The NFL’s new hotline for players to report instances of concussions not being given adequate treatment received several early calls yesterday in its first day of operation. Most of the calls, however, were mostly moans, followed by snoring, or babbling non sequiturs.
“The first call came at 9:05 a.m. this morning,” said the hotline’s attendant, Sheila Nelson. “I don’t know who the player was – it was Boston area code, so I’m guessing a Patriots player – called and just started moaning: ‘Oh, God! Oh, sweet Lord! My head! My head!’ And then fell asleep on the line and started snoring. Unfortunately, that doesn’t give me much to go on as far as getting him some help.”
All of the other calls were very similar, Nelson says, except for one.
“Bill Belichick called,” she said. “He told me that if any of his players call in, to immediately give their names to him so he can personally attend to their needs. He seemed very genuine.”