Mike Webster's Role In The NFL

CTE is a brain disease found in individuals with annals of head trauma. It has specifically been found in athletes with numerous concussions. So far it can only be diagnosed in the deceased, but Dr. Julian Bales and his staff in UCLA have discovered symptoms in living players such as Hall of Famer Anthony “Tony” Dorsett, Hall of Famer Joe DeLamielleure, and NFL All-Pro Leonard Marshall. CTE can cause memory loss, dementia, depression, suicidal thoughts, cognitive and emotional difficulties (Waldron par 1, 2, 3). Is it a compelling issue? A total of 171 concussions were reported in the NFL in the 2012-2013 season; 88 thus far in the 2013-2014 season (Frontline pt). Those are just numbers in the professional level. There are thousands of kids playing football either in youth, middle school, high school, or college level. The diagnosis is currently in progress, researchers are optimistic this could lead to a legitimate treatment, how to manage, and hopefully a cure. Furthermore, this can also possibly lead to an answer to a connection between football and chronic traumatic encephalopathy. Junior Seau, Mike Webster, Terry Long, and Justin Strzelczyk (all of whom are dead now) are all men who played in the NFL for an extent period of time. This is not the only thing they have in common. These former players had an uncustomary

His former wife, Pam, tells how he took a knife and slashed all his football pictures” (Mihoces). He died September of 2002 and the narrator of a Frontline special on his life said, “The news that day would start a chain of events that would threaten to forever change the way America sees the game of football,"(Mihoces). His brain was examined to find out more about his disabilities and their relation to football.

While many of these films have shown the different aspects of sports, not many of these films have really touched upon the negative effects of contact sports (Landesman, 2015). Based on the aforementioned research conducted by Dr. Omalu in 2005, the 2015 film Concussion highlights the prevalence of CTE in contact sport athletes, particularly football players (Landesman, 2015). In this film, Dr. Bennet Omalu, who is played by Will Smith, examines the brain of former NFL player Mike Webster after he was reported to be displaying erratic behavior. From the post-mortem examination of Webster’s brain, Dr. Omalu finds that he presented with a pathology that was similar to that of CTE (Landesman, 2015). Later on in the film, Dr. Omalu examines the brains of two more football players who displayed cognitive and emotional issues as well prior to their deaths. Omalu then concludes that all of the players had CTE, and the publication of his results creates uproar with the NFL (Landesman,

It wasn’t until Dr. McKee and other researchers presented evidence of CTE in football players during a congressional hearing with the U.S. House of Representatives, in 2009, that the NFL changed its approach to addressing these findings. Later that year, during an interview with The New York Times, NFL Spokesman Greg Aiello stated “it’s quite obvious from the medical research that’s been done that concussion can lead to long-term problems.” This was one of the first times the league admitted that concussions and brain injuries had long-term impact on players. Admitting that there was a problem was one of the first steps in overhauling their approach to CTE’s impact on football players. Towards the end of that year, there was a shake up

The documentary, The League of Denial examines the issue of brain injuries in the National Football League. The film devotes most of its attention to the story of Mike Webster, who died at the age of fifty as a result of severe brain injuries suffered throughout his playing career. Webster’s story highlights the devastating effect concussions can have in a short timeframe. Because brain injuries are known to develop quickly it is important that the NFL responds quickly to this concussion crisis. The NFL is the most popular professional sports league in the world: according to Forbes Magazine the NFL generated over $9 billion in revenue this past year. Despite this success the NFL faces a legitimate threat against brain injuries and concussions. Although the NFL is popular, they should still be proactive in their fight against concussions because of the amount of money they generate, the health of their former players, and lastly the willingness of future athletes to play their sport.

The NFL: League of Denial, written by Mark and Steve Fainaru is one of the first books to publicly question the NFL’s concussion protocol. The book was originally produced as a documentary on PBS, which aired in 2010. The two authors, Mark and Steve Fainaru are ESPN reporters, and brothers. Steve Fainaru formerly worked as a war reporter in Iraq, while Mark Fainaru primarily focused on sports journalism. In an interview with the Chicago Tribune, Mark Fairnaru describes the book as documenting "pretty extensively two decades worth of denial by the league to basically bury the concussion issue as anything serious for the sport" (Chicago Tribune). The two authors became interested in the concussion crisis in the NFL after reading the research of Dr. Bennet Omalu. Dr. Bennet Omalu is a Nigerian, now American Medical Doctor, Forensic Pathologist, Professor, Medical Examiner, but most importantly, the discoverer of the connection between the brain disease, CTE and sports-related concussions. The book focuses on Dr. Omalu, and the case of former NFL player, Mike Webster, and his football related injuries, which later led to his death.

