James Harrison

[hoosier]

Someone said/wrote that they were busy looking at his hand on the sidelines.

Maybe, but Harrison got flagged for helmet to helmet, which should have at least planted the question in their minds. Then, if all the training staff really missed the play, they have a gigantic replay screen to look at. Or they could just do what any sensible, distinterested person would do, which is to rule out the possibility that the helmet to helmet had a neurological impact. This looks and smells like a lame attempt at CYA.

[MJZiggy]

Very lame at that.

[Joemailman]

Holmgren said McCoy was not unconscious and responded to everything the medical staff asked him to do. When McCoy got to the sideline, Holmgren said Dr. Tom Waters joined the others to check on McCoy, who also answered questions to satisfaction.

At that point, Holmgren said McCoy was not showing any concussion symptoms so the standardized SCAT2 (Sport Concussion Assessment Tool) was not given.

"Their reaction to the way Colt was acting did not dictate that," he said. "They had not seen the play and he was talking, answering, knew how much time was left. So his response, following our normal protocol, did not dictate they administer the test."

I think the NFL may change that protocol. Any player who has to leave the game because of a blow to the head will get the SCAT2.

[Noodle]

I think the NFL may change that protocol. Any player who has to leave the game because of a blow to the head will get the SCAT2.

Not a bad idea, but if they do this, then the rule should be that the defender also has to leave the game for as long as the rocked dude is sitting. Otherwise, it'll be headshots galore on playmakers.

As to Harrison, suspend his hinder. No one can fault him for hitting McCoy, but it was BS for Harrison to aim high. Lower the aiming point. It's that simple. I've seen a ton of great hits this year where defenders led with a shoulder and drilled the guy in the chest instead of the head. Message delivered, but concussion avoided.

What's so friggin hard about that?

[pbmax]

There is no doubt the Browns are in CYA mode, as Holmgren skillfully walked into his press conference and declared that the aspersions being cast against the training, coaching and medical staff were completely unwarranted. That these staff were the best in football. What he was really doing was denying by ignoring management's (his) responsibility and letting people know that those three staffs are in charge of everything, they are just too busy to do it all the time. No one does obfuscation better than Holmgren.

But because everyone can deny knowledge of McCoy's head injury, the League is going to have to appoint someone to designate players who need an evaluation. So that if it doesn't get done, Holmgren can't have a press conference that absolves everyone. Someone needs to be accountable, whether it is a sideline based neurologist on the team payroll or a League official. Otherwise, Cleveland and Pittsburgh are going to continue to miss concussion-like symptoms on a regular basis.