Congressman Cohen Questions NFL About Football Head Injuries

Press Release

Congressman Steve Cohen joined with House Judiciary Chairman John Conyers today to examine the steps taken by the National Football League (NFL), National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and high schools to deal with brain injuries resulting from football.

Today's hearing featured testimony from a number of current and retired NFL players, leading neuroscientists, as well as Mr. DeMaurice Smith, Executive Director of the NFL Players Association, Rev. Al Sharpton, Founder of the National Action Network, and Mr. Vincent R. Ferrara, Founder and CEO of Xenith, LLC, a leading football helmet manufacturer.

"At the end of the day, these hearings are important, not just to better protect professional players from head injuries, but in setting up a code of conduct that will filter down to high school, college and even pee-wee leagues," Congressman Cohen said. "If we needed a reminder about the severity of head injuries in football, we just have to look at the worried faces of players, coaches and fans during the Dolphins-Steelers game yesterday that left Pat White knocked out after a hard helmet-to-helmet hit."

In October of last year, the Judiciary Committee held its first hearing on the issue of head injuries in football which brought national attention to the NFL's inadequate response to this critical issue. The Committee learned that league polices were unclear. If anything, this ambiguity encouraged teams to send injured players back on the field too soon, even if doing so would risk permanent brain damage. The committee also heard testimony that called into question whether the NFL's scientific research into the impact of head injuries was impartial and trustworthy.

"There are some who question what role Congress can and should play in regulating professional sports, but in the few months since the Judiciary Committee first examined the issue of head injuries in football, we've seen the NFL take some dramatic and important first steps," Congressman Cohen said. "Today's hearing continues to shine the light on this important issue in the hopes that all levels of football can identify the remaining issues and work toward a solution that keeps players of all ages safe on the gridiron."

Congressman Cohen noted that on December 3rd, the NFL announced that players showing any significant sign of concussion would be required to be removed from a game or practice and could not return the same day. In addition, the League suspended its flawed study of the long-term effects of concussions on retired players so that it can be improved.

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