Concussions can cause long term effects if not treated properly. A player can recover from a concussion in a few weeks, but the lasting effects of a concussions still prove relevant. Retired players that have suffered from concussions during their careers and were not treated properly felt the long-term effects of sustaining head injuries that caused many to commit suicide, which has led to the NFL investigating their concussion protocol to keep the players safe. As the NFL uses its lead doctors to investigate and understand more about the brain it will lead to gains in the safety of athletes

In NFL history the first person who was ever diagnosed with CTE was the Pittsburgh Steelers, Mike Webster. During the years as he played he was never diagnosed with a concussion, but once he had committed suicide years later scientists started to wonder. Scientists explain “Through the discovery of CTE in the brains of athlete Mike Webster and many others, have launched the disease into public consciousness. Showing 87 of 91 former NFL players have been diagnosed with CTE.” ("What is CTE") Through all of the tragic happenings, the NFL did nothing. The NFL had denied the fact that there was anything going on and that it could not have been their fault for endangering one of America's best defensive player. While some may not

They are being affected by a Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy or CTE. CTE can cause memory loss, problems paying attention, and aggressive behavior. These brain injuries come from all of the hits to the head that occur to players. One of the most famous cases of this diagnosis is Aaron Hernandez. Aaron Hernandez was a New England Patriot’s Tight End from 2007 to 2014. He was accused of killing multiple people and went to prison for it. Around nine months ago, Hernandez committed suicide in Prison. He was later diagnosed with severe CTE. According to the Apartment of Veteran Affairs, 87 out of 91 deceased NFL players showed signs of CTE. Concussions may seem like a temporary injury they have long term

Former NFL players have sustained very serious concussions resulting in memory loss. Former Pittsburg Steeler, Mike Webster, suffers from CTE (Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy) This is brought on by two or more decades of brain battery on the field. Mike Webster played the center position for the Pittsburg Steelers. The

First, I am going to talk about the science behind concussions, CTE, and why it is such an issue for a football player. Concussions are very damaging to the brain and experiencing a lot of them can lead to CTE. I will also discuss people that influenced the understanding of concussions and CTE. In 2002, a neurologist named Dr. Bennet Omalu tried to tell the NFL about the brain damage he found while doing a former NFL player’s autopsy, but the NFL did not really listen. In 2009, another researcher by the name of Dr. Ann Mckee tried to get the NFL’s attention about her concerns about football players and concussions as well. The NFL once again ignored these assumptions. However, the NFL did listen to Dr. Elliot Pellman, who told the league as early as 1994, that concussions were not a big problem and just part of the game. I will discuss how NFL players were treated when they got their “bell rung” during a big game; and what kind of medical treatment they

Dr. Benett Omalu, a forensic pathologist, was the one who brought attention to concussions through his research on chromic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), which is brain degeneration suffered by professional football players. During his research, Dr. Omalu performed an autopsy on former Pittsburgh Steelers lineman Mike Webster and the initial evaluation showed no abnormalities. Eventually, through more research, Dr. Omalu found the problem in the build-up of tau proteins, which he saw while examining pieces of Webster’s brain under a microscope, leading to a groundbreaking diagnosis of chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE). Dr. Omalu published his discovery in a journal and as other athletes experience the same diagnosis, Dr. Omalu took it upon himself to raise public awareness about the dangers of football-related head trauma. Finally, concussion injuries were starting to be taken seriously; efforts were being made to help stop concussions from occurring at all levels.

In contrast to the beliefs of the before mentioned former NFL players Maurice Jones-Drew and Justin Smith, former San Francisco linebacker Chris Borland, a former linebacker for the San Francisco 49ers, quit the NFL after talking to concussion researchers and his family. Speaking to ESPN's Outside the Lines, Borland said: "I just want to do what's best for my health. From what I've researched and what I've experienced, I don't think it's worth the risk” (Borland). This illustrates how not everyone who plays in the NFL is willing to take the risk of potentially ruining their lives by playing the game of football.

Chargers linebacker Shawne Merriman was tested positive for steroid use setting all new grounds for the NFL. When both his samples came back positive the NFL had to do something. Thanks to merriman it was made that all who fail a test will not be allowed to participate in the Pro Bowl. This was a new and large punishment for all players who were to fail off almost any drug was punishable. Merriman was a young 22 year old rookie linebacker with an already impressive career going for him. With fiftytwo tackles and an impressive ten sacks under his belt already. Also finishing with five passes defended and two forced fumbles he was doing great. In just six games he was second on the careers with only 5 ½ stacks. He was given the nickname

If you play football you’re putting yourself at risk of the Mike Webster disease also Known as the “chronic traumatic” or also known as encephalopathy. Mike Webster was and still is a Steeler hall of famer who’s health outcome at mid-life was an active portrayed in the movie. There are some takeaway message from this significant film, after a career of repeated head brain damage, A person who becomes prone to an entirely experience induced “neurological” disease process that makes the human mind to a strengthen and scary of intense emotional volatility, severe decrease and a disturbing sort of malaise, marked by abandon of society and suicide. A football player must now learn to deal with the with the fact that healthy dose of anxiety and fear of this harsh reality to successfully get use to the sport and evolve his on field performance. How many important concussive and concussive events are needed to activate this horrible disease process? If we can figure out to a pinpoint whether an action has just happened seeing stars after the collision? flunking a mental screen the next day? Does a waiting period of healing help to negate the aftereffects? now presumed. The most