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THURSDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2010 PROFESSIONAL FOOTBALL
NFL’s newenforcement is not a hit Several current
and former players are critical of league
BY MARKMASKE
The NFL’s newly toughened enforcement of rules against dangerous illegal hits has been greeted less than enthusiastical- lybytheverypeople the league is attempting to protect: the play- ers. Current and former players
were critical Wednesday of the league’s announcement that it would escalate the penalties for players who deliver illegal blows, including possible sus- pensions, even for first offenses. The NFL’s announcement Mon- day came aday after analarming series of hits in Sunday’s games left several players with head injuries. Pittsburgh Steelers lineback-
MICHAEL KAPPELER/AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE VIA GETTY IMAGES
“Iam100 percent healthy and I have doctors to back me up,” says midfielder Lori Chalupny, left, celebrating a win over Brazil at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. TheU.S. Soccer Federation feels otherwise.
U.S. star stuck at home
Because of concussion history, Chalupny no longer with national team BY STEVEN GOFF
Lori Chalupny believes she
should be in Mexico with theU.S. women’s national soccer team as it prepares for the2011WorldCup qualifying tournament instead of sitting at home in St. Louis. She started for the team in
major international competition for five years and helped the Americans win Olympic gold in 2008. Astute observers of the sport consider her the most com- plete and versatile player in the esteemed program. She was ac- tive all summer, featuring in the midfield for the Atlanta Beat in Women’s Professional Soccer. But Chalupny, 26, will not play
for the U.S. squad in Mexico and perhaps never represent her country again because of a histo- ry of concussions. Although Chal- upny has been allowed to contin- ue her pro career, the U.S. Soccer Federation, in consultation with one of the leading experts on sports head trauma, has not cleared her to play for the nation- al team. “I am 100 percent healthy and
I have doctors to back me up,” Chalupny said this week. “If I felt I was putting myself at risk, I wouldn’t be playing.” The USSF, the sport’s govern-
ing body in theUnited States that oversees all national teams, de- clined to elaborate on the deci- sion, citing privacy issues involv- ing an individual’s medical re- cords. In head injury cases, the USSF turns to Ruben Echemen- dia, a clinical neuropsychologist who has worked with the soccer organization for eight years and oversees the NHL and MLS con- cussion programs. Chalupny’s situation comes at
a time of heightened concern about concussions suffered in athletic competition. After a se- ries of head injuries this season, the NFL has cracked down on dangerous hits by implementing more severe disciplinary mea- sures. In soccer, MLS veterans Taylor
Twellman, Alecko Eskandarian and Bryan Namoff have been sidelined indefinitely because of concussions. Washington Free- dom goalkeeper Briana Scurry was out for almost all of the WPS season with a head injury before retiring last month. Athletes in many sports now
must undergo an evaluation peri- odbefore being allowed to return, a cautious approach spurred by medical advancesandevidence of long-term damage to those who have endured additional blows to the head. Chalupny’s case is unique in
that she is allowed to play for her pro team but banned from play- ing for her national team. In an interview, Echemendia,
who is in private practice after 18 years on the Penn State faculty, said he couldn’t discuss Chalup- ny’s case. But speaking in general about evaluating head injuries, he said he looks at the number of
er James Harrison, one of three players fined Tuesday by the league for illegal hits Sunday, threatened to retire, and other players said Wednesday they long ago accepted that the sport they play is perilous. “It’s a dangerous game,” New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady said. “It really is. I think we all signed up for this game knowing that it’s danger- ous. . . . Nobody wants to see anybody gethurt.That’snotwhy we play the game. But we also know the physical nature of this sport is that people do get hurt.” Brady said at hisweekly news
conference that “sometimes I guess guys cross the line” and he accepted that league officials would “enforce the rules howev- er they see fit.” Harrison was less accommo-
dating a day after he was fined $75,000 for a hit Sunday on Cleveland Browns wide receiver MohamedMassaquoi. “There’s nothing really else I
can do and that’s why I’m so frustrated,” Harrison said in a Sirius satellite radio interview. “How can I continue to play this game the way that I’ve been taught to play this game since I was 10yearsold?Andnowyou’re telling me that everything that they’ve taughtme fromthat time on, for the last 20-plus years, is not the way you’re supposed to play the game anymore. If that’s the case, I can’t play by those rules. You’re handicappingme.” Harrison was excused from
theSteelers’practiceWednesday amid reports that he was con- templating retirement. The Steelers, however, expect him back at practice Thursday. Harrison also knocked anoth-
er Browns wide receiver, Joshua Cribbs, fromlast Sunday’s game withalegalhelmet-to-helmethit on a running play. Cribbs wrote
NFLNOTEBOOK Colts suspend McAfee after arrest MARCUS BRANDT/AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE VIA GETTY IMAGES
“They’re looking out formy best interests—I get that—but I feel fine,” Chalupny says of theUSSF’s stance on not letting her play.
