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SPORTSTuesday 2 February 2016
AP survey: Concussions not most NFL players’ chief concern
EDDIE PELLS In this Jan. 12, 2012, file photo, New York Giants defensive back Tyler Sash (39) runs with the ball ball.
AP Sports Writers during NFL football practice, in East Rutherford, N.J. A member of the Giants’ 2012 Super Bowl Just last week, a member
championship team who died at age 27, safety Sash, was diagnosed with chronic traumatic en- of the Giants’ 2012 Super
HOWARD FENDRICH cephalopathy (CTE). The disease is linked to repeated brain trauma and associated with symp- Bowl championship team
AP Sports Writers toms such as memory loss, depression and progressive dementia. who died at age 27, safety
During a 15-year NFL ca- Tyler Sash, was diagnosed
reer that sent him pinballing Associated Press with chronic traumatic en-
over the middle of the field cephalopathy (CTE). The
too many times to count, fore that, the Indianapolis — only 39 of the 100 players don’t affect me,” said Ni- disease is linked to repeat-
absorbing hits as wicked as Colts. “But you mess your — said they are more wor- kita Whitlock, a New York ed brain trauma and asso-
they come, former Denver knee up, you’re out a year. ried about the long-term Giants special teamer. “I ciated with symptoms such
Broncos receiver Brandon You mess your shoulder up, effects of concussions than wonder: What are my joints as memory loss, depression
Stokley endured injuries you’re done for a year.” those of other injuries. going to be like in 20 years? and progressive dementia.
that literally ran from head That nonchalant attitude Of the remaining 61 play- How will my knees hold up Sash was just the latest CTE
to toe. toward concussions that ers, 20 either said they are in 20 years? What about my headline: The suicide of
And while, by his own es- Stokley held while he was not concerned at all about shoulders and wrists? These Pro Football Hall of Famer
timate, that included at active in the league is not concussions or less con- are the real weak points of Junior Seau. The sudden
least a dozen concus- all that different from what cerned about them than your body.” retirement of San Francis-
sions, the only health issue was expressed by many other injuries, while 41 said That sort of sentiment was co 49ers linebacker Chris
that made him seriously current NFL players in an AP the concern is equal for all heard repeatedly by AP Borland. The concussion-
contemplate quitting the survey conducted this sea- injuries. reporters, as if players were related lawsuits brought
game was a problem with son and released Sunday. “Personally, I don’t think ignoring everything related by former players. Various
a small bone in the middle Less than half of the group about head injuries. They to head trauma and foot- safeguards added by the
of his foot in his fourth sea- NFL, including attempts to
son. increase in-game monitor-
“I told my wife, ‘This is it. I’m ing of head injuries and
done. I can’t deal with this more vigilant policing of
pain every day,’” Stokley illegal hits. During regular-
said in an interview with season games, the NFL
The Associated Press. said Friday, there were 182
Yet he pressed on. Even- reported concussions, a 58
tually the foot pain sub- percent increase from a
sided. The concussions? year ago.
Those kept accumulat- And yet ... “Not worried,”
ing. Stokley, essentially, Oakland Raiders running
shrugged them off, despite back Jamize Olawale said.
the seemingly unending “I think it’s blown out of
drumbeat of news about proportion.”
the dangers of head in- “You can get a head injury
juries. During his playing from anywhere,” Houston
days, he was more worried Texans cornerback Charles
about short-term effects James said. “A dude could
than later-in-life ones. “The sucker-punch me, and I
thing with concussions is, could get the same injury
usually, you’re out a week I get from hitting a running
or two, and then you’re back head-on.”
back fine,” said Stokley, 39, There is, to be sure, a seg-
who caught passes from ment of the NFL popula-
one of this week’s Super tion that takes concussions
Bowl quarterbacks, Peyton and their consequences
Manning, while both were seriously.q
with the Broncos and, be-
Ex-heavyweight champion Frank
Bruno wants boxing comeback at age 54
In this Thursday, Jan. 26, 1989 file photo, British heavyweight LONDON (AP) — Former boxing, to get this out of grant Bruno a license to
champion Frank Bruno stretches his arms before sparring prac- world heavyweight cham- my system, because I don’t box.
tice, at Club Mirage in Fountain Hills, Arizona. pion Frank Bruno wants to want to end up in (psy- “Mr. Bruno has not made
make a return to competi- chiatric) hospital,” Bruno, an application for a Brit-
Associated Press tive boxing at the age of who is back in training, told ish Boxing Board of Control
54. British broadcaster ITV on boxer’s licence,” Robert
Bruno was diagnosed with Monday. Smith, general-secretary of
bipolar disorder in 2003, an Bruno won the WBC heavy- the BBBC, said in a emailed
illness he says has left him weight belt in 1995, beating letter to The Associated
feeling “suicidal.” He has Oliver McCall, and hasn’t Press, “and should such an
been involuntarily commit- fought since losing to Mike application be received
ted to psychiatric care on Tyson the following year. it will be considered in the
three occasions. The British Boxing Board normal manner by the
“I’ve got to get back into of Control would need to stewards of the board.”q
