Aaron Rodgers shares thoughts on new NFL protocols
Aaron Rodgers is another prominent name asked about the NFL’s new concussion protocols. The new protocols stem from Tua Tagovailoa’s concussion in Week 4’s Thursday Night Football game, which was ugly.
There was controversy surrounding his injury due to Tagovailoa suffering a hard hit in Week 3. Tagovailoa was cleared to play, and reports claimed the quarterback sustained a back injury after the game. Miami Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel claimed that, according to independent doctors’ knowledge, Tagovailoa did not sustain a head injury in Week 3. The doctor who examined Tagovailoa has since been fired.
A few days after the gruesome event in front of a prime-time audience, the NFL announced they were implementing a new concussion protocol. Players who show instability are not allowed to return to the game. That scenario was seen in Week 5’s game when Indianapolis Colts player Nyheim Hines was injured.
Holy sh*t!! Nyheim Hines 😳😳😳 pic.twitter.com/By0vDLM7YI
— Shannonnn sharpes Burner (PARODY Account) (@shannonsharpeee) October 7, 2022
Recently, Aaron Rodgers was asked how the NFL handles players’ concussions. According to Rob Demovsky of ESPN, Rodgers defended the NFL and advocated for players to be more responsible:
“I don’t know what else the league can do. We’ve got to police ourselves,” Rodgers said.
Aaron Rodgers when asked about the concussion issue in the NFL admitted he doesn’t always see eye to eye with the league but said: “I don’t know what else the league can do. We’ve got to police ourselves.”
— Rob Demovsky (@RobDemovsky) October 7, 2022
Players need to take themselves out
If a team and/or independent doctor is clearing a player to play, it’s hard for the NFL to step in and say they can’t play. Coaching staffs are going to want medically cleared players to play. More important, cleared players are going to want to play. These competitive people want to win, they want to earn their incentives, and they want to earn their teammates’ trust.
Ultimately, they know their bodies more than anyone else. If something isn’t right, they need to take themselves out for their longevity past their playing days in the NFL. Aaron Rodgers sends players the correct message that they need to look out for themselves. The NFL can make these new rules, but they’re not doctors and can’t diagnose concussions. They must trust the players and medical experts making these decisions to be honest and error-free.
