NFL crack down on tackles, after spate of head and spinal injuryRSS Feed

The NFL has promised to crack down on illegal tackles in American Football after an alarming series of player brain injuries last Sunday (October 17th).

Two players from the Washington Redskins suffered concussion following blows to the head, as did DeSean Jackson of the Philadelphia Eagles and two Cleaveland Browns players also suffered head injuries resulting from tackles.

The US National Football League has said it will up punishments for severe tackles due to the potential for brain and spinal injury.

This will include players being suspended without pay for illegal hits to the opponents' heads.

Dr Julian Bailes, chairman of neurosurgery at West Virginia University, spoke of the potential danger of these illegal tackles.

"It's disappointing that with all the research, the education and the efforts at prevention that so many - including the NFL - have done, that we continue to see these sort of hits ... I think there was a collective gasp by NFL fans on Sunday, not of dirty play, but of the velocities of hits in a legal play," he told the Baltimore Sun.

This comes after Rutgers University player Eric LeGrand suffered extensive spinal cord injury and was paralysed from the neck down while making a tackle during a game on Saturday.

Serious Law, award winning brain injury law firm.

Posted by Paul Breen
 

Grant to further brain injury research

19 October 2010

Researchers at the University of Cincinnati have been given $2.1 million (£1.3 million), which could help those suffering from brain injury.The Advanced Technology/Therapeutic Development Award,...

Read More...

US army develops blood test to mild brain injury

15 October 2010

A blood test developed by the US army to detect brain injury could have application beyond diagnosis among soldiers.This could be particularly useful for detecting brain trauma in young athletes, combat...

Read More...

Transformers brain injury claim rejected

14 October 2010

All necessary steps were taken to avoid the brain injury suffered by an extra on the set of the third Transformers film, safety inspectors have said.The Indiana Occupational Safety and Health Administration...

Read More...