Concussions in the NFL

Concussions are a fast becoming a deadly problem for NFL players. Or it was always a problem and we are just now discovering how big of a problem. Recently Andre Waters, a former NFL player committed suicide. Now Doctors are saying his suicide was a result of brain damage caused by repeated concussions. More on Waters in a bit.

A concussion is a brain injury. This is caused when a blow to the head results in the brain actually moving around in the skull. According to About.com sports medicine writer Elizabeth Quinn. She also states that this causes all the brain cells to fire like a seizure. Often bleeding in the brain occurs and brain activity can be similar to that of a coma victim.

I remember a concussion incident I witnessed in a high school football game in 1987. Our running back, got a shot to the head. He was helped from the field and came towards me on the sidelines. I told him to go sit on the bench as he was staggering around. His response was a blank look and asking "Where is the bench" which he was standing in front of. I actually almost thought it was funny. We called it "Getting your bell rung" I think he actually went back into the game at some point. Back then I thought once you got over the initial injury then all was fine.

In 2000-2001 Dr. Julian Bailes the head of the department of Neurosurgery at The University of West Virginia did a study on NFL concussions. Partnered with the NFL Player's Association and the Study of Retired Athletes at the University of North Carolina. Of almost 2500 retired NFL players from ages 24 to 95 were studied. 61 percent reported that they had, had at least one concussion. 16 percent of those said there were long lasting effects of the injuries.

When I heard that Andre Waters had committed suicide, I thought oh another player who couldn't adjust to real life after football. I was very wrong and now am ashamed of myself.

Andre Waters played 12 seasons for the Philadelphia Eagles and Arizona Cardinals. He was known as "Dirty" Waters due to being a cheap shot artist who tried to or did injure many players. A lot of this was accomplished by spearing or hitting with the helmet