Concussion

Flyers defenseman Chris Pronger insisted he has not given up hope that he can return to the NHL, but his words did not mesh with the news release handed out by the team on Thursday afternoon. In a wide-ranging, candid news conference at the Skate Zone in Voorhees, Pronger, who has been sidelined with post-concussion syndrome for nearly 16 months, talked about battling depression, updated his physical status, and revealed how he misses "going to war every night. " At the same time Pronger was saying his goal was to try to get healthy enough to return to the team, the Flyers gave reporters a release from a University of Pittsburgh Medical Center concussion expert, Michael Collins, who said that the defenseman had "significant vulnerabilities" and that he had advised him to not play hockey again.

A sophomore linebacker for the Villanova football team was treated at Pennsylvania Hospital and released after suffering a concussion during practice yesterday, a spokesman for the university's athletic department said. Anthony Johnson of Atlanta was flown by helicopter to the hospital as a precaution after complaining of a headache and nausea in the locker room following practice, the Villanova spokesman said. Johnson was released after being evaluated.

Steve Young will miss at least a week and possibly more because of his latest concussion, though tests showed no signs of more serious brain trauma, the agent for the San Francisco 49ers quarterback said yesterday. Young took a frightening hit midway through Monday night's victory at Arizona and left with his fourth concussion since 1996. He underwent an MRI yesterday and then met with Dr. Gary Steinberg, the chief neurologist at Stanford Hospital, who treated Young when he suffered his last concussion two years ago. "The MRI did not show any of the so-called white spots, which are thought to be indicative of progressive brain trauma," said agent Leigh Steinberg, who is not related to the neurologist.

Eastern wrestler Anthony Baldosaro suffered a concussion in his bout against Camden Catholic's Taylor Walsh on Friday night, according to Vikings' coach Wayne Murschell Jr. Baldosaro, a two-time state champion, lost the bout by injury default. Walsh, who also won a state title last season, was ahead by a 3-0 score when the 145-pound match was stopped with 55 seconds remaining in the third period. Baldosaro lay on the mat for around 30 minutes. He was fitted with a neck collar and taken by ambulance to Cooper Hospital.

As if losing Eric Lindros for the playoffs wasn't enough, it now appears the Flyers may have lost Mark Recchi as well. Recchi suffered a possible concussion late in the second period of last night's 2-2 tie against Buffalo. "Right now, they think it's a concussion," a grim Flyers coach Roger Neilson said late last night. "He'll be checked out [today]. " This would be the third concussion for the Flyers right wing. More significantly, it would be his second since March 22, when he was injured in Toronto in a collision with Danil Markov along the boards.

Eric Lindros suffered the eighth concussion of his NHL career last night in the New York Rangers' 2-1 loss to the visiting Washington Capitals. Lindros took a hard hit along the boards from defenseman Jason Doig in the second period. On his next shift, Lindros took the faceoff and immediately dropped his gloves and stick and went after Doig. Lindros, who did not return for the third period, was unavailable for comment after the game. "We've spoken to the doctor, [concussion specialist]

WASHINGTON - Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, who skipped an overseas trip last week because of a stomach virus, sustained a concussion after fainting, the State Department said Saturday. Clinton, 65, who is expected to leave her job soon, was recovering at home after the incident and is being monitored by doctors, according to a statement by aide Philippe Reines. No further details were immediately available. President Obama telephoned his top diplomat Saturday to wish her well, a White House official said.

The New York Rangers announced that goalie Mike Richter is out for the season because of a concussion and acquired goalie Mike Dunham to replace him yesterday. Richter was kneed in the head against Edmonton on Nov. 5. "I anticipated getting better from the moment I got hit," said the 36-year-old from Flourtown, Pa. "I didn't even expect to miss a practice. " Dunham was sent by Nashville for forward Rem Murray, defenseman Tomas Kloucek and the rights to defenseman Marek Zidlicky.

Milwaukee Brewers rightfielder Geoff Jenkins suffered a mild concussion yesterday after colliding with first baseman Prince Fielder as they pursued a foul ball. Jenkins is listed as day-to-day. Both players were going after a foul pop by Brendan Harris in the fourth inning of an 8-4 loss to the Washington Nationals, and the 260-pounder Fielder never saw Jenkins as the rightfielder plowed into him. "I'm a little woozy," Jenkins said. "It's just one of those freak plays.

