Oakland Raiders quarterback Jason Campbell (8) is examined by Dr. Warren King (third from left) and head athletic trainer H. Rod Martin (second from right) after suffering a concussion as tackle Khalif Barnes (69) and trainer Scott Touchet (second from left) watches during the game against the San Francsico 49ers at Candlestick Park. (Kirby Lee/Image of Sport-USA TODAY Sports)

Over the last few years, concussions and overall player safety has taken a front seat in the NFL.

Fines are levied on a weekly basis for illegal hits on defenseless players, new guidelines for evaluating concussions have come forth, and advances are made every year to protect the league’s product – its athletes.

When a player takes a big blow to the head, the player has to be able to pass a series of tests before being allowed to return to the field. Next season, the NFL will allow independent neurological consultants on the sidelines in addition to team doctors.

In addition to more medical experts on the sidelines, the NFL will order teams to use iPads to help administer concussion tests on the sidelines.

The mandatory postinjury sidelineconcussion assessment tool, instituted for the 2012 season along with a baseline test done during physicals at the start of preseason, will now be used in app form by all 32 teams, a method that was tried by a handful of teams in a pilot program last season. The hope is that being able to compare the results of a baseline test and a postinjury test side by side in real time will speed diagnosis and help doctors and trainers recognize when a player should be removed from a game. – Judy Batista (The New York Times)

As long as the iPad concussion app. isn’t the end all be all, then I think it’s a great additional tool in diagnosing concussions and removing hurt players from the game if necessary.

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