Union says no to 'snitching'

The NFL Players Association opposes commissioner Roger Goodell 's call for players to tell their teams' medical staffs if they think a teammate shows symptoms of a concussion, saying that is not an adequate solution.

"If every player were a medical doctor that could recognize symptoms of concussions, then that would be a great idea," NFLPA assistant executive director George Atallah said in a telephone interview Friday.

"I hope that the league -- instead of asking players to police each other -- would consider calling on team medical staffs and independent doctors to police the situation as closely," Atallah said.

Reaction was mixed among a handful of players asked about Goodell's idea.

Goodell, New England Patriots running back Kevin Faulk said, "is looking out for the safety of the players, and you can't knock that at all."

Washington Redskins fullback Mike Sellers ' take: "We ain't no snitches over here! ... That is not happening."

Other current players, such as Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson , Denver Broncos cornerback Champ Bailey and New York Jets offensive lineman Damien Woody , said players already keep an eye on teammates.

"It's your personal responsibility to look out for your teammates, just because there's life after football and you want to live a normal life," Bailey said. "It might help because guys don't want to be in that

training room, guys don't want to sit out and miss games. Guys do push it as much as they can without realizing the damage they're causing to their brain. They might not realize they're impaired; they might just be in denial."

 

Around the league

Giants » Linebacker Antonio Pierce is out indefinitely after an MRI exam surprisingly revealed a bulging disk in his neck.

Steelers » Safety Troy Polamalu did not practice all week because of a left knee injury and will not play Sunday in Kansas City. He may miss the Nov. 29 game at Baltimore as well. Defensive end Travis Kirschke will sit out his third consecutive game with a torn left calf muscle. He had been filling in for Aaron Smith , who is out for the season with a torn right rotator cuff.

Saints » Running back Reggie Bush has been held out of practice for the third straight day, and is listed as questionable for Sunday's game in Tampa Bay. Bush came out of the St. Louis game with swelling and soreness in his left knee, which was surgically repaired twice in a three-month span a year ago.

Browns » Josh Cribbs ' neck is still a little sore, but he expects to play in the game at Detroit on Sunday, which will be six days after he was strapped to a backboard and wheeled into an ambulance following a loss to the Ravens on Monday night.

Bills » Defensive tackle Marcus Stroud (knee) has been ruled out and linebacker Keith Ellison (quadriceps) was placed on injured reserve Friday, leaving the NFL's worst run defense further depleted against Jacksonville this weekend.