Former San Francisco 49-er Keena Turner says he often played injured.
"You have that team camaraderie, you don't want to let your team mates down so you're not really the best person to decide, you want to play. And I think through my career, if you can stand and you're not too wobbly you go back in the game."
Turner says doctors know better than coaches or players when it's safe to return to competition. That's why the NFL is supporting legislation, co-authored by Republican Senator Tony Strickland and Democratic Assemblymember Mary Hayashi.
The bill would require student athletes who sustain head
injuries to be removed from the competition immediately. They have
to be examined by a doctor, and need a note signed by the doctor
and parents before they could return. The legislation would apply
to any group that uses public school facilities.
The bill would have no cost to tax payers.