Five weeks ago, I thought a concussion meant a blow to the head followed by a headache. I, like my many other impatient and result-driven sports fans, have complained when others weren’t allowed immediately back in the game after a hard hit. Come on, I thought, it’s a headache.
Like when Jets’ star Darrelle Revis was ruled out for a big game in Week 2 after sustaining a “mild” concussion Week 1. I was furious. I’m a Jets fan. The Jets needed Revis if they were to have a chance against the Steelers.
But now, a month after sustaining a concussion of my own in a much less glorified way (I fell off a golf cart), I have a much greater appreciation for the seriousness of head injuries. I read yesterday that49ers quarterback Alex Smith threw a touchdown pass despite blurred vision as a result of a blow to the head he took earlier in the game. Rather than saying that shows how tough he is, I’m saying how stupid he and the 49ers are for letting him back on the field.
Here’s why. Initial concussions usually heal within a few weeks, but sustaining a second one while the initial hasn’t healed can be disabling, if not deadly. After dealing with the terrible symptoms of a concussion myself (pounding headaches, nausea, dizziness and inability to function like a normal human being), I know you can’t mess around with these things.
And after former star Junior Seau’s suicide which many speculated to be the result of head trauma sustained throughout his career, I’m happy the NFL is taking extensive measures to monitor head injuries now.
An extra step the NFL and other leagues should take is to teach their fans about concussions, because they can happen to anybody at anytime (even on the golf course). Had I known what I was dealing with, I could have definitely expedited my healing process as opposed to delaying it. Educating fans will also give them a better understanding of what the player is dealing with.
Players are people too. They are most likely just as bummed out that they can’t play as their fans are. But they also need time to heal properly, and it takes a lot longer than you think.