NFL and Players Reach Concussion Lawsuit Settlement

[pbmax]

The Associated Press @AP 1m
BREAKING: US judge: NFL, players reach proposed $765M settlement of concussion-related lawsuits. -SS

I wonder how close to their estimates this was?

Would love to see how much current players gave up in the CBA to fund this.

[pbmax]

Details:

Albert Breer @AlbertBreer 28m
Some of the breakdown: $75M for medical exams; $675M to compensate ex-players; $10M for research/education.

Albert Breer @AlbertBreer 29m
I'm separately told that the payments for individual players will be capped at $5 million.

Will Brinson @WillBrinson 28m
Full press release on the NFL's settlement of the concussion lawsuit here: http://nfllabor.files.wordpress.com/...-release-2.pdf …

Bill Barnwell @billbarnwell 23m
Players will get 50% of the compensation over the next 3 years and the rest over the subsequent 17 years, so it's even less with inflation.

Bill Barnwell @billbarnwell 23m
And if the compensation fund runs out of money, the NFL might be forced to add a one-time additional contribution of ... $37.5 million.

Albert Breer @AlbertBreer 14m
The press release also has it in there that NFL doesn't not admit liability or that injuries were caused by football.

IT WAS THE GREENIES, FOLLOWED BY DIANABOL, FOLLOWED BY HGH

Albert Breer @AlbertBreer 12m
Negotiations towards this settlement, I'm told, started nearly a year ago, in September of 2012.

Albert Breer @AlbertBreer 9m
All retired players will have the chance to undergo baseline neurological evaluation, and will get monitoring and treatment if needed.

Albert Breer @AlbertBreer 7m
Awards (to max of $675M, max of $5M/player) avail to those who have med evidence of severe cognitive impairment, dementia, Alzheimer’s, ALS

Albert Breer @AlbertBreer 5m
NFL doesn't admit liability or football is to blame ... But flip side here: Players don't have to prove football was the cause to get awards

NO ONE KNOWS ANYTHING, PLEASE ACCEPT THIS GRATUITY

[mraynrand]

Albert Breer @AlbertBreer 14m
The press release also has it in there that NFL doesn't not admit liability or that injuries were caused by football.

IT WAS THE GREENIES, FOLLOWED BY DIANABOL, FOLLOWED BY HGH

legal eagles can confer, but this is just to protect the NFL from further individual suits, I imagine. Unless there is something more specific in the agreement about players not bringing further suit.

Remember when all players would wear suits - jacket, ties - the day of the game?

[gbgary]

a win-win I suppose. glad it's over.

[pbmax]

legal eagles can confer, but this is just to protect the NFL from further individual suits, I imagine. Unless there is something more specific in the agreement about players not bringing further suit.

Remember when all players would wear suits - jacket, ties - the day of the game?

It probably precludes any of the players who signed on from getting leverage in court anymore. But the NFLPA was not a party to the suit, so future players are still governed by the current CBA. I think it would be common for this to settle all claims about this specific issue for ALL current parties (players or former players) but this was not a class-action suit. Reading the coverage, that means there are differences between this and say, tobacco.

Any settlement is predicated on three things for the defendant: making it go away, not admitting liability and not having discovery/public testimony take place. I suspect the NFL had a specific interest in all three. Avoid having judgement about how you are liable for brain damage, avoid whatever embarrassments existed about the League dithering about this issue since it first came to light and trying to stem a panic among young families letting their kids play/watch football.

[Kiwon]

I wonder how broadly people share the writer's opinion.

"Although some might see the settlement as low, the case was complicated and not a slam-dunk for the ex-players. Meanwhile, the NFL was battling a public relations nightmare of appearing to be a bully for even fighting the case."

Or this viewpoint from a reader: "Anybody that would let their kids play tackle football is completely ignorant and probably has an iq of about 100. With all the doctor reports, facts, evidence that is available today you really don't love and care about your child if they play tackle football. Period."

http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/2013/08/29/nfl-concussion-settlement-judge-anita-brody-tony-dorsett-jim-mcmahon-junior-seau/2727483/

[pbmax]

Or this viewpoint from a reader: "[B]Anybody that would let their kids play tackle football is completely ignorant and probably has an iq of about 100.[/url]

Either that IQ number is a typo or that commenter has high standards, since 100 is average.

