League changes concussion protocol after Savage injury
HOUSTON » The NFL and the players’ union announced a series of changes Friday to the way potential concussions are handled during games following an ugly incident in which Texans quarterback Tom Savage was allowed to return to the field after a hit left him on the ground, arms shaking.
Among the changes is the addition of an expert watching games from a central location with the authority to alert sideline medical teams to look into an incident. And if a player shows signs of a seizure or similar responses, as Savage did, they will be removed from the game and cannot return.
The NFL has been under increased scrutiny the past several years over player safety when it comes to head injuries. A $1 billion settlement of concussion-related claims from more than 20,000 former players took effect earlier this year, resolving thousands of lawsuits that accused the NFL of hiding what it knew about the risks of repeated concussions.
The jarring injury to Savage, of Cardinal O’Hara, prompted a joint review of concussion protocol by the NFL and the NFL Players Association. He was hurt in Houston’s 26-16 loss to San Francisco on Dec. 10 when he was driven to the ground on a hit by Elvis Dumervil. Replays showed Savage looking dazed after his head hit the ground with both of his arms shaking and lifted upward. He was taken to the medical tent where he stayed for less than three minutes before returning to the bench and going back in for the next series.
Savage threw two incompletions on that drive, and Houston’s team doctor approached him after he returned to the sideline at the end of that possession. He was evaluated again and taken to the locker room after it was determined that he did have a concussion.
The NFL said the Texans would not be fined for the incident. The review determined that the medical staff followed protocol but his return to the game was “unacceptable.” Medical staff didn’t see slow-motion video where Savage’s “fencing posture,” indicative of a concussion, until after they did their initial evaluation, the review found. Texans medical staff later identified symptoms that weren’t present during the first evaluation.
“I think we handled it the way it was supposed to be handled,” Texans coach Bill O’Brien said. “I think just speaking for us here at the Texans it’s always about trying to do the right thing, doing the right thing by the player, doing the right thing by the rules. That’s what we try to do.”