NFL ignores its own concussion protocol rules with Ram QB
Watch the video from the Nov 22nd Rams-Ravens game. With the clock winding down and a tie game, St. Louis QB Casey Keenum gets tossed to the ground while passing. His head hit the ground. Watch what happens when he tries to get up. He falls back to the turf.
After being helped up by a teammate, the team’s trainer comes to talk to him and gives him the go-ahead to play. Two plays later, he fumbles the ball.
After the game, Keenum was diagnosed with a concussion. So why was allowed to continue to play? It’s even more of a mystery since he clearly exhibited some of the vary symptoms described by the NFL in its protocol assessment, which were ignored by the trainer, the team, and the NFL’s spotters. Keenum clearly hit his head, had trouble getting up, showed disorientation, and was holding his head.
Potential Concussion Signs (Observable)
SOURCE: NFL Protocol
• Any loss of consciousness;
• Slow to get up following a hit to the head (“hit to the head” may include secondary contact with the playing surface);
• Motor coordination/balance problems (stumbles, trips/falls, slow/labored movement);
• Blank or vacant look;
• Disorientation (e.g., unsure of where he is on the field or location of bench); • Clutching of head after contact;
• Visible facial injury in combination with any of the above. Potential Concussion Symptoms (Player reported, following direct or indirect contact)
• Headache;
• Dizziness;
• Balance or coordination difficulties;
• Nausea;
• Amnesia for the circumstances surrounding the injury (i.e., retrograde/anterograde amnesia);
• Cognitive slowness;
• Light/sound sensitivity;
• Disorientation;
• Visual disturbance;
• Tinnitus.
NFL spokesman said late Monday that the league is investigating what happened.
[graphiq id=”3w8rfhOPEk5" title=”Case Keenum Overview” width=”640" height=”545" url=”https://w.graphiq.com/w/3w8rfhOPEk5" link=”http://football-players.pointafter.com/l/11133/Case-Keenum" link_text=”Case Keenum Overview | PointAfter”]
