According to a report by ESPN.com, NFL teams now have new, stricter instructions for when players should be allowed to return to games or practices after suffering head injuries.

In the latest step by the league to address a hot-button issue, commissioner Roger Goodell sent a memo to the 32 clubs Wednesday saying a player who gets a concussion should not return to action on the same day if he shows certain signs or symptoms.

Those include an inability to remember assignments or plays, a gap in memory, persistent dizziness and persistent headaches.

The old standard, established in 2007, said a player should not be allowed to return to the same game if he lost consciousness.
Nearly one-fifth of 160 NFL players surveyed by The Associated Press from Nov. 2-15 replied that they have hidden or played down the effects of a concussion.

The new policy states, in part: “Once removed for the duration of a practice or game, the player should not be considered for return-to-football activities until he is fully asymptomatic, both at rest and after exertion, has a normal neurological examination, normal neuropsychological testing and has been cleared to return by both his team physician(s) and the independent neurological consultant.”

Teams were told this month they have to find an outside neurologist who can be consulted on concussions, and NFL spokesman Greg Aiello said Wednesday all of those independent doctors have been approved and are in place.

It’s good to see that the league can adjust when a rule or regulation needs to be changed. The NFL has a responsibility to its players to protect them from serious, long-term injuries the best it can.

That said, players also need to admit when they’re suffering from symptoms, which will be hard because most players don’t want to show weakness. Hopefully the league and its players will take a more active role when it comes to head injuries.

It’ll be interesting to see if Big Ben plays this weekend given these new rules. It sounds like he hasn’t suffered from any symptoms lately, but the league is going to start paying extra attention to head injuries and his concussion will become a focus.

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