NFL FIVE FACTOR DEATH SPIRAL, PART 2: LEGITIMATE SAFETY CONCERNS
By Jaboner Jackson 8 a.m. | Earlier this week, footballphds.com reviewed the First Factor in the NFL Five Factor Death Spiral. The Death Spiral refers to a series of interrelated factors that threaten the current economic and spectator success of professional football. Specifically, the Death Spiral demonstrates how league revenue, particularly as derived from future television contracts, will retract. The first concern related to sanitization of the game, otherwise known as the No Fun League. Much of the NFL's effort to make the game increasingly comfortable for corporations has eradicated player personality. However, more pressing issues related to player safety, particularly as related to concussions and Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy--both of which we have reviewed extensively with our medical expert, Hassan A. Riaz, MD, MBA--have taken precedence over corporate sanitization. Today, we examine Legitimate Safety Concerns as the Second Factor in the Five Factor NFL Death Spiral.
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DR. RIAZ DISCUSSES KOBE BRYANT’S GRADE 3 ACHILLES TENDON RUPTURE
By Jaboner Jackson 4 p.m. | The return to Los Angeles from the streets of Rio de Janeiro means not only the return of the NFL in LA but also the return of my conversations with our medical expert, Hassan A. Riaz, MD, MBA, about pertinent football injuries. But since it is the NFL offseason, I thought I would connect with the good doctor to discuss the Achilles injury of Kobe Bryant instead. As always, Dr. Riaz is not treating the athlete in discussion and he is relying upon publically available information to form his medical opinions.
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DR. RIAZ DISCUSSES CHRONIC TRAUMATIC ENCEPHALOPATHY, RAY EASTERLING, AND JUNIOR SEAU
By Jaboner Jackson 8 a.m. | When news of Junior Seau's presumed suicide came across the wire yesterday, speculation immediately turned to the effects that playing professional football for over a dozen years may have had on his health. Specifically, questions surrounding the effects of head trauma on his final frame of mind surfaced. I discussed Seau's death with our team medical expert, Hassan A. Riaz, MD, MBA, to understand the role that head traumas may have played in not only Seau's death but that of Ray Easterling, another former NFL player who committed suicide by shooting himself last month, as well.
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DR. RIAZ DISCUSSES THE PALEO DIET
By Jaboner Jackson 8 a.m. | Like many, football season for the FOOTBALLPHDS is characterized by tailgating, fizzy beverages, and weight gain. Chicken wings, brisket, and Rock's Brew of the Week packed on a few pounds for us. But with the weather warming up and summer starting to surface in Los Angeles, it's time for us to get back in touch with our inner healthy selves. And the Paleo Diet seems to have caught on amongst the offices. I caught up with our team medical expert, Hassan A. Riaz, MD, MBA, to discuss the merits of the Paleo Diet and to see whether it really works or if it is just another fad.
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DR. RIAZ DISCUSSES NFL PLAYER SAFETY
By Jaboner Jackson 8 a.m. | Over the past few years, the NFL has sought to make the game of professional football safer for its players. The NFL has instituted rules regarding concussions, hits on defenseless players, and has even tried to govern player intent. I caught up with our team medical expert, Hassan A. Riaz, MD, MBA, to discuss some of these changes and why the NFL is so intent on changing the game.
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DR. RIAZ DISCUSSES PLASMA-RICH PLATELET THERAPY (PRPT)
By Jaboner Jackson 12:15 p.m. | Baseball pitcher Zach Britton was the latest athlete to make headlines for use of Plasma-Rich Platelet Therapy (PRPT) for a left shoulder injury last month. NFL players such as Andre Johnson, Troy Polamalu, and Hines Ward, and golfer Tiger Woods have also sworn by the treatment. Since more professional athletes have been making news for undergoing PRPT for injuries, I caught up with our team medical expert, Hassan A. Riaz, MD, MBA, to discuss this treatment.
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DR. RIAZ DISCUSSES PEYTON MANNING’S FUTURE
By Jaboner Jackson 8 a.m. | Yesterday, the Indianapolis Colts did exactly what our team medical expert, Hassan A. Riaz, MD, MBA, has been saying for the last several months--they released Peyton Manning because of health problems. I caught up with Dr. Riaz to discuss the latest developments with Manning and to project his future. As always, Dr. Riaz is not treating the patient in question and is relying on publically available information to form his medical opinions. (Catch up on all of Dr. Riaz's definitive opinions on Manning here.)
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DR. RIAZ EXPLAINS HGH TESTING IN THE NFL
By Jaboner Jackson 8 a.m. | As part of the CBA signed last year, the NFL and NFLPA agreed to test for human growth hormone (HGH). Even so, no testing was done in the 2011-12 NFL season because the NFL and NFLPA have not agreed on how to specifically test for HGH. At his annual news conference before the Super Bowl, NFLPA executive director DeMaurice Smith said that "No one will bully us into a test." Nonetheless, HGH testing figures to be a prime topic of conversation at NFL meetings later this month. I discussed HGH testing with our team medical expert, Hassan A. Riaz, MD, MBA, for elucidation.
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