An investigation into the handling of the Week 1 concussion incident involving New York Giants wide receiver Sterling Shepard by a joint NFL-NFLPA panel revealed the team did not violate the league’s concussion policy.
Shepard was concussed by a helmet-to-helmet hit during the Giants’ Week 1 loss to the Dallas Cowboys but did not leave the field despite showing signs of being disoriented. It was obvious to the untrained eye that Shepard was hurt but he chose to stay on the field when the Giants attempted to substitute for him, waving off his replacement.
Nearly three months ago, after returning from a one-game absence, Shepard admitted he tried (and succeeded) to deceive the NFL’s on-site independent concussion spotters — certified athletic trainers — with eyes on the sideline and in the press box, and the Giants training staff. They are supposed to signal to officials to have a player removed if a concussion is suspected.
“It’s been looked into quite thoroughly,” NFL chief medical examiner Dr. Allen Sills said at the NFL’s quarterly meeting of Shepard’s incident. “We continue to work together very closely with the Players Association on players self-reporting concussions.
Shepard was re-checked after the Dallas game and was placed in the league’s concussion protocol. He missed the Giants’ Week 2 game against Buffalo but returned for the Giants’ Week 3 game in Tampa. Shepard then sustained a second concussion in a Week 5 game against Minnesota which sidelined him for the following five weeks.
“Guys play through them (concussions) sometimes,” Shepard told The Post. “This is the sport of football, the sport that we play. It happens. You know that [risk] going out there on the field.”
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