Protecting players after concussions

NEW JERSEY (WABC) -- A recent study showed that pro football players are far more likely to suffer from a memory-related disease than other men. And that's shining the light on concussions and football.

On Wednesday, coaches and trainers in New Jersey learned how to deal with the growing issue.

Hours before practice, Depaul Catholic's football coach spoke at a seminar for the New Jersey Medical Society, coaching those in sports medicine to take concussions seriously.

Trainers and team physicians were told they should not cave to the pressure of getting star player back in the game no matter what. Dr. Vincent McInerney urged that the dangerous practice must stop.

Last year, a Montclair High School linebacker suffered a concussion during a practice and was then cleared by a family physician and neurologist to play. Three weeks later, he suffered a brain hemorrhage and died.

And last weekend, University of Florida standout Tim Tebow got hit hard and was carted off the field vomiting. That, experts say, is a sure sign of a concussion.

Concussed patients may not show anything on an MRI or CAT scan, but will exhibit some of the following concussion clues: