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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Forget them. I hope they don't make a dime.
sue sue sue! not to win, but to drive the blood suckers into bankrupsy!
This suit has a clear outcome. If the players win, football should be declared a health hazard and banned in the United States – PERIOD! No NFL, no College Football, no High School Football, No kid football. Concussions occur at all levels! If the nature of the sport kills people, why have it? Some sports writers will differ. I suggest that these writers be put in a Roman Colosseum with lions. I will be happy after the lions have a feast. When a "sport" becomes barbaric and when civilization becomes a tad more non-violent, the sport should be banned. There is one other alternative: give every football player a glock and full magazine to start the game. Yeah, even the kids. When it is over, Darwin will have eliminated the barbarians and the world will be more civilized.
You are so right on. I love you.
Playing the game is a choice. I am glad my son is grown up. He was too small to play football anyway. But if he were young enough to play Pop Warner today, given this issue, I would absolutely not sign him up for football. How many other parents are going to make this choice now?
And what about all those kids playing the sport in midget leagues, junior and senior high, college... and then there's heading in soccer...looks like some adjustments need to be made...more kids will choose track and swimming to keep their brains intact.
I can sympathize with those who have undergone head trauma, but it's disingenuous on behalf of the players to claim that they don't know the full consequences of playing professional football. Running full speed into other people for an entire career will lead to chronic and/or permanent injuries. You don't need a medical license to figure that out. Race car drivers might as well claim NASCAR didn't do enough to tell them about the risks of driving a vehicle 200 mph around a track.
Sorry for the double post, but why don't the players create a monetary fund for research into risk prevention and injury treatment?
Well said, my thoughts exactly
Well said, you summed it up perfectly.
Hopefully this is thrown out. I know these guys are not all that bright, but come on!
This is a load of crap. These guys knew the risk (and want someone else to pay for it). They wanted the fame, glory and money of being in the NFL. And now that they are not – they want someone's head on a stick. If you don't want to GET HURT playing FOOTBALL – then you don't play. It's your choice. Big babies.
The fact is, these players knew the risks of the sport they were playing. It is like a person going to a baseball game and getting hit with a foul ball. Assumption of risks. Clearly better concussion prevention matters need to be taken but then again with the number of lawsuits by 2020 there will no longer be a NFL.
2000 loosers are suing NFL. Do these losers know that Football is a contact sport? Are they that stupid not to know that. Fire all of them seriously. Get rid of their sorry butts
I thought we all have the right to work in a safe environment...these players knew they could get hurt in football...but the employer (the NFL) should do everything in their power to make the workplace as safe as possible...these players are now suing because they were hurt...they are suing because their employer was negligent...they have known for decades that helmet to helmet contact causes brain injury...but the league turned their heads...after a big hit if a player could count the fingers on a hand they were put back in the game to keep the ratings up....football is a dangerous sport but it is the NFLs responsibility to minimize the chance of injury...its like a cop getting shot in the line of duty and dying because he had not be given a bullet proof vest and the department sayings its not their fault, becuase the cop should have known that its a dangerous job
Great post
I bet the players and attorneys are doing this for the health concerns of those still playing and those who will play football. Little league, Junior High, High School, College, Pro, will probably benifit directly with funds from this lawsuit.
Ahhhh wait...it wont fund football head injury research....the econmy is bad the lawyers and players are running low.
Little League football leagues should also be sued–seriously.
They have money-I don't-I didn't save any because I was a celebrity-I want their's-just because I do!
They played football in high school and college before going to the big leagues. Sounds like they were already brain damaged if they didn't have a clue by then how dangerous the sport can be. Yeah, let's blame everyone else for our choices.