NFL, union try to change culture on concussions

“Players really need to be on the front lines of education on this,” Linta says.

Certainly most beneficial would be getting players to police themselves _ and one another. There are signs it’s happening.

“We are seeing a switch in the way players are handling concussions and suspected concussions,” says Rich McKay, president of the Atlanta Falcons and co-chairman of the NFL’s competition committee, which recommends all rules changes. “A player goes down and we are seeing when he has trouble getting up or there’s a problem, other players are pointing to the sideline and telling the coaches to take him out of the game. It’s player accountability for each other, and it’s a very important part of making that (culture) change.”

Still, it’s a violent game at the highest level, played by physical specimens who work themselves into a fervor. Their careers are short, their pain thresholds are high, their dedication to each other often immeasurable.

“The doctors, the medical staff,” says Chiefs quarterback Matt Cassel, who sustained a concussion earlier this month, “are there to protect you against yourself a lot of times.”

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AP Pro Football Writer Arnie Stapleton and Sports Writers Dave Skretta, Tim Booth, John Wawrow, Noah Trister, Joseph White and Will Graves contributed to this story.

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