Alex Smith: Did 49ers Ignore NFL Concussion Protocol in Risking Smith's Health?

After losing to the Dallas Cowboys in heartbreaking fashion on Sunday, the San Francisco 49ers received some surprising news regarding quarterback Alex Smith. Following a 27-24 overtime loss, Smith was diagnosed with a concussion.

While players are supposed to be pulled from the game following concussions, neither Smith or the 49er training staff were aware he suffered a concussion, according to Michael David Smith of ProFootballTalk.com.

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It’s not clear at what point during the game the concussion happened. Under league rules, players are supposed to be pulled from the game as soon as they suffer a concussion, but apparently neither Smith nor the 49ers knew it had happened until after the game. The 49ers say Smith showed no signs of a concussion during the game.

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Make no mistake, if the 49er trainers or coaches had any inkling that Smith had suffered a concussion during the game, then he should have been examined and benched immediately. Concussions can be very tricky, though, so it is very difficult to blame the Niners as an organization in this instance.

If anybody is to blame in this case, it's Smith. I don't want to suggest that Smith knew he had suffered a concussion, because it certainly could have been very mild and dismissible. If he was feeling lightheaded or woozy, though, Smith really should have notified the trainers.

It's very understandable that Smith is on a one-year contract and probably believes that he has to play every down if he wants to keep his job. At some point, though, you have to stop trying to be a hero and worry about your own personal safety.

Concussions, as we have learned thanks to tons of research over the past few years, are very dangerous to the long-term health of football players. Judging by the fact that Smith has already been cleared to practice fully, it looks like he was lucky this time.

This is something the 49ers will have to monitor very closely and be exceedingly careful with. While 49er fans may generally dislike Smith as a quarterback, nobody ever wants to see a player on any team get injured. The onus will be on Smith and San Francisco's training staff to be alert moving forward.

Another big hit could certainly spark another concussion, and if that occurs, then Smith needs to speak up or the training staff has to recognize his symptoms. I don't believe either the Niners or Smith were trying to circumvent NFL rules in this instant, but both parties need to be much more cautious if this situation arises again.