Andy Reid still hasn't mentioned the word concussion when talking about offensive tackle Jason Peters. "He has a shoulder contusion and a potential stinger, dinger, I'm not sure exactly what category it goes in, but that's what we're having tested right now," the Eagles' coach said yesterday. "He's doing well. That's the positive side. " Peters left Sunday's 34-7 win over the Atlanta Falcons early in the second quarter after landing awkwardly at the completion of a chop block.

ALLENTOWN - Tommy Joseph's difficult start at triple-A Lehigh Valley now includes a concussion. The Phillies' top catching prospect suffered the injury May 4 against Indianapolis and he has not played since. Joseph, 21, is hitting .209 with one double, three home runs, and 14 RBIs. He also has been charged with nine passed balls. "He was probably the one guy who had more on his plate than anyone," director of player development Joe Jordan said. "That's just because of the position.

FORREST GREGG doesn't begrudge former NFL players who are suing the league because of concussionrelated heath issues. But, he says, that's not for him. The Hall of Fame offensive lineman played on Packers teams that won five NFL championships and two Super Bowls in the 1960s. He finished his career as a member of the Super Bowl-winning Cowboys in 1971, his only year with the team. Now, the guy who Vince Lombardi once said was "the best player I ever coached" is 79 and suffering from Parkinson's disease.

Nick Grossmann, arguably the Flyers' top defenseman, probably will miss the remainder of the regular season because of concussion issues, general manager Paul Holmgren said after Wednesday's optional practice in Voorhees. Earlier in the day, Holmgren was hopeful that Grossmann might return Saturday in Buffalo. But that changed after Grossmann visited a specialist in Pittsburgh and the GM received a report. "He has vestibular issues," Holmgren said, which means that Grossmann is having problems with his balance.

THE FIRST SHOTS in the concussion litigation between the NFL and more than 4,200 former players were fired Tuesday in federal court in Philadelphia. Depending on how swayed U.S. District Court Judge Anita Brody was by the league's motion-to-dismiss argument, this could be a very, very long court battle, or a very, very short one. The players are arguing that the league has known for years about the long-term damage caused by repeated head trauma and hid it from the players. The league contends that player safety is included in the collective bargaining agreement with the players, and the proper forum for this dispute is arbitration, not a courtroom.

FOR A DEFENSE corps desperately seeking consistency in the wake of mounting injuries, the familiar face of Marc-Andre Bourdon has been conspicuously missing. That's because Bourdon has been sidelined since Nov. 30, 2012, missing 53 straight games with the debilitating aftereffects of his second concussion in a year. "The way I see it, I have two options," Bourdon told the Daily News, opening up in an exclusive interview for the first time since his last concussion. "I can either get hit again and again and deal with these same problems.

With perhaps billions of dollars at stake, a hearing Tuesday in Philadelphia over concussion litigation filed against the NFL will be held to determine whether the lawsuits stay in federal court or are "preempted" by the collective bargaining agreements. About 4,200 former players have sued the league. Some say they suffer from dementia, depression, Alzheimer's disease, and other neurological problems. Others simply want their health monitored. A small number, including Ray Easterling and 12-time Pro Bowler Junior Seau, committed suicide after long downward spirals.

Lawyers for the NFL urged a federal judge in Philadelphia on Tuesday to dismiss hundreds of lawsuits by former professional football players, contending players' claims that the league hid the risks of concussions belong before a labor arbitrator, not in civil court. "This case is at bottom a case about workplace safety in an industry where issues about workplace safety were addressed in collective bargaining agreements" negotiated by the players union and clubs, Paul Clement, a former U.S. Solicitor General who is representing the league, told U.S. District Judge Anita B. Brody.

WITH PERHAPS billions of dollars at stake, a hearing Tuesday in Philadelphia over concussion litigation filed against the NFL promises to be a contest between legal lions. About 4,200 former players have sued the league. Some suffer from dementia, depression, Alzheimer's disease and other neurological problems. Others simply want their health monitored. The players' lawyers accuse the NFL of promoting violence in the game and concealing known cognitive risks from concussions and other blows to the head.