BEREA, Ohio — Although James Harrison’s devastating, illegal hit on Colt McCoy was witnessed by millions on television and thousands at Pittsburgh’s Heinz Field, the Cleveland Browns’ medical staff didn’t realize the severity of the blow when it treated the QB.
That was the explanation given by Browns president Mike Holm- gren on Wednesday, one day after NFL medical officials and representatives of the NFL Players Association met with the Browns to discuss the team’s controversial handling of McCoy’s head injury and possible changes to the league’s policies on concussions.
Holmgren doesn’t expect the league to penalize the Browns, who didn’t know McCoy had a concussion when they sent him back into last Thursday night’s game.
Holmgren said McCoy wasn’t checked for a concussion on the sideline after the hit because he wasn’t showing symptoms. Also, the team’s medical and training staffs were unaware of the impact of Harrison’s helmet-to-face mask hit because they were on the sideline working on other injured players.
“I want to make something very, very clear here,” said Holmgren, who was emotional when discussing the topic and others. “No coach that I know, certainly not our head coach, would ever overrule a doctor and put a kid in a game where a doctor said you can’t play. I never did it. Pat (Shurmur) will never do it. It’s not happening.”
McCoy was sent home before practice Wednesday because of a headache and it’s doubtful he will play Sunday when the Browns meet the Arizona Cardinals.
The Associated Press
