In a statement released by NFL Players Association executive director DeMaurice Smith, the union head says the NFLPA will “pursue every legal option” when it comes to this latest investigation into the Miami Dolphins’ handling of concussions, specifically concerning Tua Tagovailoa.
“We insisted on these rules to avoid exactly this scenario,” Smith said. “We will pursue every legal option, including making referrals against the doctors to licensing agencies and the team that is obligated to keep our players safe.”
That statement was sent to two members of the Amazon broadcast team during Thursday Night Football in the wake of the Dolphins QB getting stretchered off the field and taken to a local Cincinnati hospital. This is according to Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk.
As previously mentioned, the NFLPA investigation into the Dolphins stemming from last night’s situation is the second investigation into the Dolphins this week. It was just this last Sunday when it appeared Tagovailoa suffered a serious concussion against the Bills when he slammed his head on the turf and struggled to walk immediately after. The Miami QB was taken out of the game temporarily only to return later after the team concluded Tagovailoa’s injuries were a result of a back injury.
Ironically, Chris Nowinski, the CEO of the Concussion Legacy Foundation mentioned on Twitter before last night’s game that Tua shouldn’t be allowed to play against the Bengals.
Meanwhile, NFL vice president of communications Jeff Miller said Wednesday that the league believes all proper protocols were followed by the Dolphins Sunday with Tagovailoa.
“Every indication from our perspective is that it was [followed],” Miller said. “I know that the player, the coach, and others have spoken to this.”
Currently, there’s no timetable for either investigation and the Dolphins’ last update came late last night stating that Tagovailoa was getting released from the University of Cincinnati Medical Center and would fly back to Miami with the team.
