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Tyriq Harris
Ms. Caruso
UWRT 1103
7/14/2015
How to Decrease the Number of Injuries within the NFL (National Football League)
Injuries happen every day whether it be in the NFL or in just average everyday life. The
particular injury that is the one most dangerous and one of the most common are concussions.
Currently, concussions are the leading injury within the NFL (bostick). Chris Borland and
Anthony Davis, two very prominent forces within the NFL recently have decided to retire from
the league due to concussion injuries. Concussions are very serious injuries that not only have
short term affects but also long term. Luke C. Henry a Doctor who received his PhD from the
University of Montreal conducted a study to determine if there were physical changes within
athletes who received concussions versus those who havent. His data concluded that there was
a correlation between self-reported symptoms of concussions and objective physical changes
that may be related to increased vulnerability of the concussed brain (Henry). This author
seemed to be very credible considering he has a PhD also he did research and found evidence to
prove his report. Also his data corresponded accurately with that of Kevin Guskiewicz who
received his PhD from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Guskiewicz stated that
through his research of over a thousand retired NFL players there was a greater risk of mental
illness for those who were retired who received concussions versus those who retired while
receiving no concussions (Guskiewicz). Individuals who watch Football need to realize that
injuries within the NFL are a serious ordeal and can lead to lifelong injuries. Most people do not
realize this however and this is what needs to be fix within the world today. Thats why many

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people argue against the new safety rules being put in place because they do not realize the
serious metnal and physical injuries that can be obtained from dangerous plays within the NFL.
In fact, the NFL has already issued some rule changes so that the game will become much
safer than it is now. The NFL has been changing rules for quite some time now, since the 1920s
in fact. However, as of 2010 theyve been attempting to create a safer playing environment for
their players. For example in 2010 the NFL defined that it is illegal to hit a defenseless player
as a defender with their helmet, forearm, or should (Evolution of the Rules). In 2011 a very
controversial rule was made, they moved the kickoff line from the 30 yard line to the 35 yard
line. The reason being most kickers are used to kicking it 70 yard into the opposite end zone.
However with this change it resulted it many touchbacks. The reason why the NFL would want
more touchbacks is because, it doesnt allow for as much contact as before. Kickoffs is seen as
being the most dangerous play in all of football. Just by changing the rules to allow for more
safety to be created, the percentage of concussions went down 40% over the past 3 years
(Chadiha). Ira Casson a medical Doctor who specializes in Neurology is also in agreement that
the Kickoff is one of the most dangerous plays within the NFL. Through his research he
concludes that the Kick unit [] have the highest incidences of repeat concussion (Casson).
Casson seems to be a very reliable source considering he has observations and detailed report of
the percentages and numbers involved with repeat concussions within the NFL. Not only is he a
medical Doctor but he is specialized in Neurology which provides more support for his argument
on the topic. The issue of this is that the kickoff is the most dangerous play within the NFL. With
Cassons research we see that he provides evidence as to why kickoffs should be eliminate for the
safety of the players. This will allow for less concussion and repeat concussions to occur within
the NFL.

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The opinions differ across the board however for example, current NFL players such as
Montell Owens feels that its just part of the game and it is risk that people have to be willing to
take (Chadiha). However, some retired NFL players do not feel the same way as him. For
example Steve Tasker, one of the best kick coverers in the history of the Buffalo Bills talked to a
new journalist about the subject and gives his answers to this question. I regret that some guys
wont be able to experience it. But now that Im removed from it, I understand, too, you can live
without. Its just not worth it (Battista). This made me curious the health differences between
those in the NFL who received a concussion versus those who did not. Research conducted by
Kevin Guskiewicz in my opinion reinforces the idea that kickoffs should be eliminated. From
retired NFL players we see that the percentage of those who received concussions versus those
who didnt have experienced more mental health issues such as depression (Guskiewicz). With
this information we can see that NFL should attempt to make the game as safe as possible for the
players. Guskiewicz has shown the long term mental defects of concussions and if we can limit
these injuries as much as possible we definitely should. Another example would be of Kevin
Everett who was a kickoff specialist for the Bills and he suffered a severe neck injury that almost
paralyzed him and forced him to retire from the game (Brown). Through the evidence associated
through the sources we can see that the NFL has to make changes in order to make this game
safer. If we continue to allow these rules it could lead to more concussions. This in term will lead
to depression of once very successful individuals.
The NFL has also created new rules for the upcoming 2015 season. These rules include
always having a medical spotter on the field at all times, so that if a player appears disoriented on
the field they have the right to stop the game and retrieve the player. While doing this it also
expands the principle of a defenseless player to that of a person who is the intended target of a

