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AP: WHILE NFL DEFENDS ITSELF OVER HEAD INJURIES, MERRIL HOGE TESTIFIES BEFORE CONGRESS REGARDING CONCUSSIONS

As reported by Frederic Frommer and Howard Frendrich of the Associated Press:

“NFL commissioner Roger Goodell did not acknowledge a connection between head injuries on the football field and later brain diseases while defending the league’s policies on concussions before Congress on Wednesday.

Former NFL fullback Merril Hoge, currently one of the league's best broadcasters, and a defender of current players, testifies before Congress about the injuries he suffered during his career. (Source: Associated Press)

That frustrated several members of the House Judiciary Committee, including the committee chairman, Michigan Democrat John Conyers, when Goodell told him the NFL isn’t waiting for that debate to play out and is taking steps to make the game safer.

“I just asked you a simple question. What is the answer?” persisted Conyers.

Goodell replied by saying a medical expert could give a better answer than he could. But some House members complained later that Dr. Ira Casson, chairman of the NFL’s committee on concussions, had not testified.

Rep. Linda Sanchez, D-Calif., gave Casson some exposure anyway, playing a clip of a TV interview in which he denied evidence of a link between multiple head injuries in NFL players with brain disorders such as dementia and Alzheimer’s.

In the video above, how badass is John Conyers?: “I just asked you a simple question. What’s the answer?”

Sanchez said that reminded her of tobacco companies denying a link between smoking and health damage in the 1990s.

Goodell testified alongside new NFL Players Association leader DeMaurice Smith, who said the union “has not done its best in this area. We will do better.” Both men did agree to turn over players’ medical records to the committee.

In addition, Conyers wants information on head injuries from the NCAA, high schools and medical researchers to better understand football’s health risks.

Still, several Republicans questioned the point of the hearing. Rep. Ted Poe of Texas said Congress’ involvement in football would mean the end of the sport.

“We’d all be playing touch football,” he said.

Rep. Maxine Waters, D-Calif., whose husband played in the NFL, asked Goodell how the league was addressing the welfare of retired players during current collective bargaining negotiations.

Goodell said it’s a “priority for the owners and players to take better care of our retired players,” but Waters cut him off, demanding specifics.

“We’ve heard from the NFL time and time again — you’re always ’studying,’ you’re always ‘trying,’ you’re ‘hopeful,’” Waters said, pointing a finger in Goodell’s direction. “I want to know what are you doing … to deal with this problems and other problems related to injuries?”

Several retired players testified at the hearing, including former fullback Merril Hoge, who said a series of concussions cost him his career. After his first concussion, he said he never saw a neurological doctor and was cleared to play five days later.

“What happened to me would not happen in the National Football League today,” Hoge said. “That does not mean we are all the way there. We are on the way.”