Since the NFL has made such a conscious effort to get serious about concussion awareness, the league might not be too thrilled about Peyton Manning's latest revelation.
Manning told ESPN.com's Rick Reilly that he has failed a preseason concussion screening on purpose because it would help him stay on the field during the season if he ever suffered one.
"They have these new [brain] tests we have to take," Manning said. "Before the season, you have to look at 20 pictures and turn the paper over and then try to draw those 20 pictures. And they do it with words, too. Twenty words, you flip it over, and try to write those 20 words. Then, after a concussion, you take the same test, and if you do worse than you did on the first test, you can't play. So I just try to do badly on the first test."
It was a lighthearted read with the comical Reilly, who conducted a joint interview with Peyton Manning, Eli Manning and Archie Manning, and there were no follow-up questions to Peyton's revelation. However, the article indicated Archie slapped his hand to his forehead after Peyton's response.
If Peyton Manning was serious about tanking the test, the NFL will have a real issue on its hands. But even if he was just joking around, the NFL will at least know the strategy has been contemplated. Since Manning is one of the league's greatest role models, the last thing it needs is for younger players to follow his lead and flunking the test just to stay on the field.
