The idea that a concussed player can’t control himself is ridiculous. Sure, maybe they are somewhat disinhibited, but they still understand that there are lines you don’t cross.
If a player is so concussed that he can’t control himself, he will be woozy, and uncoordinated, and presents no threat to anyone but himself.
My other favorite sport is MMA. Concussions happen at roughly the same rate in MMA and football. Yet, fighters understand that you don’t go after the ref, and if you do, there will be disciplinary action.
Perhaps the most critical part of being a professional fighter or football player is the ability to deeply tap into that primal fighting instinct, while at the same time keeping it under control. When the ref steps in, or the whistle blows, you have to be in control of yourself and stop.
That differentiates a professional from the inmates that were referred to earlier in the thread.
I think the NFL did the right thing in saying they were considering discipline, but not meting it out. It sends the right message that the doc, who truly is looking out for your health, is as protected as the ref on the field.
Adams could, if he were so inclined, seriously injure most any doctor. If the doctor is going to make a good, evaluation of what is in the player’s best interest, he has to know that he is safe in doing so.
Just like a player knows better than to get in the face of the officiating crew, he needs to understand that he can’t get in the face of the docs on the sideline.