OT: Polamalu admits to lying about concussions..

[DaBruinz]

Troy Polamalu admits lying to conceal concussions - NFL - Sporting News

This interview is certainly damning to all those cases of players suing the NFL over concussions..

 

[voluntarysaftey]

Troy Polamalu admits lying to conceal concussions - NFL - Sporting News

This interview is certainly damning to all those cases of players suing the NFL over concussions..

It really goes three ways --
The players want to play so they don't fully tell the coaches about their injuries.
The coaches want the player's to tell them its less severe than it actually is (less so nowadays, but absoluely 10+ years ago)
The media/fans gets on the case of players who say they're too injured to play, calling them weak and fakers.

Maybe the answer is to just have a weekly evaluation of all players by doctors for any concussion or severe injuries; and for those doctors not to be so aligned with the team.

 

[PatsFanSince74]

Troy Polamalu admits lying to conceal concussions - NFL - Sporting News

This interview is certainly damning to all those cases of players suing the NFL over concussions..

How is it "damning" to those cases?

Polamalu is describing a culture in which it was difficult to report legitimate health concerns to ownership. I think that could be just as strong an argument the other way, viz., that the NFL didn't do enough to encourage and/or enable injured players to admit to their injury.

To be clear. I'm not saying that's how it will play out in Court (which is where this will end up), but it's sure not as cut and dry as you're suggesting.

 

[PatsFanSince74]

It really goes three ways --
The players want to play so they don't fully tell the coaches about their injuries.
The coaches want the player's to tell them its less severe than it actually is (less so nowadays, but absoluely 10+ years ago)
The media/fans gets on the case of players who say they're too injured to play, calling them weak and fakers.

Maybe the answer is to just have a weekly evaluation of all players by doctors for any concussion or severe injuries; and for those doctors not to be so aligned with the team.

Good points all. At the very least, Polamalu's statements don't exonerate the owners, however else this might play out.

 

[PatsBoy12]

It really goes three ways --
The players want to play so they don't fully tell the coaches about their injuries.
The coaches want the player's to tell them its less severe than it actually is (less so nowadays, but absoluely 10+ years ago)
The media/fans gets on the case of players who say they're too injured to play, calling them weak and fakers.

Maybe the answer is to just have a weekly evaluation of all players by doctors for any concussion or severe injuries; and for those doctors not to be so aligned with the team.

This sums it up nicely.

 

[BTTA]

The employer controls the culture of the organization, and is responsible for its impact on employee behavior. If the culture of an organization encourages, directly or indirectly, certain behavior in its employees, then the largest portion of responsibility for that behavior shifts from the individual to the employer.

 

[DaBruinz]

How is it "damning" to those cases?

Umm.. it's damning because it tells everyone that they were willing to lie about how bad the injury was. Meaning if they were willing to lie about the injuries, it's not a stretch to say that they knew that there are long term effects and still went about playing, removing the liability from the team. And probably have known for awhile.

Polamalu is describing a culture in which it was difficult to report legitimate health concerns to ownership. I think that could be just as strong an argument the other way, viz., that the NFL didn't do enough to encourage and/or enable injured players to admit to their injury.

To be clear. I'm not saying that's how it will play out in Court (which is where this will end up), but it's sure not as cut and dry as you're suggesting.

What Polamalu is describing is a culture that is perpetrated as much by the players as anyone else. And, all it takes is that reasonable doubt that the players aren't being truthful about what they knew regarding the long term effects of the injuries and the NFL will see it's liability diminished, if not expunged totally.

 

[RelocatedPatFan]

I'm sure both sides can make use of it and in todays litigious society, people don't seem to have to take resposibility (like you have to warn people about not poking a sharpened pencils into your or anyone else's body).

However, i think people should have to take care of themselves and if they lie, then you can only be protected so much (i would hope). I understand it's a competitive job and the next guy in line is always lookign to get a chance to show what he has...how can you blame coaches for wanting to field they best team they can with the personnel they have.