Richard Sherman savagely mocks the NFL as an 'absolute joke'
If you ask Seattle Seahawks cornerback Richard Sherman a direct question, you can expect a straight answer.
On a Q&A he did with fans on The Players’ Tribune, Sherman was asked what he thought of the NFL’s concussion protocol, and he didn’t mince words.
“I think it’s an absolute joke,” Sherman said.
“It’s for public opinion for them to show the public that they care about the players, they care about player safety,” he said.
“In a show of good faith and good will, they said we’re going to have an independent trauma expert, an independent neurologist, approve people and the same things are happening that were happening before,” continued the three-time All-Pro.
He cited a concussion that Texans quarterback Tom Savage suffered when he was sacked by the 49ers Elvis Dumervil in Week 14. Savage was clearly rattled by the hit, and he left the game with a concussion, only to return later. He was ultimately taken out of the game again after showing more signs of concussion. That was Savage’s last game of the season.
After the game, the league called the handling of Savage by the team “unacceptable.” As a result of that situation, the league changed the concussion protocol to add further measures to protect players.
But Sherman said the league should take the blame too.
“The Tom Savage play, where he was looked at by an independent neurologist … they approved him to go back into the game and now the team is being ridiculed,” added Sherman.
“How about the league gets ridiculed for letting him go back in the game because they approved it. The independent neurologist, which is hired by the league, approved for him to go back into the game,” he said.
Sherman was also asked if he’d let his kids play football, given the concerns about CTE.
“Yes. Yes, I’m going to let my kids play football,” he responded.
.@RSherman_25's thoughts on the NFL's concussion protocol?
"I think it's an absolute joke."
(Created on the Galaxy S8) @SamsungMobileUS pic.twitter.com/ncp4AkevL6
— The Players' Tribune (@PlayersTribune) January 11, 2018
“It’s the ultimate team sport,” said Sherman. “It teaches discipline. It teaches team work, accountability, dependability. I think it will help overcoming fear, being courageous.
“I know how to tackle and I know how to play the game. I’m going to teach my kids to play the right way and they’ll be fine.”
Sherman ruptured his Achilles in a Thursday night game against Arizona in November and missed the rest of the season.
The injury-depleted Seahawks finished the season 9-7 and missed the playoffs.
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