A long time ago...a pathologist made a discovery.
Dr. Omalu meets Mike Webster and makes the connection.
The short video below explains the pathology of Tau protein and how it is affected by concussions.
Science collides with a corporate super power.
The tragic deaths continue...
The following short videos are from an ESPN documentary about the final days of Justin Strzelczyk and his violent death. They provide insight into his mental state at the time of his death, as a result of CTE.
Two decades of denial.
Reading the signals...
New commissioner, Same story.
"They didn't say, ‘Thanks, Doc, that's great.’ They got mad at me. We got into it. And I'm thinking, this is a new disease in America's most popular sport, and how are its leaders responding? Alienate the scientist who found it. Refuse to accept the science coming from him." (Laskas)
The back and forth exchange of clear scientific data versus a mentality dedicated to impugn the messenger continued into the next decade, even as retired players continued to die young and tragically.
David (aka Jason Luckasevic) and Goliath (aka the NFL)
In 2011, Luckasevic, on behalf of approximately 4,500 ex-NFL players, filed a class-action lawsuit against the league for damages related to on-field concussions. The retirees contend the league failed to warn them adequately about the dangers of brain damage. In return, the NFL vehemently denied the allegations and expanded its attack on Dr. Omalu’s research (Laskas).
The NFL goes from "Defense" to "defendant."
At a press conference in December, NFL Spokesman Greg Aiello told reporters, “it’s quite obvious from the medical research that’s been done that concussions can lead to long-term problems” (Ezell). This is the first admission by the NFL that a correlation exists between concussions and long-term brain disorders.
Click on any image to enlarge.
Seeing the blitz coming the NFL finally decides to punt.
Lawyers huddle to discuss a settlement.
Since the onset of professional football, research has shown that repetitive head injuries can lead to chronic brain disorders. As early as 1928, the symptoms of slowed movement, speech problems, confusion, and mental deterioration were recognized outcomes. Over decades, more and more research was conducted to examine the pathology of closed head injuries, or concussions. Despite efforts to minimalize the condition, Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy has become the prominently accepted result of concussions in medical science. Thus it was evidenced that multiple concussions do perpetuate CTE and NFL players in particular suffer the symptoms of this progressive neurodegenerative disease. As the 100th anniversary of the NFL approaches, only after many players have tragically died as a result of CTE, and a sizeable lawsuit by over 4,500 retired players, is the NFL finally acknowledging the research…that the correlation between concussions and CTE is real.
Why should NFL fans care?
Even though the NFL is preparing to settle the concussion lawsuit with an astronomical amount of money the potential for players to develop serious brain disorders still exists. Fans, parents, and players from peewee to pro need to educate themselves about the dangers of concussions. Hopefully all of the attention and large amounts of money being directed at concussion education, prevention, and treatment will have a positive affect on the sport.
The gallery below is a collection of photos from various NFL games over the past few seasons. They are a split second, frozen in time, during violent head to head collisions. These images help illustrate the destructive force and potential mechanism of injury players endure on a weekly basis.
Click on any image to enlarge.
Associated Press. "Poll: 49 Percent Are Pro Football fans." ESPN. ESPN Internet Ventures, 25 Jan. 2014. Web. 11 Nov. 2014.
Belson, Ken. "Brain Trauma to Affect One in Three Players, N.F.L. Agrees." The New York Times. The New York Times, 12 Sept. 2014. Web. 02 Nov. 2014.
---. "N.F.L. Makes Open-Ended Commitment to Retirees in Concussion Suit." The New York Times. The New York Times, 25 June 2014. Web. 11 Nov. 2014.
Brick, Michael. "Tau Could Be the Key to Monitoring Brain Damage From Concussions." Newsweek. Newsweek Magazine, 29 May 2014. Web. 05 Nov. 2014.
Cantu, Robert, MD. "What Is CTE?" Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE). Sports Legacy Institute, n.d. Web. 05 Nov. 2014.
Ezell, Lauren. "Timeline: The NFL’s Concussion Crisis." PBS. PBS, 8 Oct. 2013. Web. 22 Nov. 2014.
Fenno, Nathan. "Hall of Famer Mike Webster's Estate, Others Sue NFL over Concussions." Los Angeles Times. Los Angeles Times, 21 Mar. 2014. Web. 05 Nov. 2014.
Laskas, Jeanne M. "Game Brain: Football Players and Concussions." GQ. Condé Nast, Oct. 2009. Web. 14 Nov. 2014.
Martland, Harrison S., MD. "Punch Drunk." Journal of the American Medical Association 91.15 (1928): 1103-1107.JAMA Network. Web. 5 Nov. 2014.
Mckee, A. C. "The Spectrum of Disease in Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy." Brain 136.1 (2013): 43-64. Web. 2 Nov. 2014.
Saulle, Michael, and Brian D. Greenwald. "Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy: A Review." National Center for Biotechnology Information. U.S. National Library of Medicine, 10 Apr. 2012. Web. 05 Nov. 2014.
Strobel, Gabrielle. "Meet the New Progressive Tauopathy: CTE in Athletes, Soldiers" ALZFORUM. Biomedical Research Forum, LLC, 21 Nov. 2012. Web. 12 Nov. 2014.
Sokolove, Michael. "How One Lawyer’s Crusade Could Change Football Forever." The New York Times. The New York Times, 08 Nov. 2014. Web. 11 Nov. 2014.