The NFL has put a greater emphasis this season on watching for head injuries, adding an independent neurospecialist to each sideline and athletic trainers as spotters in the press box.
Despite all of these changes, the Associated Press looked at how some players are still trying to hide concussions in light of Detroit Lions tight end Dorin Dickerson admitting he played a quarter with a head injury.
Besides the machismo aspect of the sport, players said there is a lot to lose in admitting any injury, let alone a concussion. They are worried about their jobs as well as their future paychecks.
Weddle pointed to former 49ers quarterback Alex Smith, who lost his starting job to Colin Kaepernick after missing a few weeks with a concussion.
-- Bill Bradley, contributing editor
