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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This is just as pathetic as Cops complaining that their jobs are dangerous. Going in you knew how dangerous the game or job was going to be so don't complain now. If you can't stand the heat in the kitchen lift your skirt and get out.
at all levels coaches have been saying, "you just had your bell rung", "shake it off", it's a combination of past ignorance and now willful negligence...that bell is a human very fragile brain..
I think the fans deserve a cut of this too. Selling overpriced tickets to watch trained adults suffer injuries that could be life threatening and long term must be worth something in a court of law. And I wouldn't stop at the NFL - I'd sue the players too.
This is all true. It is a violent sport, but the retired players that are suffering from some of the brain damage that occured playing for the NFL.
If the NFL recognized these people when the research and examples were coming out with extended medical benefits into retirement, they would have never been a lawsuit today.
God help us that these MEN didn't know that banging your heads together wasn't going to have a long term effect. HELLLLOOOOOOO How many kids in school sports have to be injuried or crippled to realize how damn dumb this is. If you say anything the narrow minded simpletons say to "MAN UP" or don't be a wuss. AHHHHHH now we are in to the major leagues and they are suing becuz they didn't know this. The NFL should sue them for being so stupid!!!!!!
Welcome to the USA, where one's own voluntary actions are never one's own fault. Working in computer rooms all my life has caused hearing loss – perhaps I need to sue IBM. I say boycott NFL football, the players are out of touch with reality.
Yes, they’re id iots... or just looking for a big payday.
Easy man. I know some good men that played. Had they know the risks they wouldn't have played. No one tells you that a concussion could be a life long injury. You just go out and play. You aren't told any of that. You are told to hit harder and seperate runners from the ball etc... You are glorified for these tactics. It is an ugly business and I don't care if they do make millions. I am sure some would gladly give it back to have their health and mind back.
Football is rough and the players play it full throttle because the fans are willing to pay big money to see it. The fans are as much to blame for this. If there are no spectators in the Coliseum what is the point of bringing out the gladiators?
Just like smokers if more people are educated than the tobacco industry suffers. If you say the players made the choice, then we may see fewer men making that choice. In fact their parents will make the choice for them when they are boys.
Exercise free choice. If the NFL cannot come up with a decent solution, the choice is clear for the next generation.
Oh please! The players have only themselves to blame... What cra p!
Wow. I am no NFL player but I know that head trauma and NFL go together like peas in a pod. These players (at least in their youth) wanted the money / glory / fame / "the girls" that came with being an NFL star. They were told – mostly in casual conversation I'm sure – to look out for injuries. I don't see how they can play ignorant on this. I think this is a weak lawsuit.
Would they have settled for a 35k a year job and given up the NFL? I doubt it.
I completely disagree. They were told that colliding helmets was not dangerous and they would not suffer any permanent damage from the collisions. These guys are not doctors and many of them barely have any education. So to expect them to know this is wrong. They were intentionally lied to. This was also happening in High School and little league. All of which should be sued.
You are missing the point here: The point is that the NFL downplayed the effects of being beaten around over and over and over again. Sure, these guys knew they were in for arthritis, broken bones, torn ligaments and maybe a concussion or two, but none of them signed up for brain damage. The NFL had info on this long term effect, and down-played the h3ll out of it to keep reeling in our boys to make them more money. It's as simple as that.
The point is that the NFL downplayed the effects of being beaten around over and over and over again. Sure, these guys knew they were in for arthritis, broken bones, torn ligaments and maybe a concussion or two, but none of them signed up for brain damage. The NFL had info on this long term effect, and down-played the h3ll out of it to keep reeling in our boys to make them more money. It's as simple as that.
A concussion is a brain injury, and if you keep doing and doing this, did they honestly did not know it would cause more damage. They knew and I bet all the 2000 that is suing is ex-players and run out of money
"They didn't sign up for brain damage." That's what a concussion is – damage to the brain.
I'm sorry, but any judge that doesn't get this on his bench and **immediately** these yahoos to pound sand is an idiot. You're hired to play professional football for crying out loud. Did you not think (ah, there's the problem) that you *might* get your head banged? And were they not paying you to do exactly that?
I'm going to sue God because I burned my mouth with my cup of tea this morning. He made boiling water hot and didn't tell anybody about it.
Please. This is what's wrong with America. Even our "manly man" football players are little wussy children.
If they didn't already know that slamming thier head that hard was dagerous than all the money in the world isn't going to make them any smarter. Also, suing the NFL is just suing the fans who will be the ones footing the bill. Just like the smokers, and the hot coffes spillers and the list goes on and on of people that want what they don't deserve, money but need what they don't have, common sense!
Being lied to is not what they deserve and it was not common sense that they would suffer permanent brain damage. Do you know the details about the coffee spiller and the smokers? I doubt if you have read those cases because if you did you wouldn't be acting so ignorant.
Lets See Rocket Scientist or Football player, I can make more money as a footballer bashing heads in, parties, women, then when I'm older and broke I can sue them for head injuries and be set for retirement..... I'll go footballer
Law and Suites...The suites are expensive and laywers and players need to have them...so find a way to keep the easy money comming in.
DUHHHHHHHHHH two grown men running at each other full speed is going to involve a risk of concussion. I guarantee half the players that are in on this lawsuit have gone broke and are looking for a buck.
These players had to know the risk. They have already been compensated through their over inflated salaries most mismanage....
If the lawyers representing the players honestly believed 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,” then they would be doing the work pro bono. Instead, if the NFL players win, the lawyers are going to take probably 40%. Lawyers only care about one thing: money. The cause is irrelevant.
You are wrong. They care about both and our legal system. You are projecting your own morals onto them. You only care about money and that is why you said this.
Didn't their private physicians tell them they were brain dead ? I think they already were pretty stupid. Didn't the colleges they went to tell them....so many colossal brains but no help still. How about the high schools ? Grade schools ? Nothing...all the teachers, doctors and professors said nothing....