can't think of a better present for NFL commissioner Roger Goodell.