Mike Ditka calls for more action on head injuries

CHICAGO (AP) — Mike Ditka has a message for the NFL and Congressional leaders: More action, not studies.

On the eve of a Congressional hearing on head injuries among NFL players, the Hall of Famer sent a loud and clear message toward Capitol Hill and the league during a news conference Tuesday to announce his Gridiron Greats Assistance Fund is expanding its medical program.

NFL commissioner Roger Goodell and Players Association executive director DeMaurice Smith are scheduled to testify before the House Judiciary Committee, along with former players and medical experts, and Ditka said he hopes they “come to a conclusion and quit financing these studies” so more ailing retirees can get the help they need.

The hearing in Washington comes in the wake of a preliminary study done at the University of Michigan for the NFL that indicates retired pro football players may have a higher rate than normal of Alzheimer’s disease or other memory problems. Among the issues examined will be the lasting impact of head injuries, how to limit them and how to compensate players and their families.

“You can run studies for the next 20 years. Somebody’s going to say, ‘It’s directly related, well it’s not directly related.’ Well, who cares? Let’s take care of them,” Ditka said.

A Hall of Fame player who later coached the 1985 Bears to the Super Bowl, Ditka said he was contacted about speaking at the hearing but was unable due to prior commitments.

In the past, Ditka has criticized the players’ association for ignoring the medical needs of former players with serious injuries who can’t afford to pay for their care.