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While college football and the NFL aren’t directly related, the professional league often leads the way on issues of change in the game.
That’s what made a comment from Jeff Miller, who serves as the NFL’s senior VP for health and safety, at Monday’s congressional round table so significant.
According to the Associated Press, Miller made the first known concession by a league representation in the discussion about links between the brain disease CTE and the game of football.
Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D-Illinois) asked Miller: “Do you think there is a link between football and degenerative brain disorders like CTE?”
Miller began by referencing the work of Boston University neuropathologist Dr. Ann McKee, who has found CTE in the brains of 90 former pro football players.
“Well, certainly, Dr. McKee’s research shows that a number of retired NFL players were diagnosed with CTE, so the answer to that question is certainly ‘yes,’ but there are also a number of questions that come with that,” Miller said.
Schakowsky repeated the question: “Is there a link?”
“Yes. Sure,” Miller responded.
That’s a big step in having an open, honest discussion about making the game safer for future generations at all levels of play.
Recently, former Alabama QB Ken Stabler became another name on the growing list of former players that are found to have suffered from the disease following their deaths.
Nick Cole is a former print journalist with several years of experience covering the SEC. Born and raised in SEC country, he has taken in the game-day experience at all 14 stadiums.
