The concussion syndrome is here to stay.

Concussions certainly affect our fantasy teams, but there is a bigger issue. Head injuries are difficult to diagnose, let alone treat, and the long-term effects can be disastrous.

A pulled muscle, strained hamstring, or torn ligaments are commonplace and we generally have an idea of a possible return date.  When it comes to concussions, a player might still be experiencing symptoms for weeks if not months following the injury. Commissioner Roger Godell now appears ready to address the issue.  Don't be surprised if you see players being "required" to sit out at least 1 game following a concussion.  The league may install an independent committee to evaluate players on a case-by-case basis determining the extent of the damage and eventually take the diagnosis out of the team's hands.

Teams and their medical staffs will certainly protest, but Commissioner Godell appears intent on yielding his heavy-handed guidelines in the name of player safety.

But, when we see someone like Hines Ward lambaste Ben Roethlisberger for sitting out after a concussion, we can see the answers aren't that easy.

"I've been out there dinged up; the following week, got right back out there. Ben practiced all week. He split time with Dennis Dixon. And then to find out that he's still having some headaches and not playing and it came down to the doctors didn't feel that they were going to clear him or not. It's hard to say.  I've lied to a couple of doctors saying I'm straight, I feel good when I know that I'm not really straight."

As you can see, it's not above a player to lie about their head injury and claim everything is just fine.  Remember, concussions are hard enough to diagnose on their own, let alone when a player won't come clean with his symptoms.

Fantasy owners need to treat concussions as a possible season-ending injury. If one of your players leaves the game after having his bell-rung, don't assume that he will be active the next week.  Prepare for an extended absence, because the days of a player “toughing-it-out” may just be a thing of the past.