via Getty
CINCINNATI, OHIO – SEPTEMBER 29: Medical staff tend to quarterback Tua Tagovailoa #1 of the Miami Dolphins after an injury during the 2nd quarter of the game against the Cincinnati Bengals at Paycor Stadium on September 29, 2022 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
via Getty
CINCINNATI, OHIO – SEPTEMBER 29: Medical staff tend to quarterback Tua Tagovailoa #1 of the Miami Dolphins after an injury during the 2nd quarter of the game against the Cincinnati Bengals at Paycor Stadium on September 29, 2022 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
Earlier, there was a massive bombshell when Hendrick Motorsports announced that Alex Bowman was sitting out this weekend. This is because the NASCAR driver sustained a concussion from his accident at the Texas Motor Speedway. Now, there was some drama in the NFL arena, when the Miami Dolphins’ Tua Tagovailoa went down during a game. This was a mere five days after he suffered a concussion in a previous game.
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Needless to say, there were many people drawing comparisons between the two situations. Add to that, the varied responses from the Dolphins and Hendrick Motorsports, respectively. This is hardly the first time NASCAR has had to deal with a driver sustaining a concussion, ergo Kurt Busch. As a result, Hendrick Motorsports are not taking any chances with Bowman’s health.
What else did the community say about the NFL and NASCAR situations?
Without a doubt, many people were unhappy with the way the Miami Dolphins handled their concussion problem. In a similar vein, they were thoroughly impressed with how Hendrick Motorsports dealt with their own issue. In their minds, the responses were as clear as night and day. Some people even noted that Alex Bowman, Kurt Busch, and Tua Tagovailoa suffered similar injuries sustained from a rear blow.
NASCAR community is grappling with head injuries and now a whole new crop of sports fans just learned what a “fencing response” is when Tua went down in the Dolphins game just now. What a fucking week.
— Matthew Burroughs (@MJBurroughs) September 30, 2022
As a fan of football it’s hard to see what just happened to Tua Tagovailoa. As some might know he had a concussion last week as well. With all this being said I’m happy that @Alex_Bowman and @TeamHendrick are taking these precautions with Bowmans head injury.
— QUICK PIT PODCAST (@pit_quick) September 30, 2022
Keep Alex Bowman and Tua Tagovailoa in your prayers tonight
See you tomorrow
— Suk-Eng Tows (@miiman13_) September 30, 2022
Alex Bowman, Tua Tagovailoa, and Kurt busch all have the same head injury. Rear hit. #nfl #nascar #headinjury #concussion
— 👋 (@ZigZagDeluxe) September 30, 2022
One thing is for sure, the NFL has not come out of this situation looking good. Fans even praised Bowman and Hendrick Motorsports for taking driver health very seriously. Others, like NASCAR spotter Freddie Kraft, slammed the Miami Dolphins. Kraft insisted that they should be ashamed of themselves and not allowed out of the locker room at halftime.
Quite the disparity in concussion management today between #NASCAR driver Alex Bowman and Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa…and, not surprisingly, the NFL doesn't come out on the good end of that comparison.
— J.D. Cunegan – BLACK LIVES MATTER 🏳️🌈🏁 (@JD_Cunegan) September 30, 2022
Man Alex you stood up for yourself and did the right thing. And your crew chief is standing with you.
And I see what's happening with Tua Tagovailoa right now and it makes me so sad, but I'm glad that you and Hendrick got it right and avoided something much worse…
— Pushin' Like a Dump Truck (@10outof10Tight) September 30, 2022
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The entire Dolphins organization should be ashamed of themselves.
They shouldn’t be allowed outta the locker room at halftime.
— Freddie Kraft (@FreddieKraft) September 30, 2022
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He was not the only one who felt that way, as neuroscientist Chris Nowinski, Ph.D., was particularly incensed. The former wrestler went on a massive tirade on social media and declared that the Dolphins organization was incompetent. He tweeted, “If he has a 2nd concussion that destroys his season or career, everyone involved will be sued & should lose their jobs, coaches included. We all saw it, even they must know this isn’t right.”