ASSOCIATED PRESS
concussions that an athlete has suffered, how closely over time they occurred, the severity of symptoms and how long those symptoms lasted. Chalupny, who also played for
the University of North Carolina and U.S. junior national teams, said doctors have diagnosed her with a concussion five or six times.
While with the U.S. senior
team in 2006, she suffered one against France, sidelining her for four months. Two years later, in the opening match at the Olym- pics, U.S. goalkeeper Hope Solo inadvertently punched her in the head on a clearing attempt. Chal- upny left that game, missed the next match and returned to play in the last four. Last winter at a U.S. training
camp, she was bumped from be- hind during an exercise, and while falling, was struck in the head by a kicked ball. After rest- ing for two weeks, she said she felt fine, but upon resuming prac- tice, began suffering headaches “that wouldn’t go away.” The USSF medical staff grew
concerned, she said, and took a closer look at her records. Eche- mendia reviewed her case and “toldmeI should retire,” she said. “It was an unbelievable shock, to think that I would never be able to play again.” With her symptoms dissipat-
ing, however, Chalupny sought other opinions and, she said, was examined by multiple concussion specialists who told her she could resume playing. “I can’t say they didn’t have
reservations,” said Chalupny, who, since shifting to the left side of the back line from midfield for the national team, has become one of the best in the world at her position. “I know that I am not invinci-
ble and I don’t want to take chances, but [the doctors] were pretty positive. If any of them had said no, I would’ve stopped.” In the spring, Chalupny began
her second year with WPS’s St. Louis Athletica. Six games into the season, after the club folded, Atlanta took interest in signing her. First, though, the Beat want- ed to learn more about her past head injuries. “We were somewhat con-
cerned and had a long talk with her,” Beat General Manager Shawn McGee said. “She was cleared by six or seven doctors before she sawour doctor and we were satisfied that she could con- tinue to play.” Chalupny, however, did take precautions. “It’s in the back of my mind,” she said. “I’m not doing 2,000 head balls in prac- tice.” Through the remainder of the
season,Chalupny said she did not suffer any setbacks, a claim sup- ported byMcGee.TheUSSF, how- ever, has stood firm. “I don’t have any bad feelings
toward them and I’mgrateful for the opportunity given to me,” she said. “There is part of me that wishes they would reconsider. It’s a difference of opinion. They’re looking out for my best interests —I get that—but I feel fine.”
goffs@washpost.com
The Indianapolis Colts have suspended punter Pat McAfee for one game after the 23-year- old was arrested for public in- toxication before dawnWednes- day.
Colts President Bill Polian an- nounced the suspension that will keep McAfee out of next Monday night’sAFCSouthgame againstHouston. The Colts have a bye this weekend. Polian said the team will have
no additional comment. McAfee was arrested for pub-
lic intoxicationWednesday after police said he took a pre-dawn swim in a city canal and told them “I am drunk” as he tried to explainwhy he was soppingwet. Police arrested McAfee about 5 a.m. in theBroadRipple neigh- borhood, a trendy area known for its nightlife. Officers say the 23-year-old, second-year player from West Virginia had a blood-alcohol content of 0.15 percent, nearly twice the legal limit for driving in Indiana. He was released from custody just before noon. “Certainly not pleased,”
Coach Jim Caldwell said with one of the sternest expressions he’s shown in two seasons as head coach. “Very disappointed in what happened and once we have all of the information, we’ll take action at that time.” According to the police re-
port,McAfee was asked whether he was swimming in the canal and answered, “I am not sure.” When he was asked why he was wet, McAfee responded, “It was
Punter’s public intoxication incident irks Coach Caldwell
gations he sent suggestive mes- sages and lewdphotos two years ago to a woman who worked for theNewYork Jets. Speaking on a conference call
MATT ROURKE/ASSOCIATED PRESS
QuarterbackKevinKolb, above, gets his third straight start for Philadelphia in the wake ofMichael Vick’s injury.
