kines league of denial

In basic terms, what is a concussion and what impact do concussions have on humans?

A concussion is a brain injury caused by a blow to the head or body that makes the brain move rapidly inside the skull. It can cause headaches, confusion, memory loss, mood changes, and long term if repeated

Who was Mike Webster? What happened to Mike Webster, particularly after he retired from professional football?

Mike Webster was a Hall of Fame center for the Pittsburgh Steelers, nicknamed “Iron Mike.” After retirement, he suffered severe mental and physical decline—memory loss, depression, erratic behavior, chronic pain, and homelessness. He eventually died at age 50.

Who are Steve Fainaru and Mark Fainaru Wada and what are they investigating? What other sports story did Mark Fainaru cover?

Steve Fainaru and Mark Fainaru Wada are investigative journalists who looked into the NFL’s knowledge and handling of concussions. Mark Fainaru-Wada also exposed the BALCO steroid scandal in Major League Baseball.

What kind of player was Mike Webster? What was his favorite “weapon” in the trench warfare of an NFL line?

Webster was tough, powerful, and disciplined—a model offensive lineman. His favorite “weapon” was his head, which he used to deliver blows in the trenches.

How often, and how hard do players hit each other’s heads over the course of a year?

NFL linemen collide head head-to-head thousands of times per season. Each impact can be as strong as a car crash, even if players don’t lose consciousness.

What symptoms of traumatic brain injury did Webster begin to show after he retired? What did he used to do with his teeth?

Webster became forgetful, paranoid, and emotionally unstable. He had chronic pain, couldn’t sleep, and sometimes lived out of his truck. He pulled out his own teeth and used superglue to stick them back in.

What is Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE)? Is there a cure for CTE?

CTE is a degenerative brain disease caused by repeated head trauma. It leads to memory loss, depression, aggression, and dementia. There is no cure.

What is a tau protein? What diseases are associated with excess tau proteins?

Tau is a protein that helps stabilize brain cells. When it builds up abnormally, it damages cells. Diseases like Alzheimer’s, dementia, and CTE are linked to excess tau.

When did “Monday Night Football” begin and how did it impact the popularity of the game?

It began in 1970. It brought football into prime-time television, making it a national spectacle and rapidly growing the sport’s popularity 

Does the NFL market violence? If so, how?

Yes. The league uses highlight reels of hard hits, collisions, and tackles to promote the toughness and entertainment value of football.

What are Troy Aikman’s “memories” of concussions?

He admitted he didn’t remember entire games after concussions, including a playoff game where he asked the same questions repeatedly.

As concerns over concussions grew, how did the NFL respond?

The NFL downplayed risks, insisting concussions were minor and players could return quickly.

What problems developed immediately as the NFL began to organize a plan to research concussions? Who did they choose to lead the studies and why was their selection a poor choice?

The NFL put team doctors and league insiders in charge, people with conflicts of interest. They were not independent scientists, so their studies lacked credibility.

What did the initial NFL committee on concussions conclude? How were their studies fundamentally flawed?

They claimed concussions had no lasting effects and players could safely return to games. The studies were flawed because they ignored serious cases, cherry picked data, and lacked scientific standards.

Who was Dr. Bennett Omalu and what did he find in Mike Webster’s brain?

Dr. Omalu was a Nigerian-born forensic pathologist. He discovered widespread tau protein damage in Webster’s brain, confirming CTE.

How does CTE alter behavior, and what signs did Webster exhibit toward the end of his life?

CTE affects mood, memory, and self- control, causing depression, aggression, paranoia, and poor decision-making. Webster showed all of these signs

How did the NFL react when Dr. Omalu tried to tell the league about his discoveries?

They dismissed his research, demanded retraction, and worked to discredit him.

Why do medical journals “retract” articles? What happened in this case?

Journals retract articles if research is flawed or inaccurate. In this case, the NFL pressured a journal to retract Omalu’s article even though his findings were solid.

How did the NFL attack Dr. Omalu to ruin his credibility? Why did the NFL engage in these attacks?

