Daily Madden: NFL Concussions Are Down, But Not Out
SAN FRANCISCO (KCBS) - John Madden says the NFL appears to be making progress in the effort to reduce player concussions.
"We had our first quarter report -- after the first quarter of the season -- and concussions were down," John Madden told the KCBS Radio morning crew. "But that doesn't mean a lot because in the next quarter they can go up. That's just a small sampling." But Madden said new rules appear to be working. "Players have changed some techniques and there's a real effort to eliminate (concussions)... They're still there, but there aren't as many."
Madden said one of the most dangerous plays -- a helmet to helmet hit on a defensive player -- is no longer tolerated.
"That wasn't a tackle as much as it was a move to dislodge the ball," Madden said. "They would throw down that seam and (the defense) would try to get the receiver between the two safeties. And if the safeties got there a little late, then instead of tackling the guy to the ground or getting the ball, they'd just try to knock it loose. And the way they were trying to knock it loose was hitting the guy in the head... So they've moved their targets on those. That one in the last couple of years has mostly been eliminated." (5:55)
(Listen to the John Madden segment live weekday mornings at 8:15 and Monday and Friday mornings at 9:15 on KCBS All News 740 AM/106.9 FM.)