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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These guys know what they are getting into, i mean these guys are millionaires but they say they aren't informed.
Human evolution is slow and painful but we'll get there!
Really?? You (2,000 NFL players) really did not think that blunt force trauma to your head would have long term affects? Any "normal" person would know that....?? So you kept doing it because you did not know that? Or you are suing the NFL because they knew this but were not as stupid as you?
When will kids be protected and little kids football and high school football be banned.
Lets just say for a second everyone of these 2000 players are really that stupid not to know the danger. So they are making millions a year and someone says hey...you can get really hurt....lays all the "info" on them....then what? They quit? They say, oh well in that case I'm not doing it anymore. LOL..ya right..this is pure greed and an attempt to manipulate a company for more money...US..everyone sues everyone for free money ...PATHETIC!
So basically the lawyers will make a fortune, the players a few bucks, and they will still be ignorant fools. Are these crybabies going to sue their high schools and colleges as well ?
Owners should shut them down again, let them work for a living – I hear mcDonalds needs french fry chefs
they need to either (a)stop playing football and stop glamorizing it to the point of people thinking it's more important than science, math, teaching, or any other career or position that actually contributes to the community and welfare of the world; or (b) go back to playing with only leather padding– it's the poly helmets and padding covers that cause the injury.
If that takes the fun and excitement away, oh well. Maybe option (a) will result– or maybe insurance companies should just exempt/ exclude anyone who plays tackle football from any type of coverage– that would put an end to this.
Go players, sue them. But from here on out, you players are forewarned and will be barred from bringing an action because you have assumed the risk. Take note.
Aren't most NFL players college educated? All that education and they didn't understand the risk? I'm no Dr. House but, I know to protect my head!?!?
If you thought tickets were expensive now... just wait until the NFL has to payout for these injuries.
This lawsuit is nonsense!! The players cannot claim they did not know football is a dangerous sport. There are deaths every year in high school football for one injury or another. Don't play if you do not want to be injured.
Isn't the idea of football to go out and hurt the other players? Sure looks like it on TV.
Good. Maybe this will cause them to do away with the sport all together. They are WAY OVERPAID anyways,
If the players were'nt such sissies they wouldn't get so hurt.. take of the body armor and be men like Rugby players..
Getting continuous hard jolts to the head should be clear enough indication that nurological damage to the head could be a strong possibility these guys willingly took this risk for the million dollar contracts they received and now crying over spilled milk through the case out of court.
Hmmm...so when did the injuries begin? In little league, high school or college? Do you go back and sue the others? Not sure you can blame the injuries entirely on the NFL.
I wonder why no one ever sued the NFL for enabling them to earn so much money?
Manning get hurt, has a problem and yet goes back in the game...25 ,million he can buy his own insurance...
Pathologist has eye problems sues lab...should have bought insurance..
Hard on eyes looking through scope all day..