NFL player lawsuit

[Bob Hunter]

The biggest sports class action law suit was filed against the NFL. Former players claim the NFL fraudulently concealed the risk of concussions. Seems kinda ironic when the league has to discipline players and teams for bounty programs. Then there was the uproar over players and unnecessary violence on the field. And then of course, you have Goodell who comes under fire softening the game.

Who is really to blame here? The players, league or both?

Does the lawsuit change the game we all know and love?

[Jim Poteet]

The biggest sports class action law suit was filed against the NFL. Former players claim the NFL fraudulently concealed the risk of concussions. Seems kinda ironic when the league has to discipline players and teams for bounty programs. Then there was the uproar over players and unnecessary violence on the field. And then of course, you have Goodell who comes under fire softening the game.

Who is really to blame here? The players, league or both?

Does the lawsuit change the game we all know and love?

It has the potential to be a huge game changer.

[Shea Zellweger]

The complaint from the players appears to be that the league attempted to obfuscate the risk of playing while concussed, among other things. I don't think it's a call to reduce the physicality of the game, or a claim that players wouldn't have played ball if they'd known the risks. They knew they could get hurt, and played anyway. Most people who played sports at any level for a few years have witnessed first-hand the possibilities of injury. But the stuff that has come out about concussions in recent years is scary, and if the league knew about it and didn't say anything, that's a problem. They knew they could break bones, rip tendons, and even face potential paralyzation or death, but they didn't know that playing while concussed could result in chronic health problems years later. If the league knew this, and witheld the information in order that players would be more likely to play through the injuries, that's intentional creation of a harmful labor situation. It's more about the right to know the risks and make an informed decision than anything else. (at least, if the news sources I follow are reporting accurately)

[Steven Burton]

The complaint from the players appears to be that the league attempted to obfuscate the risk of playing while concussed, among other things. I don't think it's a call to reduce the physicality of the game, or a claim that players wouldn't have played ball if they'd known the risks. They knew they could get hurt, and played anyway. Most people who played sports at any level for a few years have witnessed first-hand the possibilities of injury. But the stuff that has come out about concussions in recent years is scary, and if the league knew about it and didn't say anything, that's a problem. They knew they could break bones, rip tendons, and even face potential paralyzation or death, but they didn't know that playing while concussed could result in chronic health problems years later. If the league knew this, and witheld the information in order that players would be more likely to play through the injuries, that's intentional creation of a harmful labor situation. It's more about the right to know the risks and make an informed decision than anything else. (at least, if the news sources I follow are reporting accurately)

Not to mention the mental factor that play into what happens to brain during and after the concussion that can lead to serious mental issues. Just look at Professional Wrestling and Chris Benoit. He suffered numerious head injures and then they examined his brain. Come to find out his brain functioned more like a 70 -80 year old male than someone in their 30s or 40s here is the results. If the NFL was trying to keep this stuff quiet then maybe they need someone better equipped to run the show. This also talks a little about NFL concussion and the effects on the brain.

I am not sure how the lawsuit will change the game so to speak. But it may impact the way in which players are allowed to hit each other and when a player is not fit to play. I have always been against helmet to helmet contact ever since I played due to increase risk you place on yourself and others.

[Bob Hunter]

Not to mention the mental factor that play into what happens to brain during and after the concussion that can lead to serious mental issues. Just look at Professional Wrestling and Chris Benoit. He suffered numerious head injures and then they examined his brain. Come to find out his brain functioned more like a 70 -80 year old male than someone in their 30s or 40s here is the results. If the NFL was trying to keep this stuff quiet then maybe they need someone better equipped to run the show. This also talks a little about NFL concussion and the effects on the brain.

I am not sure how the lawsuit will change the game so to speak. But it may impact the way in which players are allowed to hit each other and when a player is not fit to play. I have always been against helmet to helmet contact ever since I played due to increase risk you place on yourself and others.

I'm beginning to realize why Brett Favre was so erratic and unpredictable in the years before his retirement. 20 years of getting sacked, must have some degree of impact on how the brain operates.

[Steven Burton]

I'm beginning to realize why Brett Favre was so erratic and unpredictable in the years before his retirement. 20 years of getting sacked, must have some degree of impact on how the brain operates.

