NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell made some rather shocking statements on player safety in a nine-hour deposition back in 2022.
Court documents, which are part of a lawsuit against the league relating to head injuries suffered by players, show Goodell claiming that the media misrepresents reports on head and brain injuries, per Front Office Sports.
He also compared the risks of contact sports to that of walking down a street as he expressed agitation with the media’s coverage of said injuries while suggesting that the NFL will be presented in a much better light when the brains of players who committed suicide and asked for them to be donated to science are studied.
“Did you find it an issue of concern for the NFL that multiple NFL players committed suicide and left notes indicating that they wanted their brains studied, to determine whether their injuries resulted from their play in the NFL?” he was asked.
“I’m not sure I would agree with that entire statement. I think players who want to participate in the research necessary to advance science is a positive thing for us. Obviously, the circumstances are incredibly unfortunate.”
Quizzed on the presiding medical notion as it pertains to long-term damage from concussions, he said, “There’s still a great deal of uncertainty about the causation issue.”
“Players who want to participate in the research necessary to advance science is a positive thing for us,” he continued. “Obviously, the circumstances are incredibly unfortunate.”
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Goodell’s attorney Jeff Pash admitted there is potential for long-term effects but said he wasn’t briefed on the Commissioner’s testimony after he was asked the following:
“And are you aware that Commissioner Goodell testified that the causation has not yet been established regarding long-term effects of concussions as it related to concussions sustained by players during their playing days?”
It doesn’t take a genius to understand that there are long-term health risks that come with a football career, yet the league is expected to take as many measures as it can to ensure player safety.
By the looks of things, Goodell is more interested in playing defense.
