The Nfl : League Of Denial

CTE is a brain disease found in individuals with annals of head trauma. It has specifically been found in athletes with numerous concussions. So far it can only be diagnosed in the deceased, but Dr. Julian Bales and his staff in UCLA have discovered symptoms in living players such as Hall of Famer Anthony “Tony” Dorsett, Hall of Famer Joe DeLamielleure, and NFL All-Pro Leonard Marshall. CTE can cause memory loss, dementia, depression, suicidal thoughts, cognitive and emotional difficulties (Waldron par 1, 2, 3). Is it a compelling issue? A total of 171 concussions were reported in the NFL in the 2012-2013 season; 88 thus far in the 2013-2014 season (Frontline pt). Those are just numbers in the professional level. There are thousands of kids playing football either in youth, middle school, high school, or college level. The diagnosis is currently in progress, researchers are optimistic this could lead to a legitimate treatment, how to manage, and hopefully a cure. Furthermore, this can also possibly lead to an answer to a connection between football and chronic traumatic encephalopathy. Junior Seau, Mike Webster, Terry Long, and Justin Strzelczyk (all of whom are dead now) are all men who played in the NFL for an extent period of time. This is not the only thing they have in common. These former players had an uncustomary

The NFL generates crazy amount of revenue by marketing the violence. Many people buy into the “King sized” hits propaganda and think nothing of the actual physical damage. The documentary “A League of Denial” reveals how detrimental masculinity can when placed upon a nation stage such as the NFL. Mike Webster, an offensive lineman for the Pittsburgh Steelers is considered patient zero, his brain started the investigation which prompted this two hour special on PBS’ “Frontline” series. He was diagnosed with Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE) and was dead by 50.

Many memories are made in football, but sadly some of the greatest players cannot recall them. The National Football League has been associated with concussions and brain traumas throughout the years, but lately it has been exposed by media and NFL veterans. The league recently “reached a $765 million preliminary settlement with thousands of former players who were suing the league over its treatment of concussions…” (Waldron). Many former players are experiencing the effects of taking hard hits over and over again; they were not properly treated, which makes the injury worse and long term. The concussion issue in the NFL is more prevalent today, because it affects not only the players, but the league as a whole.

It is the moment football fans live for: the running back brakes through the line and heads up the field only to be sacked moments later. In the time it takes for the crowd to stand and cheer, the running back has forgotten where he is. His struggle to remember the four words he was just given on the sidelines increases every moment. His obvious concussion will keep him from playing for a few weeks but then he will be as good as new and ready to play again, right? But what about the long term affects of his concussion? When Mike Webster died at the age of 50 in 2002 from heart failure, his autopsy showed more than just a heart condition. Dr. Omalu, from the University of Pittsburgh found chronic traumatic encephalopathy or CTE, which shows atrophy to the brain similar to Alzheimer 's. CTE is a progress degenerative brain disease said to be caused by repetitive brain trauma, such as hard hits in football (Tanaka and Wells). Dr. Omalu 's discovery of CTE has brought up many questions including what is CTE and what are its effects, and did the NFL know about the possibility of CTE and why do they keep denying its existence. Because of Omalu 's discovery CTE and the NFL are in the limelight as players past and present worry if they are at risk. As more and more people learn about CTE, the level of urgency to find answers to these questions rises. In response, the NFL and other companies are backing research in hopes of finding ways to prevent and cure CTE, all while learning

It was not until Dr. Bennet Omalu examined, NFL superstar, Mike Webster’s brain. While Webster was alive, he was examined and it was found that he developed dementia due to his multiple concussions (NFL Concussion Fast Facts). Unfortunately, Webster ended up committing suicide; however, it was believed to be linked to his brain damage. Omalu took a close look at his brain and discovered that Webster had CTE. Omalu was the first to identify CTE in American football players (NFL Concussion Fast Facts). CTE is a degenerative disease of the brain and is associated with repeated head traumas, like concussions. It was also found that a total of seven NFL players, that had committed suicide, all had CTE developed in their brains. All of these different findings showed why it was even more important for the NFL to fix the

In NFL history the first person who was ever diagnosed with CTE was the Pittsburgh Steelers, Mike Webster. During the years as he played he was never diagnosed with a concussion, but once he had committed suicide years later scientists started to wonder. Scientists explain “Through the discovery of CTE in the brains of athlete Mike Webster and many others, have launched the disease into public consciousness. Showing 87 of 91 former NFL players have been diagnosed with CTE.” ("What is CTE") Through all of the tragic happenings, the NFL did nothing. The NFL had denied the fact that there was anything going on and that it could not have been their fault for endangering one of America's best defensive player. While some may not

For this research paper I will be exploring concussions in the NFL, and how it represents American ideologies. I am not only going to be analysing the long lasting effects concussions have on players, but also how the NFL was able to to ignore and deny allegations against them proving the fatality of the sport. The National Football League is a multibillion dollar business, and is the most watched sport in the United States, making this a very relevant topic in recent news. All you have to do is watch an afternoon of Sunday football games in order to witness the brutality of the sport, and the tolls players bodies take. My primary source for this topic is a 43 page scholarly article produced by Harvard University explaining the history and evolution of concussions in the NFL. This source goes into depth on nearly every aspect of the topic, which will help me answer my research questions as I go along. Although I will be looking into several different aspects of this topic, my main research questions are what is the truth behind concussions in the NFL, and how does it

