{"id":11449,"date":"2017-01-26T22:06:24","date_gmt":"2017-01-27T03:06:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonprofootball.com\/?p=11449"},"modified":"2021-05-30T14:24:22","modified_gmt":"2021-05-30T18:24:22","slug":"miami-dolphins-nfl-concussion-protocol","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/2017\/01\/26\/miami-dolphins-nfl-concussion-protocol\/","title":{"rendered":"Miami Dolphins Did Not Follow NFL Concussion Protocol"},"content":{"rendered":"

The results are in from a joint review by the <\/span>NFL Players Association<\/span><\/a> and the NFL, and the determination is that the Miami Dolphins did not \u201cstrictly follow\u201d the NFL concussion protocol<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/a>when Matt Moore<\/a><\/strong> sustained a hit by the Steelers Bud Dupree<\/a><\/strong> in the January 8th AFC Wild Card\u00a0game. <\/span><\/p>\n

Miami Dolphins Did not Follow NFL Concussion Protocol<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Moore was popped in the jaw on the play, and Dupree was flagged for roughing the passer. Although Moore was bleeding from the mouth, which in itself should have triggered a further evaluation by the coaching staff, he reportedly did not show other signs of a concussion at any period after the hit. <\/span><\/p>\n

The Miami quarterback downplayed the hit after the game. \u201cI just got popped,\u201d he said. \u201cJust needed a second there, so I got checked out, felt fine. Was more my jaw than anything else.\u201d He missed only one play before returning to the field. <\/span><\/p>\n

Scrutiny<\/h2>\n

Still, the event is concerning considering all the scrutiny the NFL and teams have been under for <\/span>not reporting and downplaying the consequences of concussions<\/span><\/a>. The league and the players association did say that \u201ccompetitive issues\u201d were not the reason Moore returned to the game so quickly. <\/span><\/p>\n

Results<\/h2>\n

What are the consequences for the Dolphins? They must, as a staff, undergo a full review of the concussion protocol, and \u201cconduct additional education if necessary.\u201d It may seem like a slap on the wrist, but the offense was minor, and the league did offer a warning as part of their findings: if the Dolphins should have other \u201cdeviations from the protocol\u201d they could face\u00a0what was labeled as \u201cenhanced discipline.\u201d This could mean fines and at worst the loss of draft picks. <\/span><\/p>\n

Hopefully, this determination will serve as a warning to other teams. Follow the protocol, no matter what. If in doubt, leave him out. It\u2019s the same rules we demand coaches at the high school and college level play by, and the NFL needs to be held accountable too. <\/span><\/p>\n

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Embed from Getty Images<\/a><\/div>\n