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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What a bunch of whiney girls... Its bad enough you guys skated through life on physical achievement, now you're suing others cause you abused your bodies for years and now who'd have known... there are consequences for abusing your body for years!
I don't think most of the guys who go into this sport graduated on the Dean's list at college. Nevertheless, give them the benefit of the doubt, spell out all the risks in black and white, and CARE for them when they are injured for the rest of their days. The NFL is earning GOBS of money on the backs of these not-so-bright but very talented guys. It's the least they can do. Either that, or disband the sport. It's a stupid sport anyway.
So let me get this straight. The players decide to swim with the sharks and now they want to sue the sea because sharks bit them?? Really? Find a better argument because the culture of football and those who play it, (including coaches) are the root cause of the player’s injuries not the NFL. We know every player has a desire to play regardless of the injury they suffer and will go to great lengths to play. Players have the right to dictate how they play on the field. And when I see players get routinely fined for excessive hits on other players, I have no sympathy for them when they are long forgotten years later and suffer as a result of the hits they leveled against other players. I am sorry, find a better argument because they all get paid.
Yes, just what these poor, homeless NFL players need - more money under the guise they had no idea that ramming into one another repeatedly year-after-year might be counter to good health.
God Bless America and the NFL.
Michael Brown, how can you say this:
"There was no case of negligence here"
How can you say there was no case of negligence when for years the NFL was negligent towards the players health with regards to concussions? For years they had NO standard procedures for dealing with players who suffered concussions, players were allowed to come back onto the field just minutes after getting concussed, and the NFL tried to hide the fact that concussions affect long term brain function.
" The NFL has done a great job in recent history"
lol I wouldn't say that the NFL has done a great job in recent history. They've done a better job than they were doing, but they were doing a crappy job before, so now they are doing a below average job. There still are no independent physicians on the sideline, still no standards as to how long a player has to be out after getting a concussion, etc... Not to mention no changes to the rules to stop players from leading with their heads (except for plays against a defenseless receiver)
Also, they didn't start making changes until 2 years ago. (right about the same time they started to get hit with lawsuits), so anyone who played before 2010 has a case.
Hmmm...I always thought football players knew the risk even at a young age. Certainly, they repeat the risk in High School and College ESPECIALLY the NFL. Get real guys....you do not have a case. Yet another frivilious lawsuit clogging up our court systems. You knew the risks and now you do not have a paycheck to college more money. Its called "Get a job" your glory days are O-V-E-R. I am not sure if this football players sign waivers but if they do not its next.
*Make the players aware of the risk is what I meant.
Why aren't they sue-ing the schools that offer this up as a sport?
Did they have an epiphany that the NFL was a money hungry organization? I'm sorry, but this is like the people who move next door to an airport runway and then complain about airplanes. I'm reminded of all of the straight people in Houston who moved into the gay neighborhoods that the gays brought back to life near downtown and then complained about the gay bars and the gay pride parades. It is just ridiculous.
So, at your job making slurpies and selling lottery tickets....if you got hurt, I bet you would be the first to call a lawyer.
@Steve...If they win and it might happen. Which leads to what...no football...which would never happen. There is way, way too much money (loads and loads) in football and not just in NFL. College and even high school are big money makers. I just do not see this case winning.
LOL. Not quite Oski and how is the job working out for you as mind reader..yeah not so well huh? Just taking a break from my professional and appalled at the frivilous lawsuit. I am well educated! You enjoy your time off from school.
You are exactly right. As an football player that played linebacker through college, these athletes are more than aware of the risk they are taking. The idea that the NFL was "withholding" concussion knowledge from past players is a ludicrous idea. Concussions and their long term effects are just now becoming a thing to be studied. Most of these players played in the era when you just "got back in there". And i can guarantee without a shadow of a doubt that while playing, these players would have fought and lied about their symptoms to get back on the field. Trust me, i've been there and wobbled off the field only to elude the trainers and get back on the field. It's a warrior mentality and you don't make it to the NFL without it. As a lover of the game, i'm appalled and outraged at these ex-players, most of them broke and just looking for someone to blame. The real problem here is athletes struggle with the transition to life after football. It's a life so full of regiment and routine that, when at the age of 35, the craft you've spent your whole life perfecting is no longer there. I digress...i could go on for days about this topic.
