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.
| Advertising practices | Advertise with us | About us | Work for us | Help
While I feel bad for the players who have irreperable damage, was it really something they didn't know? I mean, lawsuits for exposure to asbestos was founded because they actually didn't know how harmful it was back then, but a hard hitting sport? Will boxers be jumping on the band wagon as well? Mmm...might take them longer to realize though, they take direct hits for fun!!!
Soooo, what they're suing about is – Me play sport knowing going to be smashed by 300 pound monsters play after play. Occasionally may smash head to head. Will be doing this throughout high school, college and on pro level. Then at age 38 when body worn down and must quit, I not know I may have issue with head crunching all those year, not mention all shot of illegal pain killer made my body break down and made brain worse. Oooookeeeeee. I give you football players. All of those millions and you can't hire docs to take care of you? Mularkey!
Since this is an unnecessary risk, I suggest they ban the NFL and let the athletes earn their income from the field of their college degree.
And people wonder why tickets to pro football games cost so much...
How can you not realize the risks? You are taking repeated heavy blows to the head. Do a little research, it can't be good for the brain. Ridiculous.
Agree. How could you NOT know the risks. BTW, many people who never played football get dementia and commit suicide.
It sounds like a clear case of willing to take a health risk for big bucks and then trying to blame someone when your health is bad. How do you think coal miners feel?
OMG! You choose to participate in a game, as your career, where one of the chief principles is to throw people to the ground, run into someone full force, hit people hard enough that sometimes they land on their heads and suddenly NOW you complain no one warned you about the risks to your body??? Talk about Neanderthals! How thick do you have to BE?
I am sure all of the players knew the risk. I guess next all the players that have knee problems will be sueing.
I say shutdown the NFL and not let anyone play another game.
These guys get paid big money to play a game that they know full well is going to take a heavy toll on their bodies, and when then sue because their physically debilitated from playing that game!!! Maybe you should have down something with your brain besides using it for ballast for a battering ram. No sale, pound salt!!
Shouldn't it be the players and their doctors to be accountable to understand the risk of head injuries.
Your honor we hereby state that at no time we were aware that repeatedly bashing our heads against the ground, and other peoples heads was going to be detrimental to our health.......Really is that your argument??
What a bunch of losers. They knew the risks and they are just looking for some financial gains now that the majority of them are broke
"Right On Point Mary Jane."
Unbelievable. Did they not wonder they they were given helmets? Clearly, they are stupid or manipulative.
who is Romney going to blame for his dementia?
OMG this is so ridiculous! Only in America...I'm sure if they were informed of the risks ahead of time, they NEVER would have become professional football players. You don't think that playing a sport as your full time job, where you are required to tackle and be tackled, could possibly have any risk of head injury? Take a little responsibility for yourself and your life decisions.
Just a matter of time before the NFL is regulated out of existence ..... Hope the Birds can win a Supe before that ....
I agree, how would you have known that a 300+ pound man slamming into adn bouncing on you full speed could cause life long damage? This rakes right up there with smokers suing a tobacco producer. If they really want to stop the head injuries remove the helmets. Or make the helmets soft like a boxers gear. I hate th hear of them getting dementia and committing suicide, but you didn't have to become millionaires. All pro football players probably got at least an opportunity for a free college education.
Opps I meant ranks!