Johnson’s concussions an issue

By ERIC McHUGH
The Patriot Ledger

WEYMOUTH - Dr. Gerald Maher’s Web site declares that no New England Patriots player wearing his patented mouth guard has ever suffered a concussion from a blow to the jaw.

So, what about Ted Johnson?

Johnson, the former thick-necked inside linebacker, retired from the NFL on the eve of the 2005 season, citing the cumulative effect of multiple concussions. He sprang back into the news on the eve of Super Bowl XLI this past February when he told the Boston Globe and the New York Times that the head injuries had rendered him incapable of living a normal life. He blamed Patriots coach Bill Belichick for forcing him to practice with a concussion in the 2002 preseason.

Johnson would seem to be the fly in Maher’s ointment, but the Patriots’ team dentist has an explanation - Johnson’s troubles might have been caused by blows to the helmet, not the jaw.

‘‘I don’t want to look like I’m using it as a cop-out: ‘His jaw’s in great shape; he had a helmet problem,’’’ Maher said. ‘‘It doesn’t sound (good). It almost sounds like I’m making the helmet a scapegoat.’’

Yet Maher stands by his version of events. He also doesn’t like the way Johnson pointed the finger at Belichick.

‘‘He’s a tremendous man, he’s a tremendous human being,’’ Maher said of the coach. ‘‘To denigrate his character the way Johnson has, I just think is wrong. (Johnson) never said anything to me about a concussion in 10 years.’’

Chris Nowinski, the former Harvard football player and pro wrestler who wrote ‘‘Head Games: Football’s Concussion Crisis,’’ has championed Johnson’s cause. Nowinski, 28, said Johnson’s concussions ‘‘very well could have stemmed from blows to the head (instead of the jaw) ... And I’m sure that Ted never told Dr. Maher about the concussions. Over 90 percent of players never tell anybody about their concussions.’’

Nowinski, who retired from wrestling in 2003 because of concussions, said of Maher’s work: ‘‘Some of the claims they make (about no players suffering concussions) concern me. The Patriots are notorious for not reporting concussions. Ted Johnson has told me he got them wearing (Maher’s mouth guard), but I’d love to see the data. I’d love to have the right study done on it.’’

Copyright 2007 The Patriot Ledger
Transmitted Tuesday, June 19, 2007