As would any coach concerned about the safety of his players, the Broncos’ Mike Shanahan was interested in learning about a study released this week about the effects of concussions.
The study, conducted by Kevin Guskiewicz of the University of North Carolina’s Center for the Study of Retired Athletes, found that NFL players who incurred at least three concussions during their pro careers were three times as likely to develop clinical depression than those with no concussions.
“Obviously, we’re more educated that we used to be,” Shanahan said. “It used to be that, ‘Hey, you had a headache for a couple of days.’ People never even thought about a concussion. If you had two, three or four concussions, that was thought to be kind of typical.
“Now, there is a lot more research. That can only help.”
The North Carolina study analyzed 2,500 retired players. The data only included concussions incurred by players during their NFL careers.
NFL spokesman Greg Aiello told The Associated Pres that the study, while interesting, “does not prove anything, and we want to know more.” Aiello said the league is spending $2 million to conduct its own study of retired players.
“Football is a very dangerous sport, and there are a lot of players who have had lasting effects long after they finished playing,” Broncos cornerback Domonique Foxworth said. “The ongoing research is really important to protect the players and to protect the league.”
Foxworth said he never has been diagnosed with a concussion.
“But I did have my bell rung” a couple of times,” he said. “It’s better to err on the side of caution.”
Staff Writer Tom Kensler can be reached at 303-954-1280 or tkensler@denverpost.com