Concussions have been known about since the early 1900s. During this time concussions did not receive the attention that it receives now. In mainstream media today concussions are a growing issue, not only in professional sports but also at high school and college levels. It is believed that Dr. Bennet Omalu was the first person to come up with a study and show that concussions are very dangerous and the great effects it has. His focus was mainly towards American football but it was helpful to others who did not play football as well. Dr. Bennet Ifeakandu Omalu is a forensic pathologist who was the first to publish findings of chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) in American football players while working at the Allegheny County Coroner 's Office in Pittsburgh. Chronic traumatic encephalopathy is a progressive degenerative disease of the brain found in people with a history of repetitive brain trauma, including symptomatic concussions as well as sub concussive hits to the head that do not cause symptoms (Boston University, 2015). CTE has been known to affect boxers since the 1920’s (when it was termed punch drunk syndrome or dementia pugilistic). However, in recent years the disease has been found in other athletes, including football and hockey players, as well as in military veterans (Boston University, 2015). CTE is not limited to professional athletes; it has also been found in athletes who did not play sports after high school or college. The repeated brain trauma

Bennet Omalu made concussions a big deal and not just a keeping it in the dark from people and the the players for the NFL. He was the one who discovered Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy AKA(CTE) a disease caused by trauma to the head. He discovered CTE do to the death of Mike Webster. Mike died unexpectedly Dr.Omalu believed it was do to the mood disorders,depression ,drug abuse,destitution and Mike one Attempted suicide do to the depression. Dr.Omalu did a self analyses Mike brain tissue and he found out that Mike suffered from dementia pugilistica which is caused by repeated hits to the head. Dr. Omalu finally discovered CTE after the death of Tony Long he committed suicide in

But recently we’ve also seen and heard more of a disease that is hurting players within the NFL. It’s causing present and former players to file lawsuits against the NFL and Riddell- NFL’s official partner and the largest football-helmet manufacturer. The real issue with concussions is that lives are at stake. This tragic fact become clear in 2006 when former Philadelphia Eagle star Andre Warner committed suicide by shooting himself. Studies on his brain later showed that he suffered from chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE). A form of brain damage from repeated blows to the head and results in demetria. This disease was first seen from pathologist Bennet Omalu who tried to spread the awareness throughout football players even though the NFL had tried to block his research and “deny the existence of the disease.”(NFl’s answer to concussions: Sports science) The NFL has now even estimated the one-third of its former players will develop dementia, Alzheimer’s disease or other types of debilitating neurological disorders such as Parkinson”s disease and ALS. But head injuries can be found in young children up to major league players. According to Game Changers Stefan Duma has recorded more than 150,000 head impacts that football players have endured from the age of seven to the Virginia Tech Hokies football team. In The Helmet That Can Save Football professional football players may receive up to 1,500 hits to

A strong willed linebacker accelerates down the football field. He eyes up his opponent- the running back- both men lower their heads, bracing for impact, while helmets crunch, fans roar. Immediately after connecting, the running back 's head feels undeniably different, but at this point in the game, it would cost the team playoff contention if they lose. This man is young, rich, and famous, but little does he know that each concussion he gets brings him one step closer to his own grave. Multiple concussions relating to sports leads to early onset Dementia and CTE, loss of life, changes in how games are played, lawsuits, and even more unsettling concussion facts and statistics.

In 2015, a movie starring Will Smith as a doctor named Bennett Omalu who is researching how a former football player died when he discovered a brain disorder that is related to Alzheimer’s disease and attempted to warn people about the head-related dangers of football. This nonfiction movie is about just the beginning of the football concussion problems, but the problems still exist today. All players are at risk, not only professionals, but kids as well. Countless concussions by football players have lead to trauma and even death. Officials in charge of these games need to make the game safer for all players and better equipment is required or football may go extinct in the future.

When Scott Fujita, a professional football player, was young “he never was going to play football.” “Concussions is one of these pack journalism issues, frankly. There's no increase in concussions. The number is relatively small. The problem is, it is a journalist issue.”

In the movie, Concussion, Dr. Bennett Omalu persevered through both professional and personal challenges and was ultimately vindicated. A lot of former NFL players went insane when something bothered inside their heads and they died so Dr. Omalu found neurological deterioration when he observed the dead players’ brains for an autopsy. Dr. Omalu worked as a forensic pathologist and he cut the bodies to take the things out of it. During the investigation, Dr. Omalu researched about neurological deterioration and he met the medical colleagues about the situations from the dead NFL players. Dr. Omalu was very religious and he used his faith for professional work. Also he received the critics from NFL because the committee didn’t support Dr. Omalu’s

If you play football you’re putting yourself at risk of the Mike Webster disease also Known as the “chronic traumatic” or also known as encephalopathy. Mike Webster was and still is a Steeler hall of famer who’s health outcome at mid-life was an active portrayed in the movie. There are some takeaway message from this significant film, after a career of repeated head brain damage, A person who becomes prone to an entirely experience induced “neurological” disease process that makes the human mind to a strengthen and scary of intense emotional volatility, severe decrease and a disturbing sort of malaise, marked by abandon of society and suicide. A football player must now learn to deal with the with the fact that healthy dose of anxiety and fear of this harsh reality to successfully get use to the sport and evolve his on field performance. How many important concussive and concussive events are needed to activate this horrible disease process? If we can figure out to a pinpoint whether an action has just happened seeing stars after the collision? flunking a mental screen the next day? Does a waiting period of healing help to negate the aftereffects? now presumed. The most