NFL Gives Concussion Spotters Given Power To Stop Game If They Spot Someone With Symptoms

Concussions have been a major topic of discussion for the NFL the last few years. Besides the lawsuits being filed against the league by former players, there has been a serious push to reduce situations were concussions commonly occur. The league has been making every effort to get better at diagnosing them so that players can be better protected.

This latest rule change should go a long way towards helping that.

Concussion spotters in the press box will now have the power to stop play should they spot someone they feel is displaying concussion like symptoms. Neither team will be charged with a timeout and the player will have to stay out at least as long as it takes to be tested.

The change is intended to protect guys like Julian Edelman who was clobbered by Kam Chancellor during the Super Bowl last season. He looked like he may have had a concussion, but the team did not want to stop the up-tempo play pace they had going so they waited till the drive was over to test him.

Edelman passed the test, but since symptoms can disappear withing minutes that does not mean he didn't have one.

[CBSSports]

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