The NFLPA’s investigation into the handling of Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa last Sunday is still ongoing, but its first major development appears to have taken place. The union has terminated the unaffiliated neurotrauma consultant who was among the personnel who cleared Tagovailoa to return to the Week 3 game against the Bills, per Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk. 
Tagovailoa notably stumbled after a hit from Bills linebacker Matt Milano, but ultimately cleared concussion protocol and finished the contest. Not long after the game, it was revealed that the NFLPA would open a formal investigation into the team’s compliance with NFL policies regarding concussion checks; of particular importance was the matter of whether Tagovailoa’s imbalance was neurologically caused, something which would have disqualified him from being allowed to return.
That process involved interviews with both the UNC and the Dolphins’ team physician, which took place yesterday (Twitter link via NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero). Per CBS Sports’ Jonathan Jones, the former was found to have made “several mistakes” while clearing Tagovailoa to return in the second half of Sunday’s game (Twitter link). Both the Alabama alum himself and head coach Mike McDaniel remarked that a back injury was the cause of his discomfort, though he was tested for concussion symptoms every day in the build-up to Thursday’s matchup against the Bengals.
In that game, Tagovailoa’s head hit the turf after being sacked, and he was carted off the field and taken to a local hospital. Since diagnosed with a concussion, the injury (and the questions surrounding his health leading up to the game) has led NFLPA executive director DeMaurice Smith to threaten legal action against the medical personnel involved in this situation.
The fact that the UNC has been fired stands in stark contrast to the early indication that the Dolphins were fully compliant with league protocols. Further investigation will take place, though the emphasis will remain on the actions of those involved, as opposed to the strength of the protocols themselves (Twitter link via Mark Maske of the Washington Post). With the final outcome of the probe set to be made public, more is yet to come in this story.
Wow I called it heads gotta roll. Wonder if mcdaniel gets it. Might need an example to be set for cavalier treatment of these protocols. And I’m a big mcdaniels fan
It will be interesting to see if the insurance company that handles this injury will deny coverage based on the neglect of the employer, the Miami Dolphins
FIRST
FIRST AGAIN
Now, where are all those imbeciles that tried to claim he didn’t have a concussion and that everyone else was trying to play internet doctor?
I bet they don’t show up here.
Oh, and I took it a step further and mentioned how the doctor may not have been on the up and up, and boom, they are fired.
Well congratulations you had it all figured out.
A lot of other people did as well.
“Though he was tested for concussion symptoms every day in the build-up to Thursday’s matchup against the Bengals.”
Don’t let ppl get under your skin this much man. It’s the internet.
hes just right. a lot of the comments were pinning this as played up drama and nonsense that he should have played through, but a kid ended up in the hospital due to blatant oversights that many on this page backed up
Nothing is getting under my skin. I just enjoy pointing out stupid people.
You can assess someone’s intelligence just by reading their comments on this site? Wow, that’s pretty impressive. I don’t blame you for enjoying your immense talent. I guess you’re somewhat of an internet doctor yourself then lol.
Or maybe you’re just another one of these guys who just puts down people who disagree with you. Very common unfortunately.
Kind of like what you’re doing right now, hypocrite?
As someone of immense intelligence, you should know that when the investigation is still ongoing and there are details yet to emerge, you don’t actually know the full story. Rather, you’re assuming an outcome.
Says the guy (Jung) who swore it was a back injury a couple of days ago.
My mistake, that’s Dr. Jung.
Reading comprehension isn’t your strong suit.
Show me where I said it was a back injury. I simply commented on how a back injury can indeed cause ppl to stumble, which somehow internet doctors were unaware of being possible.
Better luck next time, physicians assistant if we are being technical.
link to profootballrumors.com
Reading comprehension isn’t your strong suit.
Show me where I said it was a back injury and not a concussion.
I commented on how a back injury can indeed cause ppl to stumble, which somehow internet doctors were unaware of being possible.
physicians assistant if we are being technical.
Maybe you’ll have better luck next time if you work on those literacy skills Floyd Mayweather.
My reading comprehension is spot on.
In the debate a couple days ago about whether Tua’s injury was a concussion or not, you argued one side and one side only. That his post hit symptoms vs the Bills were consistent with a back injury.
You ignored my questioning as to why he was shaking his head like he just got his bell rung.
I hope you have better luck with diagnosing your patients as a physician’s assistant.
Me:
if you mess up your back it does affect ppls ability to walk and stand up. Keyword there was IF
Also me:
Back injuries cause people to stumble. Especially of its a herniated disk or pinched nerve issue. If where it happened blocked signal it can cause weakness resulting in stumbling. Keyword there was suppose to be IF typo put OF.
Also also me:
Back injuries can cause a disoriented foggy feeling if it occurs in the right place and definitely affect someones balance, equilibrium, etc etc. Keyword there was IF
Huh. So where exactly did I say it was a back injury and not a concussion? Maybe you dont know what IF means? Almost like I commented on the fact back injuries can cause ppl to stumble and have balance issues…..not whether or not Tua suffered a back injury or concussion.
Mind showing me where I said it wasn’t a concussion?
Work on those reading skills Helen Keller.
This news proves nothing. The NFLPA terminated the Dr. So what. So far, no evidence has been released establishing if he had a concussion.
