Jamaal Charles says he wanted to avoid NFL's concussion protocol
The NFL's efforts to promote player safety may be lost on one of its flagship players.
Kansas City Chiefs running back Jamaal Charles made troublesome comments Tuesday about avoiding the league's concussion protocols after taking a crushing hit against the San Diego Chargers on Sunday.
"It’s like, I woke up - I mean, like, a couple plays later I was seeing light bulbs, like, light bulbs around my eyes, and I was trying to catch them," Charles said on ESPN Radio. "But I was in the game so I was like, ‘Alright, let’s get the ball and run again.' ”
Charles, who suffered a concussion during January's playoff loss to the Indianapolis Colts, was not removed from the game.
"I didn’t have a concussion but it definitely was a hit that shocked me," he said. "But I don’t think I had to go through the concussion protocols and all that. I didn’t want to go through that again because of what happened in the playoffs.
"I was definitely fine, I think I came out pretty good."
It's certainly difficult for the NFL to promote concussion awareness and player safety when one of the faces of the league admits to trying to play at all costs.
Charles and the Chiefs square off against the St. Louis Rams on Sunday.