Redskins quarterback Robert Griffin III took a shot to his helmet while scrambling to try to avoid a sack on Sunday in Washington’s 24-17 loss to the Atlanta Falcons.
Griffin stayed face-down for a few moments, then eventually staggered to his feet with what doctors determined was a concussion.
For Griffin, also treated for a cut on his chin after the third-and-goal play, the game was over about 10 minutes into the second half of Washington’s 24-17 loss to the Atlanta Falcons.
Exactly the sort of thing everyone around the Redskins has been worrying about with the aggressive, never-avoid-a-hit Heisman Trophy winner.
“When he wasn’t really sure what the score was, what the quarter was, we knew he had a mild concussion — at least according to the doctors,” Redskins coach Mike Shanahan said.
Team spokesman Tony Wyllie said Griffin was examined by a neurologist in the locker room before being sent home from the team’s stadium and will be evaluated again today. NFL rules require a player diagnosed by the team medical staff with a concussion to sit out the rest of the game. The player also can’t return to practice or game action until a team doctor and independent neurologist clear him.
BREES SETS RECORD
New Orleans quarterback Drew Brees set an NFL record with touchdown passes in 48 straight games, breaking the mark set by Johnny Unitas a half-century ago.
The record-setting scoring strike was a 40-yard pass to Devery Henderson against the San Diego Chargers on Sunday night.
Unitas set the record between 1956 and 1960 and no one had come within 10 games until Brees began to close in late last season. Tom Brady has the third-longest streak, extending his to 37 games Sunday in a victory over Denver.
Coach Sean Payton, assistant head coach Joe Vitt and general manager Mickey Loomis – all suspended in the NFL’s bounty scandal – were permitted by the NFL at Brees’ request to attend the game.
Unitas’ son, Joe, also was present.
BAD FORM BY FANS
Members of the Kansas City Chiefs angrily spoke out Sunday against thousands of fans who cheered when Chiefs quarterback Matt Cassel left a 9-6 loss to the Baltimore Ravens with a head injury.
Cassel was hammered by the Ravens’ Haloti Ngata while completing a pass in the fourth quarter.
He remained on his back for several minutes while fans began to cheer. Cassel eventually got to his feet with some help and walked off the field.
“It’s 100-percent sickening ... I’ve never been more embarrassed in my life to play football than at that moment right there,” Chiefs tackle Eric Winston said. “I get emotional about it because these guys, they work their butts off. Matt Cassel hasn’t done anything to you people.”
The Chiefs have only said that Cassel has a “head injury,” and coach Romeo Crennel said he wasn’t sure whether he’d been taken to a hospital. Brady Quinn finished the game.
HANDS OFF THE REF
A split-second after Minnesota Vikings safety Harrison Smith pushed back judge Steve Freeman aside during a confrontation with several Tennessee Titans, the rookie already knew he made a big mistake.
But it was too late.
Smith suffered the automatic ejection for pushing Freeman during the second quarter of Minnesota’s 30-7 victory over the Titans. It came in the middle of a trash-talking session with a handful of Titans after Antoine Winfield intercepted a pass from Titans quarterback Matt Hasselbeck. It was the first time a player has been ejected from a game this season, and came with commissioner Roger Goodell watching from a Metrodome suite.
“Right after it happened, I realized I put my hands on the official,” Smith said. “You just can’t do it, period. So, I apologize to him. I apologize to my coaches, to my teammates, to the fans. It’s just unacceptable.”
EXTRA POINTS
Titans running back Javon Ringer exited with a left knee injury in the fourth quarter of a game against the Vikings. ... Steelers safety Troy Polamalu aggravated his strained right calf and left the game against the Eagles. ... Saints cornerback Jabari Greer left a game against the Chargers with a hip injury. ... The NFL is investigating if Bills defensive end Mario Williams has an injured wrist, which hasn’t been on any of Buffalo’s injury reports.
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