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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morons
exactly ... huge men hitting each other daily for years might cause injuries – who would have thought?
During the first few decades of professional football in this country, it was not unusual for players to die from trauma on the field. If those guys didn't sue, today's players really shouldn't either. After all, they get thin plastic and foam helmets to protect themselves from immediate death.
"I'm dead, I'm suing you!" lol!!
what a bunch of idiots, they knew the dangers of the game going into it. It's like smokers suing tobacco companies, they also knew the dangers its printed on the pack. They need to get a life.
Serously?!! This is as st u pid as that fat-a$$ that tried to sue McDonalds for being fat! I have COMPLETELY had enough of these kind of people!!!!
I never thought that bashing your head into other people at high speeds over and over again would cause any kind of problems.
Yeah really? Especially when one CHOOSES to do so!
Bye-bye football. Soccer should go, too, especially for kids (concussions). Hitting a ball with one's head should be a hazard a family doc should tell parents about (although parents should know this). Same goes for professional football players. I have no doubt they know football can be a vicious contact sport. I think it is their responsibility as ADULTS to play knowing this and now they should have to sign waivers. I hope these lawsuits don't pay out.
IS this just stupid news or some kind of joke. What is next, Boxers? Race car drivers? Pro Wrestlers? All Teraine fighters? Another good example of unions gone wild and Walker winning.
OK...let's just ban ALL sports because of potential injuries: – Football with tramatic head trauma; Baseball – You could get hit with a bat, a pitch, a ball, run into a wall...; Soccer: – No contact (right) – again you can get hit, tripped, knocked out; Rugby – Wow...don't get me started...anyone see a trned here?
I'm ready for my rowdy friends to come by! Lets getrer done!
In related news, robbers are suing police departments for making their beloved past time of robbing banks a life-threatening activity.
ok, so...if you want to win this lawsuit, then the NFL can start paying you the federal mandated minimum wage, as your real money will come from this lawsuit. Why do you think you're paid millions of dollars to run for two hours per week on a big field and play a children's game? To cover your injuries. Not because the 'WORK' is just the world's most difficult job.
Should have used their "heads" for something else. They had a choice. They chose glory, money, instead of a profession that involves using your brain instead of hammering it, and now they want to sue because they think they can? I say the judge that rules in favor of this needs to be publically shot!
Oh, and after that, make Football illegal unless the player signs a wavier!!
Note to NFL players....
* Do not pee on an electric fence; this may cause pain and injury.
* Licking a lamp post in winter may cause your tongue to freeze to the pole and cause injury.
* Do not staple your lip, tongue, or eyelids; this is dangerous.
* Most household cleaning supplies cannot be used as a dessert topping.
* Do not pet porcupines.
* Badgers are not friendly.
* Do not slam your private parts in a piano lid; this is dangerous and can be quite painful.
* Slamming your head into things outside of football is dangerous too. I am aware of the risks and am sharing them with you. (now you cant blame me if you start bashing your head into my brick wall and become injured)
* Coyote and Roadrunner is not real. Dropping an anvil on someone's head or falling off a cliff can cause injury or death.
You have been warned. (note: This is a partial list. There are many other things in this world that are dangerous as well.)
You are missing the point, if you were a carpret layer and the carpet that you were laying had harmful chemicals that lead to you getting cancer and the company knew it but decided to withhold information about and paid doctors to say that the carpet you laid had nothing to do with your cancer, how would you feel?
This is exactly what the older NFL players are suing about. The NFL lied about concusions and how they led to problems later down in life. If the NFL told players about how concusions impacted their health and gave some form of disclosure then I could see you and everyone's point about folks taking responsibility but the NFL did everything in their power to hide the issues with concussions.
Hilarious! They make little league and junior high students sign waivers. Why couldn't these guys be responsible for their choice to play a tough and dangerous professional game.
to Shidona Shingle – LOVE your comment.
May I suggest that in the future they take advantage of those college scholarships and at least take a basic biology class?
This is a money grab! These players are trying to get through the courts what they counldn't get through collective bargaining–gobs of cash. They mismanaged their money through their playing years and now they're trying to blackmail the NFL. This like a soldier sueing the military for injuries he sustained in combat.