The NFL’s concussion problem is only getting worse.
After the NFL pulled $16 million in funding from a concussion research study by the National Institutes for Health in March, a congressional investigation has produced a report finding the NFL did so after attempting to improperly influence the research.
ESPN’s “Outside the Lines” obtained the 91-page report, which notes the NFL — unhappy with the selection of Boston University’s Dr. Robert Stern, who previously had been critical of the league — tried to direct the study to other candidates, then backed out of a signed deal to pay for more than half of the $30 million study looking into to delve deeper into the relationship between the sport and CTE when their appeals weren’t granted.
The cost was turned over to taxpayers, a result the NFL was told would happen if it backed out.
“In this instance, our investigation has shown that while the NFL had been publicly proclaiming its role as funder and accelerator of important research, it was privately attempting to influence that research,” the report says. “The NFL’s actions violated policies that prohibit private donors from interfering in the NIH peer-review process, the report concludes, and were part of a ‘long-standing pattern of attempts’ by the league to shape concussion research for its own purposes.”
NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy said: “We are reviewing the [Congressional] report but categorically reject any suggestion of improper influence.”
The study, scheduled to start next week, is attempting to create a test that can be used to detect CTE in living patients. Currently, the degenerative brain condition linked to concussions only can be found posthumously.
“Once you get anybody who’s heavily involved with the NFL trying to influence what kind of research takes place, you break that chain that guarantees the integrity, and that’s what I think is so crucial here,” New Jersey congressman Frank Pallone Jr. told ESPN. “Fortunately, the NIH didn’t take the bait. It shouldn’t be a rigged game. If it is, then people won’t really know whether what we’re finding through this research is accurate.”
NFLPA executive director DeMaurice Smith appeared Monday on “SportsCenter” to denounce the league’s actions.
“It’s one of the most troubling and disturbing reports I’ve seen,” Smith said. “It reaffirms the fact that the league has its own view about how they care about players in the NFL.”
Members of the NFL’s rank and file used social media to express their own outrage over Congress’ report. Seahawks wide receiver Doug Baldwin wrote on Twitter: Hey @nflcommish, it’s issues and articles like this in which we are talking about. We are waiting…”