Mark Bavaro was considered to be one of the NFL’s toughest players during his career. But after playing through an era when concussions were not nearly as scrutinized or paid attention to, Bavaro thinks today’s players are safer.
“To me, a concussion was when you’re knocked down on the field and we have to wait for you to wake up,” Bavaro said at the Pinstripe Bowl Charity Golf Tournament at Forsgate Country Club in Monroe Township, N.J. “In those days, when guys did get those, as soon as you woke up and could count the fingers in front of you, you were back in the action. That doesn’t happen today.”
Bavaro, who said he was never diagnosed with a concussion during his career, thinks concussions and head injuries are taken much more seriously in today’s NFL. He recounted a story from one of the most famous victories in Giants history — their 15-13 win over the 49ers in the NFC Championship Game following the 1990 season — to prove it.
“I don’t want to talk out of school, but Matt Bahr, when he kicked the winning field goal against San Francisco in the championship game, I don’t think he knew where he was,” Bavaro said. “He had tackled somebody on a kickoff return earlier in the game and he was kind of out of it. I think [long snapper] Steve DeOssie had to kind of actually guide him out on the field and line him up.
“That was regular stuff back then. Matt was a great guy, tough guy, and we certainly appreciated him coming out there and doing that for us, but I don’t think that stuff happens today.
“If there’s the slightest indication there’s a problem, guys don’t go back in. … They take their helmets away from them.”
But as player safety becomes a bigger issue, Bavaro said he thinks there are limits on what can be done to make the game safer.
“I don’t know how you can make it less physical,” Bavaro said. “It’s football. I think you’d have to do away with the sport, but I don’t think that’s going to happen. I certainly don’t want that to happen.
“My son’s a football player, and he’s a linebacker and a big hitter and I don’t have a problem with that. That’s what he wants to do, and all these guys playing in the NFL, that’s their dream come true.”