League of Denial: The NFL, Concussions, and the Battle for Truth

I have watched the Frontline story, "League of Denial", twice now. The first time I saw it, I was intrigued and wanted to know more. I read this book and the information was stunning. The Frontline story was a bare-bones, very edited version of this book.There is SO much more content revealed here. From the 'early days' of football and how concussions were (not) treated, to current topics such as the multi-million dollar 'settlement' that is now being reviewed, this book covers everything in a good timeline format.The tragedy is that so many players' lives have changed, or even ended, due to repeated brain injuries that occurred during their careers. The injustice is that the NFL has had data for decades about concussions and player safety, yet claimed that, as a body, the NFL members were not medical experts. The NFL has been adept at passing the buck to medical researchers, whom the NFL had funded specifically to examine the issue of brain injury and concussion. The NFL claims they have had no medical expertise, yet they funded research on these very topics. Wait until you read about the members of the NFL's "Concussion Committee", and the actions of said committee.Concussions and repeated TBIs are not the same as a broken arm or dislocated shoulder. A player only has one brain, and any damage might only show up as the player ages. The NFL even attempted to design a helmet intended to reduce the frequency of concussions for its players (design, production and claims were all done by a major NFL helmet supplier). The helmet manufacturer made wild claims about the hemet reducing concussions, sent them to the NFL, and then marketed the helmet to high school and college players. Finally, the false claims were finally discounted, and could no longer be used in marketing the helmet.The second time I watched the Frontline story, I realized how much information was left out from this book. Stunning, really, how much was left out.The saddest part is that there is no definitive method of diagnosing CTE (at this time) until autopsy and sampling brain tissue. I believe the issue will be right in the forefront again as players age, and we hear more tragic stories of lives changed or lost, while the NFL all but ignores the issue of concussions and CTE.With all the background and information in this book, the game of NFL football, it's place in American culture, and how football is seen, will all be changed forever----much like the story of Big Tobacco and smoking. The curtain will be raised, as in The Wizard of Oz, revealing what has been known for decades. The NFL will no longer be able to claim ignorance, or innocence, in this matter. Last summer's cash settlement with former NFL players is likely to be just a drop in the bucket of funds that will be needed as we see more players retiring. These are players who are now bigger, faster and stronger than those who played decades earlier.The settlement was an agreement reached by the NFL, and the NFLPA, including representation for retired players. Under the terms of the agreement, the NFL was not required to acknowledge any responsibility, liability or previous knowledge concerning what it knew about concussion brain injury, and CTE. My hope is that the judge now reviewing the settlement (because of doubts that the dollar amount of the settlement will be adequate) will help the injured players and their families get some sort of restitution for the lives changed for these players, as well as for the future retirees who have suffered these brain injuries.If you have children of any age, once you finish reading this book, you may have very different views as to whether you would allow your child to participate in football.(Edited for typos)

First, I will note that I myself had a concussion when I was 7 after I fell off my bicycle and fractured my skull. I was "out" for four hours and don't recall anything of the hour before the accident. It is part of the reason that I am very interested in the research.As an avid NFL fan since the late 70s, I found this book difficult to read. The stories of what many players have had to endure after they retired is heartbreaking. The first time that I recall concussions being discussed in the media were in the time of Al Toon's retirement at the age of 29 after he said he had 9 concussions. I vaguely remember it being said then that there was a belief that having had one made a person predisposed to another and also there was a theory that some players are more prone to them, like Toon.In reading this book, it carefully lays out what was known about concussions by whom and when. And the startling thing is that a lot of what we take for granted, still wasn't considered hard science even 20 years ago. In 1990, a team doctor wanted to keep Bubby Brister out of a game and the Steelers Coach Chuck Noll wanted to know why and on what basis or evidence. At the time, they were guidelines. But the doctor had no conclusive proof exactly how much time was necessary to heal a concussion. Healing times are different. There was no test, no baseline.What the book does well is take the reader from that time when things were murky to the death of Mike Webster when there was a change. A Nigerian, Dr. Omalu, made the decision to study the Hall of Famer's brain even though he died of a heart attack due to what the doctor had read about the player's odd behavior over the last few years. After the brain was "fixed", stained and placed the brain tissue under a microscope he saw something that had not been seen before. He saw Tau. Tau, a substance in the brain, was strangling portions of Websters brain. Tau also goes a little crazy in Alzheimer's patients in a different way. The brain damage in boxers is not the same either. It was something new. And it opened up a whole new can of craziness for the NFL.There is so much in here that is infuriating. The NFL Retirement board paid benefits for brain damage, yet the Mild Traumatic Brain Injury Committee said "football doesn't cause brain damage". There were people who wanted to help find out exactly what was going on and they were discredited or marginalized by the NFL.I think the book is extremely well written and it lays out all the people who have been involved (including their flaws and all) and just tells the story without really trying to steer a person in a direction. One thing that is interesting is that many of the people involved in identifying the issue love football and they're working to benefit the players they love and respect.The one thing that I wish were included is more about why the players are not reporting concussions to the team doctors. Of course, part of it is that they're competitive and want to play, but I feel that another part of it has to do with the fact that contracts aren't guaranteed. In baseball, someone like Mike Witt could have a 5 year guaranteed contract and only end up throwing a few innings over those five years. But in football, you can't play, you get cut. Dave Duerson's wife alluded to it briefly.

Great book. I became interested in this after watching "Concussion" with Will Smith. No surprises in the outcome given the Capatistic approach of most Sporting arenas nowadays. Sad but true indictment of the "Moneymen" who happily allow the true talent to harm and injure themselves during their careers and then drop them like a lead welly when they need support the most.

Probably one of the very finest books I've read. Proper investigative reporting and a great page turner. Watch the doc too, excellent film making.

WHAT A FANTASTIC GRIPPING POWERFUL STORY HAD ME IN TEARS AT TIMES. ALSO HAD MY BLOOD BOILING WITH THE BLINKERED APPROACH OF THE NFL DENIAL WHEN A BLIND MAN COULD SEE THEY WERE IN THE WRONG.

Good read. It would be interesting to see if a similar book came out about Rugby union, I imagine the issues might turn out to be quite similar

Superbly written, engages not only those interested in Sports. Wonderfully researched with a terrifying message.