NFL, military on same team

Brian Westbrook. (Yong Kim/Staff Photographer)
Brian Westbrook. (Yong Kim/Staff Photographer)
BY TOM MAHON and Daily News Staff Writer
Posted: June 15, 2012

THE NFL HAS brought in a few good men, and women, to help change attitudes regarding the dangers of concussions.

The league has partnered with the U.S. Army and Marines to educate athletes, military personnel and the public about brain and head juries.

Recently, NFL players past and present met with Army and Marine representatives at the Pentagon to share information.

According to the report, several current and former players met with military types last week to discuss strategy.

"It has to start with the kids," former Eagles running back Brian Westbrook said. "Then they'll get older and they'll realize, ‘Hey, this isn't just part of the sport. It's way more serious than that and it has to be treated the right way.'"

Little by little, the old-school mentality of shaking off head injuries is changing. In the past, those types of injuries were minimized with cute phrases such as "seeing stars" and "getting your bell rung."

Now, head injuries are taken much more seriously.

And that's a good thing. In fact, we wouldn't object if the Navy and Air Force got involved too.

Striking deja vu

Don't be surprised if major league pitchers start smiling when they see umpires Ted Barrett and Brian Runge on the field.

On Wednesday night, Barrett was behind the plate for the perfect game thrown by San Francisco righthander Matt Cain in Houston. Runge was working third base.

On April 21, Runge was behind the plate, and Barrett on third, for the perfect game hurled by White Sox righthander Philip Humber against the Mariners.

It was the second perfecto that Barrett has worked the plate. The last one was on July 18, 1999 when Mets righty David Cone was perfect against the Expos on July 18, 1999.

And, Runge was also calling balls and strikes (with Barrett on first) when six Mariners pitchers combined on a no-hitter over the Dodgers last Friday.

Contact Tom Mahon at mahont@phillynews.com

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