Thanks. Much appreciated. I mean that sincerely.
Two simple (but expensive - and in my mind, worth it) things could be done to minimize head injuries: One, all professional playing fields could be - should be - grass.
Two, design a helmet that is padded on the outside to absorb a greater percentage of that brain-damaging initial impact than plastic that is as hard as metal.
As Dr. Amen and others point out, it's not a blow to the head per se that defines a concussion it's the jarring of the brain within the skull as a result from a blow or even from non-contact trauma that does the damage. i.e. whiplash in an automobile accident, or from a parent shaking a small child in unchecked anger, or smacking a kid on the back of the head. The head-whip, not the blow, causes the concussion.
I was concussed and simultaneously whiplashed in a vehicle accident - no head blow involved. A car pulled out in front of me at a T intersection, looking the other way - I hit the brakes, no time/space to maneuver around, reduced my speed from 50 to aboiut 40 when I hit. Head and neck whipped forward to the limit of seat belt travel, then back against headrest; then a second forward-backward cycle caused the concussion. Everything shook forward. I could feel it. I didn't get knocked out, seemed coherent enough, drove the rest of the way to work, took some Advil; things got worse the next day.
Stafford could have been concussed without its being from an obvious big hit. I know that from experience. He could have been dropped hard on his shoulder and the whipping could have concussed him; all sorts of possibilities. He also could have kept playing, unaware of the severity of his condition. I know that from experience as well.
The notion that "something's fishy" or they're faking it to keep him off the field are positions I don't buy. A third party, inside the building notwithstanding, doesn't have access to the medical information that even the coaching staff might not fully understand.
I pray that Stafford and our other concussed players don't experience lifelong damage and we see more of them, when they are medically cleared to play again by fully trained neurologists. But not unless, and not until.
