Originally Posted by JoeRedskin
Six concussions is nothing to brush off as insignificant. At the same time, it's his choice and, at this point, the long-term health risks are well-known. He's a grown ass man and, if he chooses to "assume the risk" by covering up his injuries so that he can continue to play, well, that's his choice.
The Skins medical team simply needs to have a sit down with him, give him the proper warnings, and sternly instruct him not to promptly report future concussive symptoms. Document the crap out of it and send him on his way. If he plays anyway or hides the symptoms, he's got no one but himself to blame. People are allowed to do dumb things.
More to the point, the root of the problem wasn't that concussions were happening; it was that the NFL knew they were an issue, wasn't telling the players about some of the risks, and, at times, flat out misleading them. Additionally, management was essentially saying, if you don't play through this, we may just have to cut you and find someone who will.
The NFL is now making sure that, if a player gets dinged, they are covering their asses by performing evaluations, keeping known injured players out, and not overtly forcing players to "play through the pain." Again, if a player with a concussion history chooses to play in this day and age, it's on him.
I am concerned that Reed's concussions will catch up with him sooner rather than later. He is a beast and I hope he is beasting for the Skins for many, many years. However, I do not foresee a particularly long career in his future. I hope I am wrong.
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