Raiders' Pryor questions hit that caused concussion
ALAMEDA, Calif. -- Oakland Raiders quarterback Terrelle Pryor believes the hit that left him concussed Monday night warrants a fine, but the Oakland Raiders' first-year starter understands it comes with the territory as a running quarterback.
Pryor was cleared to practice Thursday but was on the sideline without a helmet while Matt Flynn worked with the first unit during the portion the media saw.
The Raiders found themselves defending their handling of the Pryor concussion when Fox Sports and ESPN said the NFLPA was looking into whether the Raiders followed the proper protocol because Pryor as on the field for two plays after being hit.
"Football is a tough sport and there's going to be collisions and you try to do everything you can to make sure that you're taking into account player safety and I think our medical people followed the protocol that's set forth by the NFL," coach Dennis Allen said. "They followed it exactly how it's supposed to be followed. When we determined he had a concussion we got him out of the game."
An NFLPA spokesman declined comment regarding the Raiders case but said, "We routinely monitor and review concussion cases throughout the season. Every concussion is important."
Pryor said when he looked at the play again, it was clear Denver Broncos linebacker Wesley Woodyard was guilty of a helmet to helmet hit.
One problem -- the hit was legal because Pryor was still in the tackle box.
"It was a legal hit," Allen said.
Washington quarterback Robert Griffin III rushed for 814 yards on 120 carries last season before being sidelined with a knee injury. Although considered a better passer than Pryor, Griffin also ran read-option plays and often put himself in harm's way.
Griffin began to show some of his old running skills in Week 3, a loss to the Detroit Lions.
Griffin gave mixed signals regarding his philosophy in a conference call with Bay Area reporters, saying on one hand he had to play with more fear but he also needed to be more careful.
"You go out there and you play with no fear. That's the best way to stay healthy," Griffin said. "You don't go out there trying to avoid things. The highlight-reel hits that can happen when you can escape the pocket, I try to limit those, not only for myself but for my team. They don't need me to go out there and do that kind of stuff.
"I don't take those kinds of hits any more like I had in the past. But you still go out there and make plays."
Following a Week 1 win over the Indianapolis Colts, during which Pryor rushed for 112 yards, he promised to be smarter about taking on collisions. He has indeed utilized the slide and ran out of bounds, but also said in the heat of competition, "I won't lie. I might forget."
Pryor leads the Raiders with 198 yards rushing, the highest figure through three games among NFL quarterbacks.
