Brewer’s Career Over?

[Trice]

I had turned off the TV and missed the hit on Brewer in the second half. But I give ESPN credit last night for talking so openly in the first half about Brewer's concussion from the Big 12 championship game. They mentioned him being in a dark room for a week and showed footage of the officials removing him from the game after his coaches put him back in.

Amazingly, Rhule's training staff "failed" to see it until an official pointed it out. How he didn't catch more hell for that, I have no idea.

 

[PabloDiablo]

With his concussion history how was he even cleared to play in this game . Austin Gomez who has concussion history got a minor concussion in practice in Nov and was just recently cleared to train but not compete.

Every concussion is going to recover differently and every person is going to recover differently, it's really what makes concussion management such a difficult concept. There is a ton of gray area in the time table as opposed to some other injuries and mostly relies on the report of the athlete.

The entire care team has a responsibility to ensure the athlete understands the significance of their injury and what the short and long term sequela can be if not managed correctly.

IMO, independent medical teams should be involved in every head trauma recovery discussion. You want to give these people the benefit of the doubt with decisions about athletes but when there is secondary gains like wins/losses and financial gains, motivations should always be under scrutiny with the athletes best interest at the center of care plans.

 

[Trice]

Every concussion is going to recover differently and every person is going to recover differently, it's really what makes concussion management such a difficult concept. There is a ton of gray area in the time table as opposed to some other injuries and mostly relies on the report of the athlete.

The entire care team has a responsibility to ensure the athlete understands the significance of their injury and what the short and long term sequela can be if not managed correctly.

IMO, independent medical teams should be involved in every head trauma recovery discussion. You want to give these people the benefit of the doubt with decisions about athletes but when there is secondary gains like wins/losses and financial gains, motivations should always be under scrutiny with the athletes best interest at the center of care plans.

That's the key, IMO. It's simply not possible to remove the conflict of interest from a decision like this when medical staffs are part of the teams/schools. Baylor arguably abused that against OU and aside from a little subtle shaming on last night's broadcast, paid no price for it. Who knows what long-term damage Brewer might suffer as a result.

 

[VeloClone]

That's the key, IMO. It's simply not possible to remove the conflict of interest from a decision like this when medical staffs are part of the teams/schools. Baylor arguably abused that against OU and aside from a little subtle shaming on last night's broadcast, paid no price for it. Who knows what long-term damage Brewer might suffer as a result.

You would hope that recruits' parents are watching and noticing this.

 

[BillBrasky4Cy]

After watching Rhule spit all over his art smock maybe he's the one that should be in concussion protocol.

 

[Remo Gaggi]

At this rate, by the time November 14 rolls around, Chucky might be concussed into retirement.

 

[hunttr82]

The AP article had this about the hit. I wasn't watching when it happened, just posting what Baylor/Rhule said.

--Baylor coach Matt Rhule said Brewer did not appear concussed this time. Medical staff was concerned about possible spinal and neck injuries. Rhule expected Brewer to be monitored overnight, but added that early indications were the injuries were not career threatening.

"It's scary when they were holding his head and stabilize his neck and he's yelling at them to let go of him and let him go back in the game," Rhule said. "He's a great player whose best football is in front of him."

https://www.espn.com/college-football/recap?gameId=401135289

 

[VeloClone]

The AP article had this about the hit. I wasn't watching when it happened, just posting what Baylor/Rhule said.

--Baylor coach Matt Rhule said Brewer did not appear concussed this time. Medical staff was concerned about possible spinal and neck injuries. Rhule expected Brewer to be monitored overnight, but added that early indications were the injuries were not career threatening.

"It's scary when they were holding his head and stabilize his neck and he's yelling at them to let go of him and let him go back in the game," Rhule said. "He's a great player whose best football is in front of him."

https://www.espn.com/college-football/recap?gameId=401135289

They were concerned about spinal and neck injuries and they don't back board him but instead take him off sitting on the back of a golf cart without even hanging on to him?

 

[cyrocksmypants]

That's the key, IMO. It's simply not possible to remove the conflict of interest from a decision like this when medical staffs are part of the teams/schools. Baylor arguably abused that against OU and aside from a little subtle shaming on last night's broadcast, paid no price for it. Who knows what long-term damage Brewer might suffer as a result.

A while back I read a book called “You’re ok, it’s just a bruise” about the Raiders medical staff in the 70s and 80s and how they would throw players out there that absolutely should not be out there because of the pressure from ownership and coaching staffs and the importance to win.

