NFL players take confidential survey on safety, health Friday

NFL players received a safe forum Friday to weigh in on the level of care they receive while assessing the league's commitment to safety.

The NFL Players Association released the following statement Friday:

"In support of our shared commitment to player health and safety, the NFL and NFL Players Association jointly retained a third-party company to design and administer to all NFL players a survey asking their opinions and experiences on a wide range of health and safety-related topics. Each response will be maintained in the strictest confidence, and the overall results will remain confidential.

"The parties will use the results to identify areas that are working well and those in need of improvement. Where appropriate selected data may be shared with the teams’ medical staffs. This exercise is required by the parties’ 2011 Collective Bargaining Agreement."

Teams were forced to adjust their schedules to accommodate the survey's administration during a noon ET conference call.

The call had been scheduled for some time, although it comes less than two weeks after St. Louis Rams quarterback Case Keenum was allowed to remain in the game despite suffering a concussion.

Keenum was tackled to the ground late in a game in Baltimore on Nov. 22 and grabbed his head as he lay on the turf. He was helped up by a teammate ad remained in the game without going through the normal concussion protocols.

The NFL launched an investigation of the incident. NFLPA president Eric Winston said this week the Rams should be fined over what transpired.