NFL Players Brain Injury Committee Holds First Meeting

The committee formed by the NFL Player’s Association to tackle, so to speak, the issue of brain injuries and professional football has its first meeting this week in Palm Beach, Fla. http://www.google.com/hostednews/canadianpress/article/ALeqM5hN5mqFoFXXSvkaDO9Nec2JaZ1GKQ

The Mackey-White Traumatic Brain Injury Committee was named after two Hall of Fame players: John Mackey, who has Alzheimer’s disease, and Reggie White, who passed away at the young age of 43 after retiring from the NFL. See http://news.bostonherald.com/sports/football/other_nfl/view/20100127nfl_establishes_brain_trust/srvc=home&position;=recent

The special committee is made up of past and current NFL players, researchers and physicians. They want to start a discussion on brain trauma and professional football, evaluate the latest research and begin work on recommendations for player safety.

The issue of the dangers of players, NFL and high school, going back on the field after sustaining concussions a hot topic in the past few months, receiving a lot of press. Congress recently conducted hearings on head injuries, taking testimony from players, doctors and NFL commissioner Roger Goodell.

The Mackey-White committee is being chaired by Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Sean Morey and Dr. Thom Mayer, medical director for the NFL union.

Chris Nowinski, an ex-college football player and pro wrestler, is a member of the committee. Nowinski, who has had at least a half dozen concussions, has taken on less dangerous work now. He is president of the Sports Legacy Institute and co-director of the Center for the Study of Traumatic Encephalopathy at Boston University.