It’s remarkable how little progress businesses like the NFL and NCAA have made in those 40 years despite all of the medical and technological progress that has been made in that same time.

 

[Trice]

A while back I read a book called “You’re ok, it’s just a bruise” about the Raiders medical staff in the 70s and 80s and how they would throw players out there that absolutely should not be out there because of the pressure from ownership and coaching staffs and the importance to win.

It’s remarkable how little progress businesses like the NFL and NCAA have made in those 40 years despite all of the medical and technological progress that has been made in that same time.

I agree, yet at the same time I think pro sports franchises in particular (and even some college programs) have realized the value of having a good training staff in attracting free agents or recruits - or even just day-to-day performance.

So that's a positive. But it does nothing to change the behavior of the bottom-feeders. That's why you have to have rules.

 

[cyrocksmypants]

I agree, yet at the same time I think pro sports franchises in particular (and even some college programs) have realized the value of having a good training staff in attracting free agents or recruits - or even just day-to-day performance.

So that's a positive. But it does nothing to change the behavior of the bottom-feeders. That's why you have to have rules.

Even the best training staffs can still put players out there when they shouldn’t be. The only way to start to fix this problem is having training staffs unaffiliated with the schools/franchises.

 

[dualthreat]

Didn't Mike Defee have to tell him he couldn’t play to get him off the field in the big 12 championship? Wouldn’t surprise me

As a coach myself, coaches see injuries when they happen most of the time. With the hit Brewer took in the CCC I completely believe Rhule didn't think the injury was serious. I'll take his side on that.

Regarding Brewer going forward, hang it up man. Football ain't worth permanent brain damage. A lot of guys are lucky and never experience those kinds of injuries but you aren't one of them. Great career, but just please stop now.

 

[dualthreat]

Not sure I believe what Rhule said. What head coach isn't paying attention to his star QB getting a concussion exam? Only one who wants his QB to play no matter what.

Certainly possible, but the training staff cleared him and it wasn't like the hit he took was noticeably vicious. Pretty standard for a big time football game. Rhule has a hundred things on his mind during a game and if the training staff says he's good, he probably didn't put any more thought into it. Give him a pass

 

[Trice]

Even the best training staffs can still put players out there when they shouldn’t be. The only way to start to fix this problem is having training staffs unaffiliated with the schools/franchises.

In principle, I agree. In practice, having a training staff totally separate from the organization seems difficult to do. But particularly as it pertains to head/concussion issues, I don't see any reason why a neutral third party couldn't be on site during games to take those decisions out of the hands of training staffs.

 

[isufbcurt]

As a coach myself, coaches see injuries when they happen most of the time. With the hit Brewer took in the CCC I completely believe Rhule didn't think the injury was serious. I'll take his side on that.

Regarding Brewer going forward, hang it up man. Football ain't worth permanent brain damage. A lot of guys are lucky and never experience those kinds of injuries but you aren't one of them. Great career, but just please stop now.

I mean that is up to the individual. Maybe it isn't worth it to you, but I would keep playing without hesitation.

 

[khardbored]

I read this morning That last night when he went down he was yelling at the training staff and doctors to let him up so he can get back in the game and play.

And that's why training staff should make the decision, and not the player.

 

[BCClone]

Even the best training staffs can still put players out there when they shouldn’t be. The only way to start to fix this problem is having training staffs unaffiliated with the schools/franchises.

Problem is how you get unaffiliated completely. Local school uses a solid PT company at games, but when you write them a check you always have a small affiliation.

 

[VeloClone]

Problem is how you get unaffiliated completely. Local school uses a solid PT company at games, but when you write them a check you always have a small affiliation.

At the NCAA level it could be as easy as the league of the home team providing the unaffiliated professional. It is essentially what is done with officiating which also is supposed to be impartial.

 

[Urbandale2013]

The whole CCG thing makes me kind of think Brewer has done some hiding of it and knows kind of the tricks to pass. Still should have been caught and Baylor doesn’t deserve the benefit of the doubt but I think it’s partly a player issue too.

 

[jsb]

Yeah, something is really fishy about this whole situation. Brewer didn't look like he had a head or a neck injury last night. He looked like he had another concussion.

He said he had to spend a week in a dark room after the championship game. That's a pretty bad concussion and frankly I'm surprised he was cleared to play for the bowl game.

I hope the kid has people in his corner, because I don't think his coach is.