[Guiness]

looking at what I can easily find on this, I'm amazed that the settlement doesn't seem to be indexed to COL or inflation!

When the last payment is made in 2033...what will $700K get you? This if you're lucky

[Kiwon]

Either that IQ number is a typo or that commenter has high standards, since 100 is average.

It came from this fake Facebook account

Kate Perspicacious · Top Commenter · Works at I'm rich, I don't need to work.

[mraynrand]

looking at what I can easily find on this, I'm amazed that the settlement doesn't seem to be indexed to COL or inflation!

When the last payment is made in 2033...what will $700K get you? This if you're lucky

I don't think I've been in McDonald's for a decade. Is that a typeII diabetes warning on the happy meal box? Geezus we're a weird society.

[digitaldean]

Mandarich was one of plaintiffs. How the heck does he rate? He had such an insignificant career, that he doesn't rate. The old players , who get jobbed by NFLPA, deserve it more than the newer guys.

Guys like Butler, Levens I have to scratch my head about it. Lets hope this is the last we from the ambulance chasers and their clients. Getting pretty tired of this victim mentality from guys who made a killing money wise.

[MadScientist]

I wonder how broadly people share the writer's opinion.

"Although some might see the settlement as low, the case was complicated and not a slam-dunk for the ex-players. Meanwhile, the NFL was battling a public relations nightmare of appearing to be a bully for even fighting the case."

The more the concussion talk was kept alive, the worse it would be fore the NFL. If it went to trial there would be a lot of stories from players and doctors ready made for sound bites about how much damage was done and how bad life had become. Some will think the players were compensated enough, but many will think that permanent brain damage goes beyond what a player could reasonably expect because who you are comes from your brain.

Or this viewpoint from a reader: "Anybody that would let their kids play tackle football is completely ignorant and probably has an iq of about 100. With all the doctor reports, facts, evidence that is available today you really don't love and care about your child if they play tackle football. Period."

http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports...-seau/2727483/

That reader is the real ignorant one, an IQ of 100 is by definition average. Parents with high IQ's will tend to place a higher value on brain power and be more leery of head injuries, but soccer would also cause concern for that as well, with all the headers. The love and care part of the comment was just stupid.

[MadScientist]

Mandarich was one of plaintiffs. How the heck does he rate? He had such an insignificant career, that he doesn't rate. The old players , who get jobbed by NFLPA, deserve it more than the newer guys.

Guys like Butler, Levens I have to scratch my head about it. Lets hope this is the last we from the ambulance chasers and their clients. Getting pretty tired of this victim mentality from guys who made a killing money wise.

Manwich did have concussion problems:
http://articles.chicagotribune.com/1...kers-officials

[MadScientist]

Really interesting take from Staubach.
http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com...g-concussions/

It would be interesting to take a closer look at his brain given all the whacks it took. How is he doing well when many others have issues. I have no doubt that he's right about people piling on to the lawsuit, but there have been plenty of well documented cases of brain damage to ex NFL players. The question is did his brain just not have the long term damage, or did it just adapt well to it?

[QBME]

The more the concussion talk was kept alive, the worse it would be fore the NFL. If it went to trial there would be a lot of stories from players and doctors ready made for sound bites about how much damage was done and how bad life had become. Some will think the players were compensated enough, but many will think that permanent brain damage goes beyond what a player could reasonably expect because who you are comes from your brain.

I agree that it would have been a publicity challenge for the NFL. But on the other side of the coin (no pun intended) could the players realistically have gone toe-to-toe with the NFL in a protracted trial? I have no idea what size their legal war chest is, but King Roger and his cabal could have thrown unbelievable cash at it and kept the meter running for years. I think the players perhaps realized they could end up with jack shit, took the money and ran, and I can't blame them.