Roger Goodell - NFL welcomes probe into Hurts' medical care - ESPN

NEW YORK — NFL commissioner Roger Goodell said Wednesday that the league welcomes an investigation into the Philadelphia Eagles' handling of Jalen Hurts' blood clots after the players' union asked for one.

Goodell said in his news conference at the end of the NFL's annual fall meeting that Dr. Allen Sills, the league's chief medical officer, has gone through the steps that were followed and added that the union had a right to call for a review.

«Obviously, there was a medical evaluation, and I think our protocols were incredibly good there,» Goodell said. «The protocols were followed. Our process is to make sure that's the case, and our chief medical officer has gone through that, so we're comfortable that what we've seen in the protocols have happened.»

Sills on Tuesday offered a passionate defense of the Eagles medical staff. The NFL said officials were in touch with team doctors and trainers, as well as the Cleveland Clinic in London.

«The notion that there's external factors that any of our physicians would put a player in harm's way — that's nonsense,» Sills said.

The NFLPA's call for an investigation was prompted by Sills' comments as well as reports that the league would not issue any punishment to the Eagles for how they managed the process surrounding Hurts being cleared to play Week 5 against the Jacksonville Jaguars, a league source told ESPN's Tim McManus.

«The NFLPA is not aware of any NFL investigation into the medical care provided to Jalen Hurts. In fact, the league previously informed the union that it did not plan to review the care he received,» the union's statement read. «Before conclusions are drawn about how this situation was handled, there must be a full investigation into what occurred.