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A16 sports
Wednesday 5 OctOber 2022
Analysis: NFL isn’t passing the eye test on head injuries

By ARNIE STAPLETON
AP Pro Football Writer
What happened in Tampa
was the last thing the NFL,
its players and its fanbase
needed three days after
Tua Tagovailoa’s horrify-
ing head injury called into
question the league’s com-
mitment to curbing con-
cussions.
Buccaneers tight end Cam-
eron Brate sat out the sec-
ond half of Sunday night’s
41-31 loss to the Kansas
City Chiefs with a concus-
sion after colliding with a
teammate and initially be-
ing allowed to re-enter the
game.
Brate was shaken up just be-
fore halftime after catching
a pass for a 9-yard gain and
colliding with Bucs receiver
Chris Godwin while being
tackled. Brate stayed down
for a few seconds before
heading for the sideline,
but he didn’t get off the
field fast enough for Tampa
Bay to avoid a penalty for
having too many men on
the field on the next play.
Brate re-entered the game Miami Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel walks away as quarterback Tua Tagovailoa is taken off the field on a stretcher during
and was Tom Brady’s in- the first half of an NFL football game against the Cincinnati Bengals, Thursday, Sept. 29, 2022, in Cincinnati.
tended receiver on mul- Associated Press
tiple incompletions just be-
fore halftime. officials are all watching labored movement).” UNC who cleared him from concussion against Buffalo
Coach Todd Bowles said play and can all step in. Bowles said Brate was re- entering concussion pro- and shouldn’t have played
after the game that Brate But the league appointed examined at halftime after tocol against Buffalo was at Cincinnati. “Cam Brate
was in the concussion pro- spotter has the ability to symptoms arose and “we fired by the union, and the went back in 4 plays after
tocol but was unable to ex- buzz the referee, stop the kept him out the rest of league and the union said showing #concussion signs
plain why he was allowed game and mandate that the game.” That did little changes were needed to from this huge hit to the
to re-enter the game with a player leave the game to to placate critics who say the concussion protocol. head. He stayed down too
head injury. be evaluated — no pen- Tagovailoa never should The league and the NFL- long & couldn’t run off the
A day later, Bowles said it alty or timeout charged to have been allowed to suit PA issued a statement field fast enough to avoid a
was because Brate experi- the team.” up against the Cincinnati last week that said they penalty,” Nowinski fumed,
enced delayed symptoms Bowles said Monday that Bengals on Thursday night, had made no conclu- adding that Dungy “says
of a concussion at halftime Brate was checked out just four days after Miami’s sions about “medical er- it was obvious he had a
after initially complaining three times before being quarterback came up rors or protocol violations” concussion. How did he go
only of shoulder discomfort allowed to re-enter the stumbling when his head while the investigation is back in?”
and being allowed to re- game with the Bucs driv- hit the ground in a game still underway. But the two Bowles said an unaffiliated
turn to the game. ing for a touchdown that against the Buffalo Bills on added that “modifications neurotrauma consultant
“Broken system,” tweeted trimmed Tampa Bay’s defi- Sept. 25. Tagovailoa initially are needed ... to enhance did not ask the Bucs to test
Hall of Fame coach Tony cit to 28-17 at halftime. seemed to exhibit concus- player safety.” Brate for a concussion.
Dungy, who was in atten- Brate said “nothing about sion symptoms against Buf- Tagovailoa’s concussion “Nobody called down. He
dance in his role as analyst his head” while complain- falo, but he was cleared was topic No. 1 across was checked out three
for NBC’s “Football Night in ing of shoulder discomfort, by a team physician and the NFL heading into Sun- times. He went back in un-
America.” Bowles said. unaffiliated neurotrauma day’s slate of games, and til the end of the half. The
“I was on the sideline very The NFL’s concussion and consultant, or UNC, to re- coaches across the league concussion thing didn’t
close to Brate — obvious he diagnosis protocol states turn to the game. He and spoke about safety being come up until halftime. He
had his bell rung,” Dungy that potential signs of a the team later explained the game’s top priority. had delayed symptoms,”
continued. “There’s a concussion include: “Slow his legs were wobbly be- Then came Sunday night Bowles repeated.
league appointed spotter to get up from the ground cause of a back injury. when Brate kept playing Bowles acknowledged “it
in the press box who should or return to play following Still, the league and its play- despite a head injury. was noticeable hit, but
stop play & alert the ref- a hit to the head” which ers’ union began a joint “IT HAPPENED AGAIN @ again it was on the shoul-
eree. Brate shouldn’t have “may include secondary review into Tagovailoa’s NFL!” tweeted Chris Nowin- der. Nobody said anything
been allowed to return un- contact with the playing quick return to the Bills ski, a founder of the Con- about the head.”
til after an evaluation. Why surface,” and “motor co- game that is ongoing. cussion Legacy Founda- Given what happened to
didn’t that happen???” ordination/balance prob- When Tagovailoa sus- tion who played football Tagovailoa just 72 hours
Dungy added: “Coaches, lems of neurologic etiology tained a concussion four at Harvard and is adamant earlier, somebody certainly
team doctors and game (stumbles, trips/falls, slow/ days later at Cincinnati, the Tagovailoa sustained a should have.q