For the first time, a team has been fined under the NFL’s new medical penalty system.

As a result of what happened (or didn’t happen) with quarterback Russell Wilson in a game on Nov. 9, the Seahawks were fined $100,000. Additionally, the team’s coaches and medical staff have to attend remedial training on the league’s concussion protocol.

The Seahawks accepted the findings but said, “We did not knowingly disregard the Concussion Protocol. Any misstep was unintentional and the result of confusion on the sideline.”

That is actually plausible, and we said so at the time.


When an offensive tackle reports as eligible, the referee has to indicate it to the world with a signal and microphone announcement. So it seemed silly that all that was previously required was to point a player to the sideline. It is easy to see how confusion can happen.

Indeed, the protocol is now changed, as we predicted six weeks ago.

Instead of a formal signal, as we suggested, the referee is now required to take the player “directly to a member of the medical team for a concussion assessment” instead of just pointing to the sideline.

Perhaps there also should be a rule that in order for the player to return, the head athletic trainer needs to personally inform the referee that the athlete is cleared. That would avoid a future misunderstanding that results in a player re-inserting himself to the game.


Thursday’s announcement is a positive step and a sign the NFL is taking in-game head trauma seriously, but there are remaining questions.

If the Seahawks purposefully violated the protocol, then this penalty is a slap on the wrist. The commissioner is allowed to dock a team of draft picks if it is found the team skirted the protocol for competitive reasons.

Could this be the NFL’s way to publicly attempt to show it is cracking down on the Seahawks without really penalizing them?

And why did it take more than six weeks to come to these conclusions?


This past Sunday, there were several issues involving rules questions, and they were addressed the same day (and no later than the following day).

I understand the penalty phase in a possible concussion protocol violation can take six weeks. But why not let the public know six weeks ago that the referee sent Wilson to the sideline for a concussion check and how it happened that the Seahawks staff evaluated Wilson and he only complained about his jaw and was allowed to return.

This is why I continue to call for the NFL to be more transparent regarding concussions.

The league should allow the unaffiliated neurotrauma consultant (UNC) on each sideline to speak to a pool reporter after a game in which such a question arises. At the least, the NFL should have its chief medical officer speak to the media or make a comment the next day, as head of officiating Al Riveron does regarding rules issues.