Please I am going to keep my fingers crossed that these NFL players don't get a dime out of this. Please justice system, please work on this one. Please don't let the players win this case. I am on my knees begging.
Why
here is the deal...if they win then it will follow suit with ever contact sport or non-contact sport like skiing, iceskating, etc. So, I really do not think this case has a chance in H**l. They wanted to play to make alot of money playing footbal and knew the risks. It is considered in a high risk sport and if they did not financial prepare themselves for the worse how is that NFL fault.
The NFL DID not inform these old players of the risks in the early days all the way up till now. Stop saying they knew the risks when they clearly didn't.
You're right, clearly a football player has no idea that, while on the field, he may be hit by another player and suffer a blow to the head. It is completely unforseeable...
Really? Do you think players need to be informed that getting your head knocked around is not good for you? You sound stupid.
You're correct. A person of average intelligence could guess that having their brain smashed repeatedly against their skull would be bad for them, whereas a person on an athletic scholarship who got passes whether they showed up to class or not shouldn't be expected to tie their own shoes without a trainer and a coach.
if they didn't know there was a risk of concussion, then they already had brain damage...
Even high school kids sometimes suffer concussions while playing football. I knew this 25 years ago!
BECAUSE the NFL did not know the long term effects of concussions. how could they!!? When the science behind all these new findings has been within the last 10 years. Not to mention the fact the NFL is going out of its way to ruin the game for "player safety". Granted the athletes are bigger, faster, stronger these days. But equipment, as well as drastic rule changes are making the game much safer. This PC society we live in today just finds the weakest crap to whine about. The few players that have offed themselves, cast a shadow over all the players that haven't (the majority). And while there is likely a correlation with the head trauma, it has yet to be proven definitively. Who's to say that after 20 years in the NFL and 18 years from Pop Warner through college before that, that Junior Seau just felt lost without the game. Depression is an elusive and secretive problem.
Also...the risks of the game are inherent. My junior year of HS (03) a kid died from a head injury. We all know the risks. You ever seen a punch drunk boxer? Like football players aren't smart enough to know that multiple concussions could carry some side effects later on? I just don't believe the players have a legitimate case.
I doubt this lawsuit will get any traction. Players assumed the risk of injury (arms, legs, head) and were compensated handsomely for doing so. It's a contact sport. That will be a difficult argument for them to make unless the NFL willfully prevented players from using safer pads and helmets (highly unlikely).
Lesson learned- money always comes with a price. For football players, it's your health. Save millions, retire early and then go back to school and get a normal job like the rest of us.
Ah yes, the once great United State's people have become a nation of blame-culture crybabies.
Everyone suing should give back all the money they made as football stars. And all the current players should immediately stop playing and give up their BWM's and mansions and come work for me. I'll give them 50k no bennies and they will not get concussions
If the players thought there would be issues involved in hitting each other in the head, why didn't they ask a doctor then?? You can all blame the NFL all you want, but in the end it is the player's responsibility to find out just what will happen to them. Take responsibility for yourselves and quit blaming everyone else.
Tell a 22 year old draft pick who's about to become a multimillionaire that he should't play football because he may suffer long term brain damage. See what kind of reaction you get.
"Gabillions of dollars." are you kidding me. That money comes from advertising and that cost is in the products we non football players buy. They are already getting hazard pay for it doesn't take much brains to run & catch a ball. And yes they the players are smart enough to know that 300lbs traveling at 20mph each direction is one heck of a collision. Would they jump out of a car going 40mph. They pursue football for the money and ego of being #1 and the fame from being on tv. That was their choice.
The question is when and what did the NFL know about concussions and how did they react to the knowledge. There is also the idea of informed consent. Also people lets not forget these are real people playing this game!
and dont forget these are ADULTS who made the CHOICE to play this GAME for MILLIONS of dollars...... take the ones who had the legs broken on the field, purely by accident, of course..... do you believe that they should sue because they had their leg broken during the game? Or is it possible that they KNEW that could one day eventually happen. Purely by accident, of course.