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| Photo Credit: AP. |
(AP) - Tua Tagovailoa stumbled to the ground, his legs wobbly and unable to walk to the huddle after banging his head Sunday. And then Thursday night, he was carried off the field by stretcher after another hit caused his head to violently slam against the turf and his hands to freeze up.
The Dolphins
said the third-year quarterback was conscious and had movement in all his
extremities. He was taken to University of Cincinnati Medical Center but was
released and expected to return to Miami with the team.
“It was a
scary moment. He was evaluated for a concussion and he’s in the concussion
protocol,” Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel said.
Some who
watched the scary injury want to know why Tagovailoa was playing just four days
after his quick return Sunday prompted a joint review by the NFL and NFL
Players Association.
Many former
players were critical of the decision to allow Tagovailoa to return against
Buffalo and start against Cincinnati.
“Player health and safety is at the core of
the union’s mission,” the NFLPA wrote on Twitter. “Our concern tonight is for
Tua and we hope for a full and speedy recovery. Our investigation into the
potential protocol violation is ongoing.”
NFL
executive vice president Jeff Miller said the review usually takes a week or
two.
“Every indication from our perspective is that
it was,” Miller said about the team and its doctors following concussion
protocol on Sunday. “I know the player, the coach and others have spoken to
this. And we are engaged in that review now. So we’ll come back with a formal
answer to that question, something that we want to engage in.”
Before the
game, Chris Nowinski, a founder of the Concussion Legacy Foundation who played
football at Harvard, wrote on Twitter: “If Tua takes the field tonight, it’s a
massive step back for concussion care in the NFL. If he has a 2nd concussion
that destroys his season or career, everyone involved will be sued and should
lose their jobs, coaches included. We all saw it, even they must know this
isn’t right.”
Tagovailoa
appeared to be disoriented by what the team originally said was a head injury
after taking a hard hit from Bills linebacker Matt Milano late in the first
half. He missed just three snaps and returned after halftime. Tagovailoa and
the team said a back injury was the reason for his instability after the hit
and he wasn’t in concussion protocol. He was questionable to play on Thursday
but started the game.
WHAT IS THE NFL’S CONCUSSION PROTOCOL?
A player who
exhibits or reports symptoms or signs suggestive of a concussion or stinger
enters protocol.
During each
game, independent certified athletic trainers (ATC spotters) monitor the
players on the field. If they see an impact to the head, they call a timeout
and the player must be removed from the game, examined and evaluated. Team
trainers, coaches or physicians, teammates, NFL game officials, sideline
unaffiliated neurotrauma consultants (UNC) or booth ATCs also can initiate the
protocol.
Any player
in concussion protocol undergoes a six-step evaluation by a team physician and
UNC to determine the severity of the injury and whether or not they’re fit to
return to the field. The final step is a neurological evaluation featuring a cervical
spine exam, including range of motion/pain, evaluation of speech, observation
of gait, eye movements and pupillary exam.
If any
elements are positive, inconclusive or suspicious of concussion, the player is
escorted to locker room.
In the
locker room, a team physician and UNC conducts a full neurological exam and
complete NFL Standardized Concussion Assessment Tool.
If abnormal,
the player doesn’t return to play, undergoes periodic evaluation by a medical
team and has a follow-up neurological exam.
The league
instituted the system in 2011 after Cleveland Browns quarterback Colt McCoy
took a helmet-to-helmet hit in a game and returned without being tested for a
concussion. The Browns said that the team’s trainers didn’t see the hit because
they were tending to other players and that no one told them about it. After
the game, McCoy was diagnosed with a concussion.
WHAT IS FENCING RESPONSE?
According to
healthline.com, “when a person experiences an impact that’s strong enough to
cause traumatic brain injury, such as a concussion, their arms often go into an
unnatural position.”
Tagovailoa
appeared to take that position, his fingers flexed awkwardly in front of his
facemask for several seconds as he laid on the turf.
“The fencing
response is often seen when a player is knocked down or knocked out during
full-contact athletic competitions such as football, martial arts, boxing,
rugby, and hockey,” per healthline.com.
It happened
to Los Angeles Chargers tight end Donald Parham during a Thursday night game
against Kansas City last Dec. 17. Parham was removed on a stretcher and stayed
overnight at a hospital for observation after being diagnosed with a
concussion.
WHAT’S NEXT FOR TAGOVAILOA?
The severity
of Tagovailoa’s concussion is not known, but it’s seemingly encouraging he was
allowed to fly with the team. He must undergo a five-step process before being
allowed to take the field again. The fifth phase is a full practice followed by
clearance from the team physician. After that, he must be examined by an
independent neurological consultant.
Follow Rob
Maaddi on Twitter at https://twitter.com/robmaaddi
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