NFL: Updates Concussion Protocol

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MIAMI — The NFL and NFLPA have agreed on new concussion protocols, focusing on ataxia, an abnormality in balance, stability, coordination, or speech. This news comes as no shock, just two weeks after Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa staggered and lost balance on a Sunday night against the Buffalo Bills in week 3. The quarterback was visibly unstable following a sack as he fell backward and his head came crashing into the ground. Despite help from being lifted from a teammate, the quarterback came tumbling down once more while trying to jog off the field. The Dolphins’ medical staff escorted him to the locker room with just more than two minutes left in the first half.

Shockingly, Tagovailoa returned to the field at the start of the second half and ended up finishing the game. Many flabbergasted fans were happy about his return, but that quickly changed only four days later. During that same week, Tagovailoa started in a Thursday night match against the Cincinnati Bengals. After a sack, the quarterback’s head slammed on the ground once more, only this time, he did not get up. The scary play resulted in Tagovailoa being strapped to a stretcher, having suffered yet another head injury within a four-day span.

While everyone uncomfortably watched, many couldn’t help but think…Well, some disciplinary action will be taken.

And there was. The pro football consultant who cleared Miami Dolphins quarterback Tagovailoa to play during the team's Sept. 25 game has been terminated, per NFL’s Insider Adam Schefter. During the investigation, the leagues’ protocols were in question as the quarterback was clearly unfit to play. While the football consultant lost his job, many are wondering who else is responsible for potentially allowing a catastrophe to unfold.

On the contrary, head coach Mike McDaniel was asked if the team should’ve done anything differently, and his response was,

“Absolutely not.” McDaniel also added the team, and the unaffiliated consultant went “above and beyond” in questioning Tagovailoa to determine if he had suffered a concussion.

While the NFL and NFLPA have come to an agreement on new concussion protocols, many still wonder if more needs to be done.