Curbing head injuries

Friday, Nov. 27, 2009 | 2:04 a.m.

Under pressure from Congress to address repeated head injuries, the National Football League is planning to require independent medical reviews of players who suffer concussions — before they return to the field.

Under the league’s current practice, players are evaluated by their teams’ doctors and medical staff, and that has created a conflict of interest. Coaches and executives often push the team physicians to get players back onto the field. In turn, the league’s critics say doctors don’t want to do anything to hurt their relationships with the coaches and executives for fear of losing their positions. There is a certain status attached to being a team physician.

According to a growing body of research, repeated head injuries increase the risk of long-term neurological problems, including dementia and brain damage. As we have noted before, the NFL’s response has been to dismiss the research as inconclusive and call for more studies instead of taking aggressive action.

Pressure from Congress, which has included threats to pull the league’s antitrust exemption, has spurred the league into action. Details of the rule are still being ironed out, but the idea is good. Players should have an independent doctor check them before they are allowed to compete again.

Of course, that won’t necessarily solve the problem. Underlying the issue is the macho culture in football. If a doctor asks a player how he feels after suffering a hard hit, a hurting player knows that if he answers honestly, he may be benched. Part of football is playing hurt.

The NFL needs to change that culture. In a sign it is taking the issue seriously, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell issued a memo to the teams this week about concussions, explaining several ideas the league is pursuing.

Although it has taken too long for the league to address head injuries, it is starting to move in the right direction, and that is welcome news.