If the NFL thought it had a concussion/brain damage crisis before, the revelations surrounding the death of Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Chris Henry could send a panic throughout the league.
Henry died in December 2009 when he fell from (or jumped from, this part is still unclear) a moving truck during a domestic altercation with his fiancée. It has been determined that Henry suffered from trauma-induced brain damage, otherwise known as C.T.E., a progressive form of brain damage. The original concern was that NFL players who had suffered numerous concussions throughout their career could one day develop brain damage, which most likely would appear later in their lives—certainly after their playing days were over and the limelight had faded.
Well, Henry was in this 20s—26 to be exact—and he was not a known repeat concussion sufferer, at least not based on NFL medical records. He died with the disease while still playing the game—the first known player to do so.
Henry’s death raises several valid and scary questions, not the least of which are:
- If Henry, who was 26 years old, had suffered from what many thought was an “older player’s” ailment, what does that say about the safety of not only NFL players, but also college, high school, and even youth league athletes?
- What kind of impression does this leave on current players? After all, the only way to diagnose this type of brain damage is after a player’s death, at which time the brain is thoroughly carved up and tested. Currently, there is no test to determine the affects of trauma while the player is alive. Current players must wonder, Just how many more hits can I take?
This appears to be a problem that affects all stages of football. And, who knows, it might also affect other contact sports as well. As of now, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, league and independent doctors, and researchers alike have a tough task ahead of them.
