NFL commissioner says league to make ‘change or two’ to concussion protocol

The NFL is prepared “to make a adjust or two” to its concussion protocol, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said at a enthusiast forum in London on Saturday as the league faces issues about how the Miami Dolphins dealt with quarterback Tua Tagovailoa’s modern accidents.

Responding to a fan’s issue about concussions and “new incidents,” Goodell outlined the league’s “intense emphasis” on the challenge about the previous 15 a long time and explained its clinical protocols have served as templates for other sports activities.

“Our position seriously is to continue to modify all those as professional medical gurus or other encounters convey to you this is a thing you can do in a different way,'” he reported.

The commissioner took concerns only from admirers in London ahead of Sunday’s game concerning the Inexperienced Bay Packers and the New York Giants at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. He was not manufactured out there to the media Saturday. The league did not elaborate on what the likely protocol improvements are or when they could appear into impact.

Before this 7 days, the NFL Gamers Association fired the unaffiliated neurotrauma specialist who evaluated Tagovailoa immediately after he stumbled off the discipline versus Buffalo on Sept. 25 following a strike. The quarterback was evaluated for a concussion, but he promptly returned to the sport and the Dolphins claimed a back damage had brought about his wobbly gait.

The quarterback subsequently suffered a concussion four days later at Cincinnati and is out indefinitely.

Goodell, devoid of citing Tagovailoa by name, mentioned you will find “additional chatter now” about concussions.

“We understand some of that chatter, but the actuality is the protocols are really essential. We follow that strictly. We see no sign that that did not occur in this situation. There is certainly an ongoing investigation, ” he stated. “We are actually targeted on undertaking that. But we are also organized to make a change or two in the protocols simply because we assume we can really incorporate an additional component that would make it even safer.”

On Friday, the NFL Gamers Affiliation urged the league to put into action alterations in time to shield gamers in this weekend’s video games. In its personal statement, the NFL claimed it was operating on updates to the protocol but did not dedicate to implementing them right before Sunday’s video games.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers tight conclude Cameron Brate’ was also hurt last Sunday when he collided with a teammate near the close of the very first 50 % versus the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs and was originally allowed to re-enter the match. He then sat out the 2nd half with a concussion.

NFL players “are finding the most amazing treatment and much better than they at any time have in the history of the NFL, but they are entitled to that, and that’s our obligation, and which is what we require to do,” Goodell stated.