Wednesday's health and safety news from the world of football:
- NFL.com's Jeff Darlington reported that the league has advised its officials that they need to be in shape for Chip Kelly's Philadelphia Eagles offense. NFL executive vice president of football operations Troy Vincent talked about Kelly's offense during the league's referee meetings earlier this week.
- Former NFL coach Tony Dungy explained to The Dan Patrick Show on Wednesday why he said he wouldn't have drafted Michael Sam because of the distractions surrounding him. Sam, the NFL's first openly gay active player, was drafted by the St. Louis Rams in the seventh round two months ago.
- AL.com reported that Auburn University's concussion protocol exceeds the guidelines recently announced by the NCAA.
- The Christian Science Monitor analyzed why Gov. Jerry Brown signed a law that will limit full-contact practices in middle and high schools in California.
- The Santa Rosa Press-Democrat reported that the new law follows North Coast trends.
- MaxPreps.com looked at how the new law affects head injuries.
- The Paradise (Calif.) Post talked to a local coach who wasn't pleased with the law.
- Speaking of full-contact rules, PermianBasin360 reported on the new Texas high school rule that limits full-contact practice to 90 minutes a week.
- After retiring from the University of Minnesota football team because of concussions, former lineman Caleb Bak has turned to a career of protective hacking, according to the Minnesota Daily.
- Time Warner Cable news looked at a concussion study funded by the NFL and General Electric.
-- Bill Bradley, contributing editor
