Data Shows Head Injuries Harm NFL Players

The data is in, according to The New York Times, which reported today on a of the health of NFL players found that among those aged 30 to 49, the incidence of "dementia, Alzheimer’s disease, or other memory-related disease" is 19 times the national average, at 1.9 percent. Among those over 60, the rate was over 6 percent.

The study, conducted by University of Michigan Institute of Social Research covered 1,063 retired players in 2008. It should be taken seriously, especially by those running programs in high schools and colleges where kids often play through injuries and pay a permanent cost for it.

The Times article concludes:

"The league insisted that it was doing so only because the disease “affects many elderly people” well beyond N.F.L. players. And a pamphlet that the league gives every player about concussion risks states, 'Research is currently under way to determine if there are any long-term effects of concussion in N.F.L. athletes.'

'It's time to edit that brochure,' said Kevin Mawae of the Tennessee Titans, the president of the N.F.L. Players Association. 'Now it's in their words and not just other people's.'"

Notes About Lines

How ever good a player is, they won't have much of an impact unless they get more than 10 minutes a night or their name is Radulov.

Since Radulov's in Russia, I strongly recommend this excellent article from NHL.com about line combinations.

In ATLANTA, it's all about who gets to play with Kovalchuk, the guy who once scored six in a youth all star game. Right now, that looks like Antropov plus somebody else.

In BOSTON, it's about who gets to play with Savard, who put up a somewhat quiet 88 points in 82 games last year. Right now, the only person with a guaranteed spot on that line in Lucic.

Okposo's Concussion

The CBS Fantasy Hockey website has a great player news feature that today has disturbing information: Okposo was concussed by Dion Phaneuf during a game in Calgary yesterday.

I think this should take Okposo off your draft list -- and I hope that Okposo gets time to rest and heal.

I especially hope that Okposo doesn't play in the next Islanders game.

The NHL needs to take concussions seriously.

Brassard is for real

Derick Brassard was doing better than a point per game for the Columbus Blue Jackets when he got into a fight and sustained a shoulder injury that ended his season.

With a new contract worth $12.8 million over 4 years, Brassard's coach has to put him in a position to score. Expect much from him this year.