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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Really bashing your heads together gives brain damage and you didn't tell us? Mama always said stupid is as stupid does. What is said they will be found guilty, 75% of the money will go to the lawyers and the cost of going to see your favorite football game will double. Stop the stupidity!
This proves football players don't have any brains to begin with, so what are they losing, really? Next up, PGA sue over blisters, NASCAR drivers sue over hemorrhoids, and curlers sue for chapped lips
You mean they could not figure out why they were wearing helmets?
Not one of those 2000 players would have quit had they been educated on the risks.
But, they might have sat out a few more games to help with recovery from head injuries or, retired a little earlier.
Agreed Mike . . .not one of them would have given up their 7 figure salary even if the NFL made them watch movies about head injuries before signing. As if the millions they got before weren't enough . . greedy greedy greedy
It is fine to march a long line of medical professionals to the stand in 2012 to say that multiple concussions pose long-term risk. I think we all, including the NFL, now know that. The question, it seems to me, is whether that is reasonable standard for the NFL to be held to when these players were active. Did the NFL really withhold information, of was everyone just ignorant to the risks?
Also, given how inclined players seem to be to want to ignore medical advise and 'just get back onto the field' claiming now that the NFL was not conservative enough seems inherently hypocritical. I do think the NFL needs to do more to help some of these former players, but to hold them legally accountable seems a bit of a stretch to me.
The League needs to answer these suits straight up, and honestly, not resort to legal trickery to save a couple of bucks
The big money was good, now they want more. What is next? Sue the shoe company because walking is tiresome?
As I remember the players hit each other in football.
DAH.......never would have thought you could get a serious life long injury playing football.
the helmets do NOT protect the brain from moving inside the skull when someone is hit. The helmet will protect damage to the skull. It is like being in a car accident. The body of the car will crumple, you are held in place by the belt and the airbag protects you from going through the glass or hitting the dash. But you are still going to get banged around and likely suffer whiplash.
Zackly
I think the law suit is ridiculous. To think that a player would never ever consider how such a sport could bring
physical injury to their head is ridiculous. I knew that 35 years ago, as a kid, and and didn't need to be a neurologist to
figure it out. You play a sport like that, you take your chances.
Football is dead; long live rugby.
who woulda thought? banging heads and tackling each other could possibly hurt your brain? you learn something new everyday...[sarcasm]
But they don't mind the millions they are paid.
I played HS football in the 70s and we knew about the dangers of concussions back then. Any professional football player that claims he was ignorant and the league hid the potential danger from him is lying. They know the risks and choose the $$$$, fame and glory.
llol. So you're telling me these 2000 NFL players thought playing football is a healthy approach to life? Give me a break. What a Cash grab.