Just the NFLPA flexing muscles for the press. At this point, no evidence released changing any of the known facts
Not sure why people can’t grasp what you’re putting down but here we are…
We understand it. We disagree with the comment. There’s a difference.
To be clear, I’m not saying Tua did not suffer a concussion on the injury prior to this one but I am saying none of you know otherwise. You all just “want” to believe he did and I have no reason to believe everyone in authority lied about it. If he did suffer a concussion before this as you all believed, then Tua is a liar and you all are pounding the table of “Tua safety” for a liar. Either way, you all rushed to judgement stupidly.
No we didn’t, as this article proved. Go away now.
Do you think that during the bills game the young man was not concussed? We know what the independent investigators have determined, and they have been fired. Do you not believe your lyin eyes?
They just announced a new agreed upon policy for NFL&NFLPA. There has to be some knowledge if they both agreed because they have not agreed on much.
Team doctors are employees of the team. My guess is the decision to play did not get approved by a team physician. They were overruled by either a coach or player
The protocols are supposed to be run by an independent neurologist, not affiliated with the team.
Correct. And they were. And he came back in the game and played without issue. Did a press conference after the Sunday game. Was tested and practiced and went through team meetings all week after the Sunday game.
He got hurt and concussed on Thursday night game. Unfortunate. Very. Coincidence? Probably.
One should wonder how this plays out? The NFL is already surfing the middle of this? They have announced an investigation but I saw today that the NFL was claiming the first injury was looked at as a BACK INJURY? The player hit his head, got up stumbled and fell back to the field? Either way the players health is first. Hopefully they give this a serious look for his sake as well as others that have been through the protocol.
NFL is suppose to provide spotters at the game and also had replay to also stop Tua from going back in the game
Way more time to stop him from clearing by Thursday. All failed Tua including the dolphins
Was he injured or just hurt? There’s a difference.
Still no proof of him being injured
NFL is going to protect the NFL first and foremost. Protect the shield at all costs.
That is where the NFLPA and independent doctors come into play. Independent doctors got fired. Tua can either side with his players and union or stick up for the club and coaches.
The NFLPA had him fired. The CBA states the both parties – the owners and the union- have the option of terminating one of these independent Drs without cause or agreement from the other party.
Again…. NFLPA playing for the press clippings and public sentiment
I call bull crap.
Whatever the NFLPA says is and always has been a load of crap.
lol, says the guy who only comments on here when he can trash players and fantasize about ruling them with an iron fist.
So they shouldn’t investigate? The first incident wasn’t a concussion?
15 years ago this isn’t as big of an issue and less of a discussion. Today there is Too much info out there after years and years of data on past players concussion history.
More people getting axed over this.
7-10 years ago this was hardly a topic of discussion. Then they let coaches decide eventually got Drs involved.
Why is the University of North Carolina being dragged into this?
Maybe they are an independent source. They are close enough that one of their doctors can fly in and out of Miami or other nearby teams to do an assessment.
I’m not sure if you twonare trolling or really just missed it…
Just incase: when an author desires to use an acronym they need to define it by spelling it out completely before using an abbreviated form. The author did this but very poorly. UNC doesn’t mean what you are implying.
I hear Duke University is trying to jump on board as a consultant
The Dolphins organization are the only ones to think this wasn’t a concussion.
I know Tua is a tough player and wanted to play through it but this is where medical professionals need to step in and do what’s right. If they did try to hold him out I hope they speak up and screw the coaching staff over.
Any with any medical degree knows that he had some sort of concussion symptoms. If he injured his back or knee he would have been grabbing at those areas. Instead he grabbed his head first and shook of the cobwebs. Then he stumbled.
Screw anyone involved with the decision to play him afterwards. Coaches need to go. I hope the NFLPA put pressure on the coaches to resign if they forced him back in there.
No one forced him back in there. Get out of here with that nonsense
Well you gotta blame some of this on Tua..he knew what was going on..he too should be investigated..
Tua, the guy who seemingly had head trauma, should be investigated for a poor choice? Ok.
Per AP News: The NFL Players Association has fired the unaffiliated neurotrauma consultant who evaluated Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa after he stumbled off the field against Buffalo last weekend.
Was that the guy from UNC?
Tar Heels need to do better…
I’d like to know why the NFLPA isn’t being held accountable. If they hired the independent consultant then their hiring, training, and accountability processes for their employees did not work. They should be the ones getting sued.
They pay a fee for the doctors to do their job. They clearly felt one of their players were not cared for properly and dismissed them.
NFLPA did not clear him to play, the doctor did.
Based on your argument then the NFLPA should get sued then clearly the players should get sued for placing those in leadership inside the NFLPA..why stop there but the NFL hired those players. I guess they should get sued too. Keep going to the parents of the players who allowed them to play football.
I own a business where we hire independent contractors. We are responsibilities for them when they are working for us on our projects. We are liable if they make mistakes. This is no different. There is no logic required. This is reality.
The NFL, a multiple billion dollar company, does not operate like your discount business. It has a different set of rules that exempt it from a lot of things you peons have to deal with. Start doing some research before you make idiotic statements like this.
Reality Nfl only cares about five or six players brady, rogers , josh allen. Rest just parts easily replaced like part in an engine. The only thing nfl does want is someone dying on the field. You hear these people shocked at seeing video of his hands frozen. Very few of these people will not watch on sunday. What happens when they leave field. Who cares.They make lots of money.