Goodell started work in the NFL in 1982 as an administrative intern.
According to the Associated Press, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell sent letters to 44 states imploring them to pass a law to protect the nation’s youth from brain injuries. The law is based on one currently in place in Washington.
Goodell’s letter wiil be a part of Dr. Richard Ellenbogen’s testimony at Representative John Conyers’ forum on concussions in New York, according to an e-mail from the NFL.
Dr. Ellenbogen treated Zackery Lystedt, a Washington middle school student who suffered a brain injury after returning to a football game following a concussion. Washington promptly passed Lystedt’s law, which keeps young athletes from returning to play too soon.
Similar laws have been enacted in Oregon, Connecticut, Virginia, New Mexico, Oklahoma.
The Lystedt law contains three essential elements:
*Athletes, parents and coaches must be educated about the dangers of concussions each year.
*If a young athlete is suspected of having a concussion, he/she must be removed from a game or practice and not be permitted to return to play.
*A licensed health care professional must clear the young athlete to return to play in the subsequent days or weeks.
Partial Transcript of Commissioner’s Goodell’s Letter:
“The Center for Disease Control estimates that there may be as many as 3.8 million sports and recreation-related concussions in the United States each year,” Goodell wrote. “These injuries are sustained by both boys and girls in numerous contact sports.
“Given our experience at the professional level, we believe a similar approach is appropriate when dealing with concussions in all youth sports. That is why the NFL and its clubs urge you to support legislation that would better protect your state’s young athletes by mandating a more formal and aggressive approach to treatment of concussions.”
“We would urge that similar legislation be adopted in your state,” Goodell added. “We believe that sports and political leaders can help raise awareness of these dangerous injuries and better ensure that they are treated in the proper and most effective way. Young athletes, as well as parents, coaches and school officials in your state, will thank you for taking a stand on this important issue.”
TO WHICH STATES DID HE SEND THE LETTER?
TO WHICH 44 states did he send the letter?
Current concussion aftercare protocol is not enough, players need to be evaluated prior to playing. A head and neck evaluation in relation to jaw cartilage alignment/balance used by the N.E.Patriots, has now been recognized by the Department of Defense. Parents at all levels must educate themselves about a corrective orthodontic procedure documented in a medical journal publication to help reduce concussion from blows to the jaw. Helmets are not the only solution and common tooth protecting mouth guards do not identify such defects in the cartilage structure. Until this level of care is implemented into the standard of protocting our athletes and soldiers, concussion rates will not change. http://www.mahercor.com