MATT DUNIGAN OPENS UP ON TUA, CONCUSSIONS

By: Braedyn Wozniak, RP Show Intern

By now, almost every football fan has seen, or heard, of the incident involving Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa against the Cincinnati Bengals in NFL Week 5 action. 

However, not many people watching would’ve known the pain he felt during and after. Except Matt Dunigan. 

The Legendary CFL quarterback and current TSN panel and colour commentator was the “poster boy in the 90’s for concussions,” according to Rod Pedersen. Dunigan played 14 seasons in the CFL (1983-96, Edmonton, BC, Toronto, Winnipeg, Birmingham, Hamilton) before retiring with a myriad of concussion issues.

Pedersen asked Dunigan for his take on Tua’s concussion on the Rod Pedersen Show Tuesday at Ballers Rec Room on Game+ TV. 

“Some really powerful messages, if they (haven’t been), sent to people,” said Dunigan. “Not firing doctors, being the fall guy for this.

“I understand it’s a multi-billion-dollar industry, winning football games in the National Football League. But we’re talking about lives, and it’s not (going to come) at the expense of those players.” 

Tagovailoa was playing in a Thursday night football game after suffering what was deemed a “back injury” by the medical staff the previous Sunday. 

The Dolphins quarterback was seen stumbling after getting up, knees buckling. Almost everyone knew he was concussed. 

Yet, he still played against the Bengals five days later, and suffered a similar hit that clearly knocked him out. That’s when the player safety discussion re-kindled. 

“Those protocols were put in place to be followed, not to be tweaked or maneuvered or manipulated,” said Dunigan. “We need to dial this in just a bit more, so we get it right.” 

Dunigan suffered twelve concussions throughout his career, and openly admits he deals with Post-Concussion Syndrome in his retirement. 

“We were watching the games and going ‘Get him out of there,’” said Pedersen of watching Dunigan in the 90’s.

Dunigan, however, is not saying contact should be removed from football, or we need to be extra careful in ensuring players don’t get concussion, just as careful as common sense suggests. 

“I think when concussions started becoming a thing and people started being educated, I’m talking about the early to mid-90’s, the pendulum swung too far,” said Dunigan.  

“It was a little ridiculous, people trying to bubble wrap their kids and not subject themselves to sport in general, let alone a collision sport like football. Now, I think it’s swung back the other way.” 

(The Rod Pedersen Show airs daily at 12 pm ET on Game+ TV and WQEE Radio. Call your cable provider for details. You can also watch on YouTube Live or listen 24/7 at RodPedersen.com/ListenLive)