74 replies to this topic

[jtnc]

Former Redskins and Panthers running back Stephen Davis said Wednesday he’s beginning to have problems with short-term memory, and he added another name to the growing docket of concussion lawsuits.

Davis, 38, told Nathan Fenno of the Washington Times he’s having trouble remembering conversations with his wife or paying bills.

“Looking at the results and they’re not that good,” Davis said of a recent visit to a neurologist. “I need to get special treatment, further treatment to try and get it taken care of.

“A lot of things scare me a whole lot, and it bothers me because there isn’t no telling what day I’ll forget everything.”

Davis filed his lawsuit last week, one of more than 2,600 former players to have done so. He said he can’t remember how many concussions he sustained, but said there would be multiple ones in the span of a few weeks.

“The coaches and doctors try to get you back on the field regardless of if you’re hurt or not hurt or have a concussion,” he said. “It’s more about getting you back on the field than making sure you’re OK.

“If you could put your hand on your nose, you were good to go back in.”

Davis said he needs background noise like a television to drown out the ringing in his ears, and complains of severe headaches. There are physical issues too from his career as a bruising runner, who amassed 8,052 yards and 65 touchdowns. He needs a knee replacement and is having shoulder problems as well, making getting out of a bed or a car an issue.

http://profootballta...ng-memory-loss/

[CarolinaPanthers8789]

Poor guy, he was truly one of the Panthers great players in recent history.

[mav1234]

Davis will always be one of my favorite Panthers, and I will always remember his time here. He is part of perhaps some of my happiest Panther moments. It breaks my heard to hear that he is having these issues, because I wish the guy nothing but the best.

But as much as I like him, I kind of feel that some of these lawsuits are a bit disingenuous. The hiding of concussions etc is not an issue that can solely be blamed on "the NFL," and if anything at least the NFL is now trying to implement things to prevent them. That isn't to say they deserve no responsibility in care of veterans today, they do.

I know my brother deliberately lied to his coaches to get back into games in high school after concussions. I have a hard time believing he was the only one doing it, and I have a much harder time believing that behavior didn't occur at every level.

Undoubtedly there is some responsibility here of the league and current players to take care of former players when injuries sustained during football manifest in new ways that just weren't understood back when many of these vets were playing, but I just can't get completely behind the players in this because there was some level of consent given to many risks when they suited up. Legally that might not hold up, I don't know, but I can't help but wonder if they really thought there would be absolutely no lasting side effects from ramming their (albeit helmeted) head into other people.

[La Pantera]

Hell I can't remember poo either... comes with age.

[weymouthst]

Its no secret. Your wearing a helmet playing a violent sport. Your head is going to get knocked around, some positions more than others. No one is making you play the sport. You get paid, very well, to play.

Personal responsibility. Don't want to take the risk? Stop playing. Or learn to know when you should stop. Do I feel bad? Yes, the guy was a fantastic football player. But who else do you have to blame for the personal choice you made?

[Building Leaper]

These guys made tons of money and knew what they were doing. Take responsibilty for your own actions. Passing blame on to others is why the world is in the shape its in. shameful imo.

[Floppin]

Well as long as he's suing his childhood county of residence's parks and rec, as well as his middle school, high school, and university, then all's fair.

[Gallagher]

Same thing happens if you smoke too much weed. Write it off as a hazard of being a multi-millionaire, professional athlete and quit complaining, I'd say.

[thatlookseasy]

Do you guys really think players knew the long term consequences of concussions 10-15 years ago?

I mean for god sake they didnt even come out of the game

[Montsta]

When will they start naming the pop warner organizations they played for, as well high schools and the NCAA? Because surely these guys didn't sustain all their concussions at the pro level.

I really like Stephen Davis but I feel like these lawsuits are out of control. I'm going to organize every single administrative assistant across the country to sue their employers because they were never warned about the dangers of tendinitis and carpal tunnel from typing on keyboards all day.

When you work at a job long enough, poo is gonna start breaking down on your body.

[Floppin]

When will they start naming the pop warner organizations they played for, as well high schools and the NCAA? Because surely these guys didn't sustain all their concussions at the pro level.

I really like Stephen Davis but I feel like these lawsuits are out of control. I'm going to organize every single administrative assistant across the country to sue their employers because they were never warned about the dangers of tendinitis and carpal tunnel from typing on keyboards all day.

When you work at a job long enough, poo is gonna start breaking down on your body.

We are on the exact same wave length. That's fuging creepy. I had just posted about all the other levels of play and then I was coming back in here to make a sarcastic remark about people who work on computers and suing over carpal tunnel.

[Montsta]

We are on the exact same wave length. That's fuging creepy. I had just posted about all the other levels of play and then I was coming back in here to make a sarcastic remark about people who work on computers and suing over carpal tunnel.

Lol. Great minds and all that I guess...

[Calculus Entropy]

Do you guys really think players knew the long term consequences of concussions 10-15 years ago?

I mean for god sake they didnt even come out of the game

This is a slippery slope. I remember there being reports back in e day that running backs took beatings that we're the equivalent of being in a head on collision car wreck. That was anecdotally reported but there was no real movement by the nflpa or the players to do anything about it. I guess at the time it was not seen as a potential revenue stream.

[panthers34]

thats sad

[TheRed]

Everyone wants to get rich but don't want any consequences. Just doesn't work out that way. I have nothing but respect for Stephen Davis and wish him well. It is sad to hear about this from him and other former players. Everyday decisions that don't seem like a big deal at the time can alter the rest of your life. I don't think it's fair to just solely vilify the nfl. For one the nflpa is utterly worthless and their stance in all this bounty crap has solidified that, retired players may as well not even exist to them. All in all the league does need to focus more attention on former players and research these problems so they can prevent them as much as possible for new players.