The NFL Has a Sports Medicine Problem
 

Since I don't have my own personal web site and I bleed black and gold, I'll try to be writing Blogs more often. I wrote one this morning that you might enjoy in a stream of consciousness. I am currently dealing with my own back issues and buzzing on antidepressants, steroid and muscle relaxers. Don't blame me LOL.

Apologies for posting here, but I feel it's important to call out here or otherwise my Blog writing could be obscure.


This one is dedicated to you, Jeanpierre!


The NFL Has a Sports Medicine Problem

Re: The NFL Has a Sports Medicine Problem
 

Good job while under the influence.

;)

Re: The NFL Has a Sports Medicine Problem
 

Nice and well written article neugey. I think you are making more of the problem than is really there however. All players have the rights to go get second opinions. Plus, I think you miss the part of the equation that includes the fact that, for the most part, these guys want to get out and play. Your suggestion could easily have a player say he’s ready, a team doctor
say he’s ready, but the NFLPA doctor say no and thereby pit himself against the player he’s supposedly representing. The whole idea could open up multiple cans of worms about betting, lawsuits between competing doctor
opinions, and other unforeseen issues. I just don’t think the medical treatment issue is such a problem that this type of change is needed.

Re: The NFL Has a Sports Medicine Problem
 

All good points. I suppose second opinions wouldn't be needed under my proposal - and the player would lose some freedom in selecting their own doctor. For what it's worth, I'm not sure who picks up the cost for the second opinion - the player, the team or somebody's insurance. I imagine one of you knows (probably Guido).

Re: The NFL Has a Sports Medicine Problem
 

Your blog does make me think about a guy like Winston and how they have similar situations. Tua had a game injury (Sunday) and then played his next game (Thursday). It’s possible his Thursday injury was related to his Sunday hit, maybe not. But we know he played with having an issue in the previous game.

Well, Winston has a known injury to his vertebra. If he gets hit in the same area and gets hurt worse aren’t the Saints guilty of the same thing Miami was? How about Kamara? It’s an interesting point of discussion. Following that line of thinking, any player playing at not 100% is taking a similar risk. Obviously head/spinal injuries are in a slightly different class though.

Re: The NFL Has a Sports Medicine Problem
 

The cost of opinions are minimal. Pocket change at that level. The additional opinions would be based upon tests and imaging already performed and available for the first opinion. That's the majority of the cost. A personal exam would basically be an office visit. Perhaps transportation costs would come into play.

All in all I believe the team is responsible for any of those costs if the player is under contract.

Re: The NFL Has a Sports Medicine Problem
 

I have read from several medical experts that playing with Winston's injury wouldn't in itself expose him to any further injury. It would be painful and could hamper his performance, but wouldn't carry anymore risk to other injury than any other player on the filed.

Re: The NFL Has a Sports Medicine Problem
 

That would be good. Especially for the lower-paid role players in the NFL who wouldn't be able to afford the higher calibre doctors. That being said, those doctors' time is limited as well.

Re: The NFL Has a Sports Medicine Problem
 

I think that's also why teams have to place injured players on IR instead of cutting them unless or until they negotiate an injury settlement.

Re: The NFL Has a Sports Medicine Problem
 

Doctor Who Examined Tagovailoa Is Dismissed as Questions Mount


https://www.nytimes.com/2022/10/01/s...tor-fired.html