Matt Moore

One of the most discussed plays in the Steelers' 30-12 routing of the Dolphins this past wild card weekend is the hit on Dolphins QB Matt Moore, a backup who replaced starter Ryan Tannehill after Tannehill went down on December 11th with an ACL/MCL sprain.

In the second quarter, Moore took a huge hit to the neck/jaw area by Steelers linebacker Bud Dupree. I would try to describe the hit, but you might as well just see the film to understand it.

Although Moore allegedly didn't lose consciousness after the hit, he was on the ground talking to training staff for at least a couple minutes. He was able to walk to the Miami sideline and underwent the NFL's concussion protocol, only to return one play later. Yes, after that hit, Moore returned to the field and finished the rest of the game.

Now, a lot of people online are debating whether the concussion protocol was truly followed to its fullest extent in Moore's case. Today, the NFL announced it is reviewing whether the concussion protocol was properly followed. It will do so in conjunction with the NFL Player's Association (NFLPA), and the review will reportedly feature a review of the film and interviews with the parties involved in the incident.

I'm not here to speculate on that issue, for a few reasons. When asked about the hit during a postgame press conference, Moore stated, "[I] needed a second there. So got checked out, felt fine, was really more my jaw than anything else. Felt good, came back in, was fine." Of course, only Moore knows whether he's telling the truth or not, but the point is that we truly don't know, so there's no point in speculating. Additionally, Moore was attended to a decent period of time. Yes, he only missed one play, but a few minutes had already passed in the time between when he first began to be evaluated, to when the play he missed started. Lastly, it seemed like Moore ran out onto the field himself, rather than being pushed by a doctor or coach. 

Just to clarify, none of those reasons are good, and of course I think that Moore should have been taken out for way more time, if not for the rest of the game. But I'm trying to point out that arguing over whether the concussion protocol was properly followed is futile, because we don't have enough evidence.

What I am here to discuss, however, is the reaction to Moore's return by the media. Moore was heralded as brave, tough, a hero. And I do think it's laudable that, assuming he didn't suffer a concussion, he was able to return from such a big hit. But it's problematic that he's being praised for doing so. As I often write, the media and public has to understand that a concussion isn't like other injuries.

Playing through a hamstring strain or a broken hand certainly takes toughness and maturity, and I'm all for celebrating that kind of resilience, especially in a playoff game. Playing through a concussion, however, is life threatening. Again, I'm not claiming that Moore did that. But when reporters on mainstream sports media, like ESPN, are applauding Moore for returning to the game, it sends the wrong message to fans, players, and coaches at all levels. If anything, players who suffer concussions and remove themselves from play on their own volition, those are the ones who should be heralded.

We need a culture change in order to solve this concussion crisis. We need increased awareness, better understanding, and proper execution. Reactions like that of many sports media stations on Sunday reveal how there is still much work to be done in that regard.