We've covered this subject before, but heck, that never stops us around here. Turns out the NFL will need to navigate another legal battle in the not-so-distant future, and this one has nothing to do with the lockout.
The lawsuit, first reported by TMZ.com, alleges that the NFL did not admit that multiple concussions can affect memory and cause dementia and chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) until 2010.
All of the players named in the suit claim they have suffered injuries due to multiple concussions.
However, the suit claims that an NFL-authorized 1994 study concluded there was "no evidence of worsening injury or chronic cumulative effects" from multiple concussions.
The NFL only warned active players in June 2010 of the risks associated with multiple concussions and Riddell failed to warn active players until about the same time, the suit claims.
Much of the concussion-related precautions taken by the NFL are fairly recent. It's one thing if you choose to disregard the obvious, but if there was a coverup of any sort, then someone is getting paid.
I won't lie, most folks - myself included - have some sense of the ethically questionable behavior underlying professional athletics. It happens. Players who shouldn't be on the field find themselves there. And to be fair, it's not always because they were forced to be there. Miss a game or two, then you give your potential replacement a chance to shine, and when that happens, if the circumstances are right, your ticket is punched.
I've gone on the record about this. These guys aren't war zone-embedded contractors. Their million dollar contracts don't constitute hazard pay. But as always, I'm curious what y'all think. Feel free to disagree, but remember, these are human beings we're talking about.
On your mark! Get set! GO!