The joint press release from the league and player’s association cites increasing penalties, including club fines and a possible forfeiture of draft picks for failing to properly follow the concussion protocol.
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Initial violations of the protocol will result in a fine ranging from $50,000 to $150,000 for the offending team, with ensuing infractions prompting a minimum fine of $100,000.
The league and union’s new rules are geared to refine the existing ability to enforce whether teams are abiding by the concussion protocol, making it easier for the league to evaluate how teams handle concussions and determine if a violation occurred, the league and NFLPA said.
There are additional penalties if the violation involves aggravating circumstances, and the commissioner may impose more severe financial penalties and require clubs to forfeit draft picks if it’s determined that a club’s medical team ignored protocol for competitive reasons.
Both sides agreed to give the Commissioner absolute discretion regarding any and all of the above disciplinary actions.
The new policy comes in the wake of transparency concerns regarding the handling of in-game head injuries by team medical staffs. Any such investigation “will not reach medical conclusions”, the NFL and NFLPA said, but merely will determine whether the league’s concussion-related procedures were followed. If there is disagreement between the league and union representatives, a third-party arbitrator would be brought in to conduct a review and issue a report.
The NFL and NFLPA have been working to improve player health and safety outside of the Concussion Protocol as well. A poster summarizing the results of the study hangs in all 32 National Football League club locker rooms.
The NFL has been under intense scrutiny for their unwillingness to acknowledge head injuries due to contact from playing football in the past.
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The NFL and NFLPA implemented the Unaffiliated Neurotrauma Consultant (UNC) Program and the Independent Athletic Trainer (ATC) Spotter Program to improve sideline medical care on game day. They have the right to call a medical timeout if necessary.
