Investigation: NFL downplayed concussions with flawed research

An investigation by The New York Times has revealed that the NFL's concussion research is misleading and deeply flawed.

The NFL formed a committee in 1994 to research the issue of head injuries. The Times obtained data that shows the work produced by this committee relied on false analysis of incomplete data.

More than 10 percent of diagnosed concussions were missing from the research, The Times found, including the omission of several concussions to notable stars like Steve Young and Troy Aikman.

Asked for comment, NFL officials said teams were not required to submit concussion data for use in the research, and denied any deliberate attempt to suppress accurate information about the prevalence of concussions.

The Times also discovered a long relationship between the NFL and Big Tobacco, an industry the paper notes is notorious for using misleading scientific research in an attempt to limit public knowledge of the health dangers of smoking.

Though The Times says it found no evidence the NFL intentionally borrowed its concussion strategy from Big Tobacco, records indicate the league shared lobbyists, consultants, and lawyers with tobacco companies.