By James Caldwell, Torch assistant editor

Former WWE wrestler Chris Nowinski has put the issue of concussions in the spotlight this week as the NFL gears up for its biggest weekend of the year with the Super Bowl in Miami.

The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review published a report on Nowinski trying to educate NFL players on the long-term risks of concussions, much the same way he's tried to educate the pro wrestling industry on the risks of continuing to take bumps in the ring even when having concussion-like symptoms.

The NFL held a seminar last week to educate NFL players on risks, which followed the U.S. Congress's recent hearing seeking answers from the NFL on how they've handled concussions in light of recent research on negative long-term effects.

"It's good it's being addressed," said former NFL star Jerome Bettis. "Because it's being addressed, there are going to be some massive changes, and I think it's going to help the players."

WWE has its own "Impact" concussion testing system, but the company rarely discloses when certain wrestlers are treated or kept out of the ring for further monitoring.

The NFL has taken steps to be held accountable for player safety, whereas WWE has a policy that is certainly on par with the NFL's program, but WWE has not publicly disclosed the program's effectiveness or application.

Nowinski said in the article there's a re-education process that has to take place, as evidenced by Pittsburgh Steelers WR Hines Ward questioning QB Ben Roethlisberger's toughness in a national TV interview.

"When I heard Hines Ward say that, I shed a little tear because I thought: 'That's the last time an active player is going to speak out in a negative way on the concussion issue,'" said Nowinski. "I understand where Hines is coming from because that's the same way I was when I played. I know Hines has not been educated on the risk to Ben's career if he goes back and suffers another concussion. That's the part that's been missing, that player education."

Another NFL player echoed a sentiment often heard in pro wrestling that it's "not ballet" and wrestlers are going to walk away from the industry with plenty of pain and lasting injuries.

"You're trying to increase a guy's longevity in the game and make sure he's healthy after the game," said current NFL player Will Witherspoon. "We all understand this is a game where you are going to come out with some type of disability, regardless. But you want to be as healthy as you can."

Caldwell's Analysis: This is where the sports and sports entertainment industry is on the concussion issue - much more awareness, athletes actively seeking information, research behind the times but trying to catch up, and a trying to fight against a strong mentality that a player/athlete/wrestler has to be tough and stupid.

The next step for WWE is disclosing the application of the concussion policy and which wrestlers have been affected. Shareholders of a publicly-traded company have a right to know that the revenue-drivers for WWE's business - the wrestlers who sell tickets, PPVs, and merchandise - are being protected and kept healthy. WWE would argue their brand name is the revenue-driver, as Forbes reported the name "WWE" is valued at 30 percent of the entire company's worth, but that leaves the other 70 percent attributable to the wrestling stars such as Rey Mysterio, Triple H, John Cena, etc. WWE has a strong concussion testing policy written down on a piece of paper, but unless WWE discloses the application of the policy to maintain the health of its stars, then it's just words on paper right now.

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