They claimed he was unqualified, exaggerated his results, and published “junk science.” The NFL attacked him to protect its image, profits, and players’ willingness to keep playing.

If Dr. Omalu was correct about his hypotheses, what impact would that have on the NFL?

It would mean football was inherently dangerous and could cause permanent brain damage, threatening the league’s future.

What happened when the NFL set up a research conference on brain injuries? What did they conclude about Dr. Omalu’s research? Did the NFL begin to change its concussion policies?

At the conference, the NFL dismissed Omalu’s findings and claimed concussions were not linked to long-term brain damage. They resisted changing policies

Who were Dr. Ann McKee and Christopher Nowinski? How did they get involved in the CTE research controversy? Why did Dr. McKee have a more reliable study than Dr. Omalu’s original study?

Dr. McKee: a neuropathologist at Boston University.; Chris Nowinski: a former Harvard football player and WWE wrestler who suffered concussions. They teamed up to study brains of former players. McKee’s work was more reliable because she had a larger sample size and systematic studies, not just a single case.

Q: If what Dr. McKee discovered was accurate, what did the NFL stand to lose? What did Roger Goodell do as more scientific research revealed potential dangers for NFL players?

The NFL risked lawsuits, declining participation, and damage to its image. Goodell tried to control the narrative—holding hearings, creating “safety” programs, but often downplaying risks.

What were the two fundamental questions that the NFL doctors posed to Dr. McKee? What were her answers? How did the NFL doctors respond?

They asked: Is CTE real? Is it caused by football? She answered “Yes” to both. The NFL doctors rejected her conclusions.

How did a leaked NFL retirement document change the game? How did the wives of NFL players impact the investigation?

The document showed the NFL acknowledged higher rates of dementia among its players. Wives of players spoke publicly, humanizing the suffering and pushing for accountability.

Do NFL players have higher rates of dementia and brain diseases than the general population?

Yes—studies showed they had much higher rates.

What did NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell testify to a Congressional committee investigating concussion issues and CTE? To what group did some members of Congress compare the NFL? What did the NFL do to try to polish its image?

Goodell claimed the NFL was making the game safer and taking concussions seriously. Some members of Congress compared the NFL to Big Tobacco for denying evidence. The NFL launched PR campaigns, new “rules,” and safety initiatives.

Who was Owen Thomas and how did an examination of his brain change theories about CTE? What new theory emerged? Did players have to have a history of concussions in order to develop CTE?

Owen Thomas was a 21-year-old college football player who died by suicide. HIs brain showed early-stage CTE even though he had no diagnosed concussions. Thus suggested sub-concussive hits might be enough to cause CTE

What did researchers discover when they began to look at high school football, at youth leagues?

They found kids’ developing brains were especially vulnerable, and that head trauma started much earlier than the NFL admitted.

How safe is football for children? What guidelines did Dr. Cantu develop for young players?

Not very safe. Dr. Cantu recommended kids under 14 should not play tackle football to reduce long-terms risks

Why did Chris Nowinski blame the NFL for endangering children rather than youth leagues and high schools?

Because the NFL set the culture, minimized risks, and marketed football as safe, influencing how youth leagues handled concussions.

On what grounds did some doctors challenge Dr. McKee’s research? Do we know why some players get CTE while others do not?

Critics said her studies were biased since brains were donated by families who suspected problems. It’s still unclear why some players get CTE and others don’t—likely genetics, lifestyle, and repeated trauma all play a role.

Does genetics play a role in CTE? Do drug use and drinking put players at greater risk?

Yes—genetic differences may affect susceptibility. Drug and alcohol abuse may worsen symptoms and risks.

To date, how many brains of NFL players has Dr. McKee examined? How many tested positive for CTE? Did CTE “kill” Junior Seau?

By the time of the documentary: about 46 brains, with 45 positive for CTE. Junior Seau, a star linebacker who died by suicide, had CTE. It didn’t directly kill him, but it contributed to depression and poor impulse control.

How large was the group of former players who have sued the NFL over covering up the potential dangers involved in the game? How much did the NFL agree to pay the former players?

Over 4,000 former players sued. The NFL agreed to a settlement of about $765 million.