[Goose]

True, the PR concerns are valid for the NFL. I think they are somewhat disingenuous, the league is still built on violence that wrecks people's bodies and brains and that won't change if Tua has to retire. But if he had another hit that had catastrophic sequela it would certainly be a bad look. How many concussions is too many? There is no guideline on that, it would be arbitrary.

You are right that the league (using the most "conservative" evaluation) hazards the health of every player in every play. IMO they "get by" by reinforcing the idea that injuries are largely random. In Tua's case they can't argue that. It is clear his odds are "worse". There is no absolute guideline, but hiding behind that kind of jeopardizes the "random" argument. PR-wise that won't work.

Probably the simplest thing for the league and Dolphins would be if Dolphins medical staff just refused to clear him ever again.

Indeed. If the medical staff won't make that decision on their own IMO the ownership should "advise" them of said ownership's PR risk aversion.

But I'm not sure what other enforcement mechanism the NFL could take if Tua still wants to play. I don't think the league has any way of making that happen apart from somehow leaning on the nominally independent medical staff of any NFL team that wanted to sign him.

The NFL can lean on the owners to not sign him. This probably isn't strictly "legal" but we all know it happens. It may be the pressure need not be explicit. If the NFL simply "explains" why it is a bad idea it is probable that all the teams will draw the same conclusion and act accordingly.

[Goose]

True, the PR concerns are valid for the NFL. I think they are somewhat disingenuous, the league is still built on violence that wrecks people's bodies and brains and that won't change if Tua has to retire. But if he had another hit that had catastrophic sequela it would certainly be a bad look. How many concussions is too many? There is no guideline on that, it would be arbitrary.

You are right that the league (using the most "conservative" evaluation) hazards the health of every player in every play. IMO they "get by" by reinforcing the idea that injuries are largely random. In Tua's case they can't argue that. It is clear his odds are "worse". There is no absolute guideline, but hiding behind that kind of jeopardizes the "random" argument. PR-wise that won't work.

Probably the simplest thing for the league and Dolphins would be if Dolphins medical staff just refused to clear him ever again.

Indeed. If the medical staff won't make that decision on their own IMO the ownership should "advise" them of said ownership's PR risk aversion.

But I'm not sure what other enforcement mechanism the NFL could take if Tua still wants to play. I don't think the league has any way of making that happen apart from somehow leaning on the nominally independent medical staff of any NFL team that wanted to sign him.

The NFL can lean on the owners to not sign him. This probably isn't strictly "legal" but we all know it happens. It may be the pressure need not be explicit. If the NFL simply "explains" why it is a bad idea it is probable that all the teams will draw the same conclusion and act accordingly.