Peelle first Falcons affected under new concussion rules

By D. Orlando Ledbetter

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

FLOWERY BRANCH – After the Falcons' game against the New Orleans Saints on Sunday, tight end Justin Peelle had a pretty serious medical appointment.

He was held out of the game because of a concussion he suffered after taking a nasty blow to the head against Philadelphia Dec. 6. Under the NFL's new concussion protocol instituted just over two weeks ago, Peelle had to go see an independent doctor. Or he couldn't play.

"I went through everything and passed all of his tests," he said Wednesday.

Peelle is the first Falcon subjected to the new guidelines, which stipulate a player who has sustained a concussion must be cleared by both the team doctor and an independent doctor before returning to the field.

Peelle recognizes the intent of the new protocol; he thinks there is a danger of players trying to hide the injury.

"I'm glad the attention is being [given to concussions], but I'm just afraid that ... someone who doesn't want to sit down or doesn't want to say anything [is at risk] because he's afraid that he's going to be down for a while," said Peelle, who had suffered a previous concussion in 2003 while playing for San Diego. "That could lead to something [worse]."

NFL commissioner Roger Goodell notified all teams the league intends to improve player safety, especially relating to concussions and other head injuries. He sent down his latest new guidelines for head injuries just two weeks ago, ev setting up an independent hotline to report players with concussion-like symptoms.

The move has been controversial. Dr. Ira Casson and Dr. David Viano, co-chairmen of the league's committee on brain injures, stepped down.

In seeking their replacements, Goodell said he wants to add new members "who will bring to the committee independent sources of expertise and experience in the field of head injuries." Casson had criticized studies linking NFL players with a heightened risk for dementia and cognitive decline.

Goodell outlined six measures, two of which have direct ties to Atlanta, in a memo issued to teams:

• A new medical research committee would be established.

• Players who has sustained concussions must be evaluated and cleared by both their team doctor and the independent neurologist or neurosurgeon.

• The NFL Competition Committee is evaluating potential rule changes that will be intended to reduce head impacts and related injuries. Godell has consulted with Falcons president Rich McKay, co-chairman of the league's competition committee, about the possible rule changes in relations to concussion and player safety.

• Former coach and broadcaster John Madden, in his role as special advisor to the commissioner, will chair a committee of coaches that will look at ways to provide players with a safer practice environment that would reduce the risk of head trauma.

• In conjunction with Atlanta's Centers for Disease Control (CDC), the league developed a public service message directed primarily at young athletes, their parents and coaches on the importance of head injury awareness.

• The league also will hold a conference on concussion in Washington in June and team medical personnel will be required to attend.

Falcons running back Michael Turner, currently sidelined by an ankle injury, sustained a concussion in 2007, his last season with San Diego.

"It's always a good thing when you're looking out for the players safety," Turner said. "Sometimes players go back out there too fast, not knowing the seriousness of the injuries. As long as we are taking our time with something like that, it's very important."

Peelle is not the only player skeptical of how the new measures will work. The Associated Press interviewed 160 NFL players in last month and 30 (18.8 percent) replied that they have hidden or played down the effects of a concussion.

Peelle is one of three Falcons, who have suffered concussions this season. Running back Jerious Norwood suffered a concussion in the preseason against San Diego and another one against Carolina in the second game of the season. It was two weeks before he was medically cleared to play and he returned with a specialized helmet that had extra padding.

Also, left tackle Sam Baker suffered a concussion and missed the Carolina game on Nov. 15.

After-effects from an initial head injury can be hidden.

"Physically, it's an injury to the brain where you don't necessarily need to have a loss of consciousness," said Dr. Alexis Chiang Colvin, a concussion expert who is an orthopaedic surgeon specializing sports medicine specialist at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York. "You can see a lot of other different symptoms with it."

Recovery is best monitored on a case-by-case basis.

"Everyone is different in terms of ability to recover," Colvin said. "It depends on the severity of the injury and also how many times they've had a prior concussion as well."

Peelle believes the solution shouldn't require a host of of medical experts.

"There has to be some mutual trust so that player is not going to lie to get back on the field," Peele said."... If  the player can't play, he needs to tell them that he can't play. That should be respected as well."

Also, players need to be educated about the potential long-term effects of head-related injuries.

"They do a lot of seminars before the season and in training camp," Peelle said. "We should probably have one of those that explains everything. I think that would help. There needs to be a lot more education on it."

Peelle returned to practice on Wednesday and hopes to play on Sunday.