raining.” When he was asked where his shirt was, McAfee said, “Inthewater.”Andwhenhe was asked how much he had to drink,McAfee said, “A lot, ’cause I’mdrunk.” AlsoWednesday, the Colts put
safety Brandon King (ham- string) on injured reserve and re-signed tight end Gijon Robin- son. King is the Colts’ sixth defensive back and fourth safety to go on injured reserve this season. l EAGLES: Coach Andy Reid
said that Kevin Kolb will be his starting quarterback for Sun- day’s game against Tennessee. It will be the third straight start for Kolb, and the fourth straight game in which he has seen ex- tensive action, in thewake of the rib injuryMichael Vick suffered in an Oct. 3 loss toWashington. Reid also said wide receiver
DeSean Jackson will not play against the Titans after suffer- ing a concussion when he ab- sorbed a hit from Atlanta cor- nerback Dunta Robinson. l VIKINGS: Quarterback
Brett Favre isn’t talking about his meeting on Tuesday with an NFL official regarding the alle-
with reporters in Green Bay ahead ofSunday night’s Vikings- Packers game, Favre called the NFL’s investigation into his al- legedbehavior a “leaguematter.” Minutes later, he also declined to answer a series of questions about the situation in his weekly Wednesday news conference withMinnesota media. l RAVENS:EdReed is back at
practice after spending the past six weeks recovering from off- season hip surgery. Reed, a six- time Pro Bowl safety, practiced for the first time onWednesday. He will be activated from the physically-unable-to-perform list this week and hopes to play Sunday against Buffalo. l RAIDERS: Coach Tom Ca-
ble may wait until Sunday to name a starting quarterback for this week’s game at Denver. Withstarter BruceGradkows-
ki limited because of a sore throwing shoulder, backups Ja- son Campbell and Kyle Boller split reps in practice and punter Shane Lechler even took a hand- ful of snaps. Campbell, who began the sea-
son as Oakland’s starter before being benched at halftime in Week 2 against St. Louis, has a sore left knee that was injured in last week’s 17-9 loss to San Fran- cisco. Campbell, acquired from Washington in an offseason trade, completed only 8 of 21 attempts for 83 yards and a career-low 10.7 rating. l BROWNS: Cleveland has
lost starting defensive end Robaire Smith (back) and offen- sive right tackle Tony Pashos (ankle) to season-ending inju- ries and both were placed on injured reserve.
look at the fullness of life, it doesn’t make sense to gamble yourhealthonasport.Hopefully you’re going to be a productive member of society and provide for your family for much longer than you play.” In a telephone interview
Wednesday, he said: “Lastweek- end alone, there were tremen- dous collisions. Those collisions certainly had short-term health implications for those players, and it’s not a stretch to think there could be long-term impli- cations as well. More has to be done.” The NFL officially notified
GREGORY SHAMUS/GETTY IMAGES
Steelers linebacker James Harrison threatened to retire after he was one of three players fined for illegal hits.
on Twitter that he had “no bad will” towardHarrison.He called the hit part of the game and wrote: “It isunfortunate,but our sport is brutal.” Washington Redskins corner-
back Carlos Rogers called the fines “ridiculous” and said: “Some guys, it wasn’t even head to head. It was just a tough collision. That happens in foot- ball. We’re playing football. It’s not PopWarner. It’s not flag.” Mark Schlereth, a former of-
fensive linemanfor theRedskins and Denver Broncoswho nowis anNFLanalyst forESPN, saidon the cable network that the league was being hypocritical. The hits help make the sport popular, Schlereth said on the air, and he suggested that play- ers should play two-hand-touch games this weekend and gauge fan interest in that. “I’m sorry people get hurt,”
Schlereth said on ESPN. “But that’s thegamewe signedupfor.” FormerNewYorkGiants line-
backer Harry Carson said by telephone: “I think they feel they have to do what they can to reduce the violence.But the real- ity is, football is a violent sport. . . . It’s up to the players to play a certain way. You understand you’re out there to make a play and not hurt someone. But . . . you’re coached to be aggressive, to hit the guy, to protect your area. If your play is affected because you’re not being aggres- sive, the coaches are going to replace you. You almost feel those players are darned if they do and darned if they don’t.” But some supported the
league’s stance. “I can empathize with that,”
former Giants defensive line- man George Martin, now the executive director ofNFL Alum- ni, saidof the views expressedby someplayers. “I spent 14 years in that environment. I understand that.At the same time,whenyou
teams and playersWednesday of its new enforcement plan. Com- missioner Roger Goodell sent a memo to the teams accompa- nied by a message and a video showing examples of legal and illegal hits. Each team’s head coach is to show the video and read the message to assistant coaches and players, the league announced. “It is incumbent on all of us to
support the rules we have in place toprotectplayers,”Goodell said in awritten statement. Themessage that is to be read
to players and coaches says that coaches and teams that fail to teach proper techniques to play- ers also are subject to potential discipline. TheNFL fined Patriots safety
Brandon Meriweather and Fal- cons cornerback Dunta Robin- son $50,000 apiece for illegal hits Sunday.Meriweather apolo- gized Wednesday, saying he would “play within the rules” fromnowon. “I’m sorry for the hit,” Meri-
weather said. “I understand the league is trying to protect the health of all our players.” RayAnderson, theNFL’s exec-
utive vice president of football operations, said Monday the league is not creating new rules but stepping up enforcement of current rules prohibiting hits to the head of defenseless players, including quarterbacks in the middle of throwing passes and receiverswhoarecatchingthem. At an owners’ meeting last
week in Chicago, the league’s competition committee showed the owners a video of legal hits on receivers, including one by Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis on New York Jets tight end Dustin Keller in the season opener. “A lot of the times when you
make rule changes, the quick reactionis, ‘Youcan’thit anyone. You can’t play defense any more,’ ” Falcons President Rich McKay, the co-chairman of the competition committee, said last week in Chicago. “But peo- ple find over time that’s not true.”
maskem@washpost.com
Staff writer Barry Svrluga contributed to this report.
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