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pass and a defender intercepts the ball and the immediate aftermath if he was target, he is
classified as a defenseless player. Then one final safety rule that if it is field goal, the defense
cant push one player into the offensive line to attempt to block the field goal this is illegal as
well (McKinney). These rules are the new rules in place to attempt to help players stay safe
while playing on the field. Is this enough however? Other ideas and proclamations are being
presented to the NFL on how to deal with the issue of safety. With new technologies and changes
to the game.
Some of these new technologies being upgraded helmets. People think that through
technologies such as the Guardian Cap it would be possible to reduce the amount of head
injuries. Guardian Caps are a piece of technology that takes extra padding and allows it to be slid
on top of helmets and could reduce the impact of up to 33% (Sports). However through very
research by the National Operating Committee on Standards for Athletic Equipment (NOCSAE)
the tests show that these caps are just a quick solution rather than a long term solution to
multiple head injuries (sports). The dream of a concussion proof helmet is nothing more than
that, a dream. Through the laws of Physics the only way to truly decrease the amount of force
upon something is to extend the duration of the impact. Helmets simply cannot stretch time
longer than the instance of the hit so all the force is still there (Eveleth). So with this being said,
the only reasonable thing to do is to attempt to find a long term solution to the problem. This can
be found through the Heads Up program. This is a program that unites Highschool, College,
and the NFL football programs together for one cause, to teach of a safer way to tackle and block
(Heads Up Football). By doing this it allows for a long term solution to the problem of direct
head to head injury. Also throughout this program, it teaches children of young ages to be able to
tackle with the safest form possible to avoid head injuries. This way when they get older they

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dont have to try and adapt to a new form of tackling/ blocking. They will have already been
accustomed to it so it wont be a problem.
There is no one solution to solving the problem of injuries within the NFL. It will take a
multitude of steps, and years of hard work and development for the game to be truly safe. Even
then however the game wont be completely free of injury that is just a risk that these players
have to take. Hopefully, we can all work together to make this sport as safe as it can be.

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Works Cited
Battista, Judy. "Train Wreck of a Play Collides With Consciences." The New York Times. The New
York Times, 15 Dec. 2012. Web. 14 July 2015.
Bostick, Dani. "Concussions in the NFL: Are Players Beginning to Value Their Brains More than the
Game?" Behind the Steel Curtain. Vox Media, 07 June 2015. Web. 14 July 2015.
Brown, Chris. "Kevin Everett Five Years Later ." LatestHeadlines RSS. Buffalo Bills, 7 Sept. 2012.
Web. 14 July 2015.
Chadiha, Jeffri. "10 Steps to Make the Game Safer." ESPN. ESPN Internet Ventures, Aug.-Sept. 2012.
Web. 13 July 2015.
Chadiha, Jeffri. "Should the NFL Eliminate Kickoffs?" ESPN. ESPN Internet Ventures, Sept.-Oct.
2012. Web. 14 July 2015.
Eveleth, Rose. "There's No Such Thing as a Concussion-Proof Helmet." Smithsonian.
Smithsonian.com, 4 Feb. 2013. Web. 14 July 2015.
"Evolution of the Rules: From Hashmarks to Crackback Blocks." NFL.com. NFL.com, 2 Aug. 2013.
Web. 14 July 2015.
"Heads Up Football." Heads Up Football | Youth Football | USA Football | Football's National
Governing Body. USA Football, 2010. Web. 14 July 2015.
Mckinney, James. "2015 NFL Rules Changes." The Phinsider. Vox Media, 26 Mar. 2015. Web. 14 July
2015.
"NFL: Concussion down 25 Percent." ESPN. ESPN Internet Ventures, 29 Jan. 2015. Web. 14 July
2015.
Sports, Gary Mihoces. "More Padding the Issue of Concussions and Better Helmets." USA Today.
Gannett, 23 Aug. 2013. Web. 14 July 2015.

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Works Cited (Scholarly)

Casson, Ira. Repeat Concussions in the National Football League Sports Health A
Multidisciplinary Approach. January/February 2011 vol.3 no. 1: 14
Guskiewicz, Kevin. Nine-Year Risk of Depression Diagnosis Increases With Increasing SelfReported Concussions in Retired Professional Football Players The American Journal of
Sports Medicine. 0363-5465(2012): 10.
Henry, Luke. Neurometabolic Changes in the Acute Phase after Sports Concussions Correlate
with Symptom Severity Journal of Neurotrauma. January 2010, 27(1): 11