“Until we have an objective and validated method of diagnosing brain injury, we have to do everything possible, including amending the protocols, to further reduce the potential of human error,” former Cleveland Browns heart JC Tretter, the NFLPA president, mentioned in a statement. “A failure in medical judgement is a failure of the protocols when it comes to the well being of our players.”
Tagovailoa mentioned in an announcement posted to social media that he was “grateful for the support and care I’ve received” and added: “I’m feeling much better and focused on recovering so I can get back out on the field with my teammates.”
The Dolphins mentioned Tagovailoa was present process additional testing and analysis Friday after getting launched Thursday evening from the University of Cincinnati Medical Center and accompanying the staff on its flight again to Miami. According to Coach Mike McDaniel, Tagovailoa was affected by a headache and underwent an MRI examination Friday after present process a CT scan and X-rays in Cincinnati.
“I’m not even really thinking about timetables or anything regarding him as a player right now,” McDaniel mentioned throughout a news convention. “It’s all about, really, Tua the person.”
McDaniel mentioned he wouldn’t have allowed Tagovailoa to play Thursday if he’d been given any “medical indication” the quarterback suffered a head damage throughout Sunday’s sport in opposition to the Buffalo Bills in Miami Gardens, Fla. Tagovailoa left that sport after absorbing a first-half hit, then wobbling after attending to his ft. But he was cleared to return after present process a concussion analysis, and each he and McDaniel mentioned then that he had suffered a again damage fairly than a head damage.
“If there would have been anything lingering with his head, I wouldn’t have been able to live with myself if I had prematurely put someone out there and put them in harm’s way,” McDaniel mentioned Friday. “This is a relationship that I have with this human being. I take that serious. I wouldn’t have put him out there if there was any inclination given to me whatsoever that he was endangering himself from that previous game.”
Allen Sills, the NFL’s chief medical officer, harassed throughout a televised interview Friday that for a participant to be cleared to return to a sport below the concussion protocols, there should be settlement between the staff doctor and an impartial neurological guide following a step-by-step analysis course of involving prescribed checks.
Sills told the league-owned NFL Network that it’s “important to recognize that these are not decisions made by one person. They’re made jointly by team staff and also this independent neuro-expert.”
According to Sills, Tagovailoa underwent a long-form examination known as the Sport Concussion Assessment Tool in the locker room Sunday. After returning to Sunday’s sport, Sills mentioned, he was evaluated day by day for a concussion main as much as Thursday’s sport.
“I know that he was checked after the game,” Sills mentioned. “I know that he was checked the following day. In fact, every player that gets an examination on game day gets a follow-up exam the following day even if that exam was negative. That’s part of our concussion protocol. And then I know that this player was checked every day leading up to the game.”
Sills mentioned the joint evaluate with the NFLPA will embrace interviews with the athletic coach, the staff doctor, the unaffiliated neuro-specialist, the damage spotters in the sales space, the neuro-specialist in the sales space and Tagovailoa.
Our interview with NFL CMO Dr. Allen Sills on why Tua Tagovailoa was allowed to fly house, what occurred final Sunday and on the next concussion checks in the course of the week, and on whether or not the concussion protocol might be modified in consequence. pic.twitter.com/Q5N9TLBYgt
— Judy Battista (@judybattista) September 30, 2022
“We want to get better at these things,” Sills mentioned. “I think we have gotten better. We’ve seen our care improve drastically. But that doesn’t mean that we’re done. … And whatever our review leads us toward, that’s the direction we’ll move in. If we feel we need to make adjustments collectively with the players’ union, we’re absolutely committed to that.”
Christopher Nowinski, the founding CEO of the Concussion Legacy Foundation, mentioned Friday he was “horrified and disgusted” by the dealing with of Tagovailoa’s well being.
“I was one of the people saying the NFL is not as bad as it used to be,” Nowinski mentioned. “And I was starting to focus on other sports and other leagues around the world to try to get them to a better place. And now I realize I’ve got to laser back on the NFL.”
The “hole in the protocol here,” Nowinski mentioned, is the availability that permits a participant to return to a sport if he demonstrates “gross motor instability” however that situation is decided by the docs to not be neurologically triggered.
“The idea that they tried to claim it was something else and that lets him go back in shows you can cheat what is obvious signs,” Nowinski mentioned. “There were no signs of a back injury. There were five signs of concussion. Either the doctor is not qualified, which I doubt, or for some reason they felt like risking his career for a win. … It’s not just the failure of the medical care. It’s a failure of the culture. It’s a failure of the leadership. It’s a failure of the coaching staff. It’s a failure of the ownership. Every fan knew he had a concussion on Sunday.”
The NFLPA initiated the joint evaluate with the league Sunday.
They are solely efficient if the individuals making use of them and making choices place affected person / participant care above checking containers to clear somebody again to work as quick as potential. Our tradition has come a good distance and now we have to do not forget that after we discuss these points.
— George Atallah (@GeorgeAtallah) September 30, 2022
“The whole point of our advocacy for more than a decade on the issue of concussions,” George Atallah, the union’s assistant govt director of exterior affairs, mentioned in a statement Friday, “is to shift the culture of our game from one that was previously focused on the fastest path back to the field, to one that emphasized player care above all …. [W]e have improved on those protocols to the point where today’s concussion protocols are far more comprehensive and safer for players than ever before … But they are only effective if the people applying them and making decisions place patient/player care above checking boxes to clear someone back to work as fast as possible.”
McDaniel mentioned Tagovailoa was laughing and demonstrating his “definitely normal Tua” persona on the airplane journey again to Miami, as the 2 spoke after which Tagovailoa pulled out his telephone to look at a film.
“All of his teammates were absolutely elated to see him on the plane,” McDaniel mentioned. “He was elated. It brought him some joy, which was good to see.”