Let's Talk About Head Trauma

The big hits over the weekend seem to have taken center stage for the NFL fans and the league.  I'll leave those individual hits alone, as they are covered ad nauseum in other places.

Let's talk about the Steeler history with head trauma.  Let's start with Mike Webster, who is arguably the best center ever to wear Black and Gold.  His story ends sadly, as he dies wrapped in homelessness and solitude.  ESPN covers Iron Mike and his condition best:

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=1972285

Terry Long, who played OG, died in 2005 after drinking anti-freeze.  His autopsy revealed a "punch drunk" brain caused by repeated head trauma from playing football.  Boxers often suffer from chronic encephalopathy from repeated blows to the head.  As an aside, I believe the boxing "10-count" adds to this.  After enough trauma has been delivered to stagger a man, repeated trauma after that is just asking for trouble...even if you wait for a few second before re-starting the fight.


http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=2307003



Long, as well as Webster, played OL.  Surely, there couldn't be a third Steeler offensive lineman to succumb to the effect of head trauma.  Could there?


Enter one Justin Strzelczyk.  An odd character who I remember best for wearing a German helmet.  I also remember him for playing hard-nosed football in the 90s.  Note Bettis' comment.  Justin would puke in the huddle, and it probably wasn't from the exertion.  He played with everything he had.  Justin died in a fiery crash as he fled from police for a traffic violation.

http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/s_257181.html

Running from the cops seems like something Pacman would do.  Not Justin.  Until you factor in the head trauma and the attendant problems with rational decision making.

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/06/15/sports/football/15brain.html?_r=1

Add to this Merrill Hoge's experiences with head trauma.  He actually stopped breathing after two concussions a few weeks apart.  He suffered memory loss, forgot how to read and had other cognitive problems.

http://www.gatorsports.com/article/20091001/ARTICLES/910029997/1136?Title=Dangers-of-a-concussion&tc=ar

So, what's my point here?  The recent high profile hits have the NFL in a regulatory tizzy, but this is really a fraud.  A cover.  It is brand management and public relations.  The NFL feels that it can't let these go by or moms and girlfriends everywhere will put the NFL into the same category as MMA.  However, if the NFL really cared about head trauma, they'd pay attention to offensive linemen and defensive linemen.  These guys bang heads, literally, every play.  Have you ever seen the NFL seriously address the trench position head trauma as seriously as they address the QB and receiver?  Yeah - me neither.

Steelhead