A unified lawsuit on behalf of more than 2,000 National Football League players has been filed against the league in federal court, alleging that the NFL failed to acknowledge and address neurological risks associated with the sport and then deliberately failed to tell players about the risks they faced, according to attorneys representing former players.
The complaint, filed in federal court in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, unites the more than 80 pending lawsuits filed against the NFL.
“I firmly believe the NFL could have and should have done more to protect Ray. That’s why I am seeking to hold the NFL accountable,” Mary Ann Easterling, widow of former Atlanta Falcons safety Ray Easterling, who committed suicide in April after suffering for years from dementia, said in a press release. “Having lived through Ray’s struggle, I desperately hope and pray others can be spared the pain and suffering we have endured – and still endure every day.”
NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy acknowledged the filing, but added that there was nothing new to the claim other than that it merges them all in one place.
"Our legal team will review today's filing that is intended to consolidate plaintiffs' existing claims into one "master" complaint," he said. "The NFL has long made player safety a priority and continues to do so. Any allegation that the NFL sought to mislead players has no merit. It stands in contrast to the league's many actions to better protect players and advance the science and medical understanding of the management and treatment of concussions."
However, many NFL players have claimed they suffer from a variety of injuries because of concussions without really knowing the severity of how badly they could be hurt playing the game.
“The NFL must open its eyes to the consequences of its actions,” Kevin Turner, a former running back for the New England Patriots and Philadelphia Eagles who has been diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, said in a press release. “The NFL has the power not only to give former players the care they deserve, but also to ensure that future generations of football players do not suffer the way that many in my generation have.”
Lawyers representing the NFL players cited "dementia, depression, reduced cognitive ability, sleeplessness, early-onset Alzheimer’s, and a debilitating and latent disease known as chronic traumatic encephalopathy" as some of the specific injuries caused by head trauma in the NFL.
“Instead of protecting the health of its players, the NFL’s response to this epidemic of brain injuries was to engage in a campaign of deceit and deception, actively concealing the risks players faced from repetitive impacts,” Christopher Seeger and Sol Weiss, co-lead counsels for the former NFL players, said in a press release. “This case is about providing security and care to former NFL players who have suffered these devastating neurologic injuries, and making the game safer for generations to come.”
Read more about the NFL's concussion problem:
NFL to require sideline test after head blows
Former NFL players: League concealed concussion risks
Film aims to show football's culture of playing despite concussions
© 2012 Cable News Network. Turner Broadcasting System, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
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The NFL's hidden shame.
The NFL Players Union's shame!!!
They need to stop hitting and return to tackling. It won't stop the injuries but it will help. They might also have to outlaw particular receiving routes.
Only FLag football from now on, if they're gonna cry about being hit.
and take away their multimillion dollar signing packages, too.
Come on! You play in a game where you hit as hard as you can as much as you can. It doesn't take a genious to know what's going to happen!
It doesnt either take a "genious" tpo correctly spell "genious."
Bob, I hate to tell you the word is spelled 'genius' . if you're gonna make fun of someone else for mispelling, please make sure you can spell it correctly.
better go sue your college, high school and midget program too...they are all hiding the data!
D. Doney, you are an idiot. There as was hitting and there is still tackling.
They need to tackle this issue
Looks like more retired NFL players are bankrupt than we originally thought. This is the dumbest thing I've ever seen. That's like me signing up for kickboxing, then suing the association for getting kicked.
You'd have to be brain-damaged to not see the dangers. What it comes down to is that most of these players have already blown through their money and are trying anything the get more out of the NFL. It's right up there with far people suing McDonalds. NOBODY forced them to play.
Did any of the players EVER complain about the millions of dollars that they received?
Irrelevant.
I'm a lifelong football fan. I was wearing a Terry Bradshaw #12 jersey at 2 years old. We need to support these men who provide us with so much entertainment. Most NFL players do not make the multimillions of the big stars. The average time in the NFL is like 3 years. These men destroy themselves with the hope of being the next Payton, Aiken or Brady. We throw our money at the franchises and these men are dumped the minute they are no longer of use to the teams. The NFL needs to make changes to protect these men from these injuries and take care of their medical needs if they are hurt on the job. Fans needs to demand the changes and realize that when your Defensive line is smacking into the Quarterback, both men could be sentencing the other to a long, slow horrid death.
They made the choice to play. They made the choice to sign the contracts. They made the choice to spend the money. They should be held responsible and accountable for their actions. Enough girlie talk!!
Sorry.... It is not as if players are unwilling gladiators. These men know the risks and accept them for the potential big payoff. If their career ends, its time to cash in the free college "education" they received.
You must be as stuipd as they are. Cry me a river
Key words, "These men destroy themselves...". You said it! It's common sense that running into another object continuously with your head will cause physical and mental damage. I dont hear any rugby players crying and they don't wear helmets!
Why don't you dig into your purse and support them, then.
I'm sorry, but i could not disagree with this statement more! Read this message board and that will tell you everything you need to hear. This is nobody but the players faults. Yes they are out there on one hand to entertain us. I see your angle on that. But the bigger picture here is that this is a business and a place of work. They are playing for the money and big millions! This is no different than any other sport or job out there for that matter that has any inherent risk to it. What these players didnt know when they signed up for this that they could get hurt or paralyzed or even killed? This is crazy talk and this is a matter of common sense here.
Do you want see 60 years old player play football? They select football when they were very young. No one can go to NFL for first day of knowing football. If someone really stupid to play that many years to get to NFL, they should know better.
I have to say this. For those 2000 players who are suing the league: What have Gene Upshaw and DeMaurice Smith done to protect you? They should be suing the NFL Players Union instead of the NFL!
So how are they going to be able to prove the injury did not occur in Jr. Football, High School or College? Sounds like a whos who of broke former NFL players and their x's.
It's all the league's fault. The actual players bear no responsibility for their own actions. I say the league should be financially crippled for this so that they learn their lesson and stop offering to run pro-football.
These dullards are suggesting that, having spent most of their life playing football, they had no idea that the game of football posed a serious risk of head injury?!?! Really? Why arent they suing the NCAA? High Schools? Money grab; pure and simple.
If not for the NFL, half of these guys would be in jail on criminal charges and the other half would be working as bouncers and security guards. What’s next, secretaries suing for paper cuts?
NFL should not be held accountable.