Dec. 19--Chicago Bears Chairman George McCaskey met with media Friday morning to discuss the movie "Concussion" and related issues facing the league. McCaskey had not seen the movie, which is scheduled for release on Christmas Day.
Q: George, we know you haven't seen "Concussion" yet. What are you interested in seeing from the film?
A: "Well, I don't know that I'll see it in the theater. ... The important thing, I think, is any attention on player health and safety is a good thing. The NFL has made changes in recent years, rules changes. Research is being funded. We need to improve the science. We need to improve the equipment. We need to improve the rules. We need to improve rules enforcement. And we think that the changes that we're making in the NFL will filter down to all levels--college, high school, youth and all other sports."
Q: I don't know if you've read any of the accounts today of reaction from the Duerson family. For someone as close to this organization as he was, how much does that concern you that perhaps some of the facts were skewed?
A: "I'll leave that to the Duersons and the producers of the film. We need to do what we can for our former players across the board. We owe it to them."
Q: Is it important to you for your current players to see this film? Do you think all players around the league should be seeing it?
A: "There was a commercial on it in the caf頴his morning, and I heard a couple of them ask, 'Are you going to go see it?' I didn't hear what their responses were. That's up to them."
Q: Do you see a PR issue with the fact that they're running these commercials during football games, and this movie might not paint the league in the light the league would like to be painted in. How do you guys balance maybe wanting to see it because of the issues versus the fact it might not make the league look very good?
A: "Like I said, if it focuses attention on player health and safety, that's a good thing. The changes that have been made in recent years -- 39 safety-related rules changes in the last 10 years. If it sparks discussion, debate, that's fine."
Q: You were up here just about a year ago and said your mother was not happy with the way the season has gone. What is your and her take on how things have gone over the last year and to this point in the season?
A: "I said at the time she's been very supportive of the changes that we made. She likes the progress that she's seen. She, like everyone else here, including John (Fox) and Ryan (Pace), would like to see more W's. But we're moving forward."
Q: Participation in youth football is down. We know the game is very dangerous with serious future life risks. And it creates liability for the ownership and the teams. What do you think the impact of this is on the future of the game because there doesn't appear to be anything equipment-wise or even rules-wise that can take away all the potential danger?
A: "I think it would be a mistake to rely on any one aspect to improve safety. I think equipment is part of it. I think rules and rules enforcement are part of it. I think coaching is a big part of it, especially at the youth levels. I remember telling someone that when my son was playing soccer, the head coach picked me out of a group of parents and said 'You're my assistant coach.' And I said, 'I don't know anything about soccer.' He said, 'That doesn't matter, I need someone to help me keep an eye on all these kids.' We can't apply that principle to things like blocking and tackling in football. We need to make sure that the coaches know what they're talking about when they're teaching the kids. That's part of what the Heads Up program is all about, is training the trainers. Make sure the coaches are teaching proper techniques.
Q: At the end of the day, there are still going to be concussions. I think in the class-action settlement, players are still allowed to sue individually. So can the game survive this indefinitely?
A: "I think so. We need to make the game safer. That's something that the commissioner emphasizes at just about every league meeting. Whatever we're doing, we need to do more. But participation is down in all youth sports. And concussions and things of that nature aren't unique to football. So one of the things that we're encouraged about is that the research that's being done, the changes that are being made will filter down to other levels of football and other youth sports to make all youth sports safer."
rcampbell@tribpub.com
