NFL Considers New Concussion Study
(WSCR) - Earlier in the season, the hot topic around the NFL was the effect of concussions on players. And as a result, the dangers of the game became more visible. It seems as if this issue has faded to some degree, but the NFL is still committed to protecting its players during and after their playing careers.
The NFL is looking into running a study that would try to examine whether playing in the league is more likely to result in long-term brain disease than only playing college football.
That's among the proposals discussed Thursday as the NFL's head, neck and spine medical committee wrapped up two days of meetings with a session at league headquarters.
Committee co-chairman Hunt Batjer of Northwestern University says the study would test a group of 100 to 150 former NFL players who are 55 to 65 years old and compare them to "an age-matched and position-matched cohort of football players who played NCAA but not the pros."
The committee also worked on a uniform sideline exam, so every team would check players the same way before deciding whether they can return to a game.
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