Doug Saffir

Photo Credit: UCLA

The commissioner of the NFL, Roger Goodell, met with reporters Monday after making a speech at the Congress of Neurological Surgeons. An Associated Press story on his remarks can be found here, posted on ESPN.com: Goodell on Concussions.

His remarks were particularly notable because of his positive nature. Despite trudging through what appears to have been an unusually injury-filled first four weeks of the NFL season, Goodell believes the culture of the game’s violence and its impact on the players is changing.

He was quoted in the story as saying, “People have criticized us as changing the game. I don’t believe that. I think we have taken techniques out of the game and improved the game and made it safer — and the game’s more popular than ever.”

While the game’s popularity is unquestionable, the routine nature of violence remains. This season has seen marquee players, such as Jamaal Charles and Kenny Britt, go down with torn ACL’s. The season-ending injury typically requires 12-months to properly recover.

Even more notable was Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Michael Vick’s concussion in a week 2 matchup against the Atlanta Falcons. On a routine tackle, Vick’s head was slammed to a sudden halt when his helmet collided with the helmet of an offensive lineman. Even on a play that is considered safe by Goodell and the NFL’s new rules, Vick suffered a concussion.

And while we can commend the Eagles for immediately removing him from the game, Vick returned to action the following week in a loss to the New York Giants. Throughout that game, broadcasters noted that something about Vick’s play was “off.” While they never mentioned the word concussion, it was clear to anyone who watched the game that Vick was not entirely there. It is safe to assume that the brain-jarring hit from 7 days earlier likely had something to do with it.

The game is no doubt safer than it was in past years. In that respect, Goodell is right. But what he does not mention is the fact that he governs an inherently brutal and violent sport that will never be completely safe for its participants.