Medical care in professional football has evolved significantly over the years. When Robert Griffin III injured his knee against the Seattle Seahawks in January, no one was coming from the stands to offer help. Instead the team’s web of doctors, trainers and consultants leapt into action.
Quality of care in the NFL differs from city to city, but players and agents interviewed by The Washington Post seem to agree that, despite what happened with Griffin on Jan. 6, Redskins players receive above average medical services and attention.
“I feel like I got the best care,” said tight end Chris Cooley, a nine-year veteran who was drafted by Washington in 2004. “I feel my best interest was always taken into consideration by everybody.”
When Tyer started with the Redskins more than 40 years ago, the team shared a single trainer with Georgetown’s athletics department. Today that job is essentially divided between 13 positions, including five athletic trainers at Redskins Park. By comparison, those were the days of medieval medicine — second opinions were discouraged, medical records were often sloppy and incomplete, drinking water at practice was a sign of weakness, doctors bid for the right to be a a team's exclusive physician, aftercare and disability benefits that did exist were often an uphill battle to obtain.
Anthony Casolaro, an internist with specialties in pulmonary and critical care, joined the Redskins in 1999 and six years ago became the team's head physician, replacing Donald Knowlan, who had held the post for 25 years. Casolaro meets with the entire team each preseason and spends 45 minutes discussing medical care issues – topics ranging from prescription drugs to medicinal protocols to personal expectations.
“I say, ‘Years from now I want to look you in the eye and say, I did what was right for you,’” said Casolaro, a Washington native and graduate of Gonzaga High.
While medicine has changed across the NFL, Casolaro says the Redskins have strived to be ahead of the curve. They’ve had a neurologist on-hand for several years, usually in the stands, though he was stationed on the sidelines last season. When a player comes off the field with an apparent concussion, trainers immediately swipe his helmet. “Otherwise we know they’ll probably grab their helmet and run back on the field,” Casolaro said.
Starting next season, the entire medical staff will be connected via radio earpieces, provided by the league, so the training staff, team physicians and the athletic trainer stationed in the press box can communicate with each other about injuries.
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