NFL Rumors 2016: League Finally Acknowledges Football's Connection to CTE
For all those decades of American football and the full contact type of sport that it is, the NFL has dodged questions and claims that there is a link between the sport and a degenerative brain disease referred to as CTE or chronic traumatic encephalopathy. There have been quite a number of cases reported involving retired players who died and were subsequently diagnosed to have been suffering from the disease.
And while the league has been successful in avoiding the issue, the time has come that they had to make a stand and accept the fact. For the first time in the league's history, a senior official publicly admitted that there in fact is a link. According to Jeff Miller, the NFL senior vice president for health, there certainly is, while responding to a question from U.S. Representative Jan Schakowksy (Illinois) during the roundtable discussions centered on concussions by the U.S House of Representatives' Committee on Energy and Commerce.
Per ESPN.com, Rep. Schakowsky asked Miller, "Do you think there is a link between football and degenerative brain disorders like CTE?" Much to the surprise of the several people watching the coverage, Miller said, "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."
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According to CBS, Miller was referring to Dr. Ann McKee, who led a study from Boston University that revealed a stunning fact - more than 95 percent of deceased players were found to have been suffering from CTE.
Though it isn't clear as of this posting if Miller's answer was a representation of the league's actual stance, the NFL actually previously admitted that constant head trauma may and can result to future health problems, although there wasn't any particular mention of CTE. This admission was in 2009, when the campaign to study CTE wasn't contemplated. However, it cannot be denied that the disease forms part of what his called as a "health problem" directly caused by head trauma.
The admission may move mountains and put a dent on the reputation of one of the most watched and popular professional sports league in the U.S., but in no way it will ruin the sport.
