NFL to review handling of Colt McCoy’s concussion affair with Cleveland Browns – NFL News
National Football League (NFL) office has said that they will review the issue pertaining to handling of Colt McCoy's head injury with the Cleveland Browns.
"We will review it with the team," NFL spokesman Greg Aiello said in an email reply to American news agency Associated Press (AP).
McCoy suffered a concussion in Browns' game against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Thursday night as a result of a helmet-to-helmet hit with Steelers’ linebacker James Harrison.
The player left the field and stayed on the sideline for two plays before deciding to return back and throw an interception.
Browns’ decision to allow the player to return and play the game again in spite of the injury has been severely criticized.
His father Brad McCoy who himself had been a school football coach has expressed criticism on the team management about handling of his son’s affair. He said his son apparently did not remember anything when he talked to him in
the next morning.
I talked to Colt this morning and he said, 'Dad, I don't know what happened, but I know I lost the game. I know I let the team down. What happened?' " The Plain Dealer of Cleveland cited Brad McCoy as saying.
The team coach however defended their handling of McCoy’s case saying they would not have allowed him to return if he had not been fit to play.
"I feel very confident that if he wasn't able to play we would have stopped him," Coach Pat Shurmur said. "I can assure everyone that we followed protocol."
The league office has also come under fire for his handling of the affair with many quarters demanding an inquiry and fining of Harrison.
The criticism against NFL is particularly in the context that NFL office as a result of an agreement reached between them and NFL Players Association (NFLPA) has decided to place an observer at Press Box office to observe concussions
during each game.
Each NFL observer is co-ordinated with their observer at head office in New York who watches games on wide screens.
A special emphasis has been laid on concussion injuries to ensure players safety. The observers have to alert team medical staff and doctor in case they witness a head injury. This is to particularly ensure that no case goes hidden
or unreported like the case of Colt McCoy.
It is unclear however if NFL observer had witnessed McCoy’s injury and whether alerted the team medical staff.
The criticism against NFL comes few days after a new legal suit by former professional football players filed in Federal Court in New Jersey. The suit has criticized NFL’s polices on concussions.
Plaintiffs of the suit, which is among half-dozen suits filed against NFL over past few months, have also pointed out a widespread pregame use of painkillers.
Colt McCoy's concussion and consequent handling of his affair is set to strengthen their case against the league.
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