Matt Schaub Hit Proves NFL Concussion Test Is a Complete Joke

So much for improving the safety of NFL players.

On Sunday, Houston Texans' quarterback Matt Schaub took a big hit from Joe Mays of the Denver Broncos.

As you can see, Schaub's helmet comes off and takes part of his ear with it.

Still, the quarterback went out for just one play and returned to continue shredding the Broncos defense.

After this kind of hit that must have been the fastest concussion test ever. Then again, Schaub apparently was good to go since he was back on the field so quickly. And according to Tania Ganguli of the Houston Chronicle:

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"I felt fine. I lost a piece of my ear." Matt Schaub #tough #Texans

— Tania Ganguli (@taniaganguli) September 24, 2012"

Nevertheless, what does this say about the NFL's concussion test?

Not much, if anything because the procedure should have taken longer than one play. In February of 2011 the NFL announced a new process on its official website:

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Developed by the subcommittee in response to a team medical staff survey conducted last season, the new protocol combines a symptom checklist, a limited neurological examination including a cognitive evaluation, and a balance assessment.

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Considering how hard some contact can be, Schaub's was definitely among those worthy of a thorough examination. For one, he was hit extremely hard and his helmet came off. Include the hit being helmet-to-helmet and why was he back under center so soon?

On one hand this does reveal Schaub's mental and physical toughness. Regardless of how long a player would sit out, returning to the game after that kind of knock is impressive. This also displays his competitiveness, because Houston may have been winning at the time of the hit but the game was far from over.

In short, this kind of tenacity will only make Houston stronger.

With that said, Schaub being a competitor is one big reason why he should have been forced to remain out a little longer. Athletes want to get back on the field, however, letting them immediately return after a head shot doesn't show much concern.

ESPN's Chris Sprow tweeted:

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Did Matt Schaub just undergo the fastest concussion screening in history? Did Jim Harrick administer the test? Yikes.

— Chris Sprow (@SprowESPN) September 23, 2012"

And Josh Alper of NBC Sports also gave his view:

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In this time of heightened consciousness about concussions, it was surprising to see Schaub get back on the field without even a cursory look to see if he’d suffered any kind of head injury. There’s no suggestion that Schaub was concussed on the play nor that the Texans worked around the rules to get him back on the field, just a note that it was an unusually fast turnaround from a hit to the head in today’s NFL.

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Looking ahead at what the 2012 season could potentially be for the Texans, the last thing they need is to put Schaub at risk. Missing him for the latter part of 2011 didn't help, and just from a long-term perspective it is better to take the scenic route and ensure safety.

Plus, Schaub is the quarterback and hasn't the NFL become a quarterback-friendly league?

Yes, and that only makes Schaub's brief absence more bizarre.

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