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
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They knew what they were getting into! Players get paid WAY TOO MUCH already and now want more. What a load.
I remember Dan Fouts football days maybe around 1984/85, and most of the parents at my school were so worried about their 7th/8th grade boys getting head concussions, and the extreme dangers of football, with head injuries and all. The dangers of football goes back a long way for me. Isn't there a statute ,,or err uh "they should know, or should have known" kind of BS. How could they file this with a straight face...hahaha this is some humerous stuff
caboose – the head studies just came to light in the last two yrs. The NFL knew no more then the players association. How come the union, who also has billions of $$$, did not do these studies decades ago. Is it not the unions job to protect those that are and have paid into the union. That is the job of the union, so I say both are to blame however the main blame goes to the players for not informing themselves on simple collision deductions. The first time I got hit that hard when I was like 14, I said this is not the sport for me. So if a 14yr old can figure it out, surly the adult players knew the ramifications
If they win this, the fans will be paying the payouts to the players, NOT the NFL.
The question isn't 'did they know there was risk' the question is did the league suppress medical evidence of long term consequences.
To put it another way. You know driving is dangerous, you trust the car manufacturer's recommendations for service and maintenance to make it safer. What if they lied to sell you the car and it caused you injury? What if others that bought that car had had the same accidents and injuries and the facts had been suppressed to get you to buy the same vehicle?
This is ridiculous. Common sense would tell you that head trauma is no good. I'm sure these 2,000 players didn't save/invest their money during their prime career times and want an excuse to try to go after more.
Viking warriors, Spartans, Greek Warriors, would be thinkin' man what a bunch a Fairy's. Boys can't even face the truth.
Because those with deep pockets must pay the victims and their lawyers, let alone this is US.
These players are looking for another source of income.
What's the saying? Fat neck=small brains!!!!!
No fat head, small brain, big ambition to go after the evil deep-pocketed.
I hope all the young jocks at least learn a lesson from this. Pounding your head into things day after day, year after year is probably a bad idea. And before you go thinking how great and popular you are in high school, just remember that most pencil-necked geeks know intuitively not to engage in that kind of activity.
Hypocrites... They sue for injuries while trying to block rules the NFL puts in place to prevent injuries.
If you didn't know that bashing heads causes brain damage, you were probably brain damaged before playing football.
I just heard that the NFL discovered this think called a concussion a thousand years ago and has been keeping that information from us all.
NFL must pay.
Because those deep pockets must pay the victims and their lawyers.
Because this is USA.
What a bunch of money hungry idiots. They get paid an insane amount of money to play a sport where head trauma is part of the deal. I hope they get nothing.