Yeah and the factor that he probably did not know what to do after he retired. Not knowing what to do can be a scary thing for someone who has always done one thing for his whole life.

[Jim Poteet]

Not to mention the mental factor that play into what happens to brain during and after the concussion that can lead to serious mental issues. Just look at Professional Wrestling and Chris Benoit. He suffered numerious head injures and then they examined his brain. Come to find out his brain functioned more like a 70 -80 year old male than someone in their 30s or 40s here is the results. If the NFL was trying to keep this stuff quiet then maybe they need someone better equipped to run the show. This also talks a little about NFL concussion and the effects on the brain.

I am not sure how the lawsuit will change the game so to speak. But it may impact the way in which players are allowed to hit each other and when a player is not fit to play. I have always been against helmet to helmet contact ever since I played due to increase risk you place on yourself and others.

To go way out in left field, I can see the day when football is played with no helmets. What has happened is that the helmet has become a lethal weapon-except that the person getting the concussion, in most cases, is the hitter, rather than the hitee.

[Dave McClung]

The biggest sports class action law suit was filed against the NFL. Former players claim the NFL fraudulently concealed the risk of concussions. Seems kinda ironic when the league has to discipline players and teams for bounty programs. Then there was the uproar over players and unnecessary violence on the field. And then of course, you have Goodell who comes under fire softening the game.

Who is really to blame here? The players, league or both?

Does the lawsuit change the game we all know and love?

This lawsuit may be the end of professional football as we have known it.

The next similar law suit will be Nascar. If I were Nascar's lawyers, I would advise them to put a sticker on the dashboard of each car, "Driving fast can be dangerous to your health."

I wonder if the NBA has warned the basketball players that "jumping my cause knee injury?"

How about schools? Should schools warn their teachers, "Statistics show that teaching may result in obesity."? (Google it.)

How about the courts? Should they warn lawyers, "Experience shows that 50% of all lawyers lose their cases!!"?

How about AARP? Should they warn their members, "Studies show that most retired people die?"

[Shea Zellweger]

This lawsuit may be the end of professional football as we have known it.

The next similar law suit will be Nascar. If I were Nascar's lawyers, I would advise them to put a sticker on the dashboard of each car, "Driving fast can be dangerous to your health."

I wonder if the NBA has warned the basketball players that "jumping my cause knee injury?"

How about schools? Should schools warn their teachers, "Statistics show that teaching may result in obesity."? (Google it.)

How about the courts? Should they warn lawyers, "Experience shows that 50% of all lawyers lose their cases!!"?

How about AARP? Should they warn their members, "Studies show that most retired people die?"

I can see what you're saying, but I don't think that's the direction this lawsuit would take the NFL. Actually, they've already begun implementing the policies and procedures necessary to protect current athletes. there are rules against lowering your head or launching, and policies for concussed individuals which include mandatory rest and the need to be cleared by a doctor not affiliated with the team. I agree with coach P that some of the "protective" equipment has effectively weaponized players, and taking away some of their armor might make them think twice about being quite so brutal, but really the bulk of the work in preventing players from suiting up while concussed, and if I'm correct in interpreting most of the stuff that's been written on this, it's not really concussions that are the danger, but the risk of suffering further injury while still concussed, or suffering multiple concussions. It might lead to some earlier retirements, and will almost certainly result in some monetary judgments for retired players if they win, but I'm not finding much in the way of alterations to the game. The final paragraph in this article seems to reflect the tenor of most of the plaintiffs I've read quotes from. They want players to be informed, taken care of if they have symptoms, and protected wherever possible, but they don't seem to want to take the hitting out of football.

[Steven Burton]

We could look to rugby as an example. They don't seem as likely to lead with head from what I have seen.

[Bob Hunter]

We could look to rugby as an example. They don't seem as likely to lead with head from what I have seen.

The front row of a scrum is pretty physical though. Only trained players are allowed in the front row where there is a huge risk of breaking your neck. Some have called for a ban on scrums. But many argue they should remain if the rules are followed and players are trained properly. Sound familiar?

[Steven Burton]

The front row of a scrum is pretty physical though. Only trained players are allowed in the front row where there is a huge risk of breaking your neck. Some have called for a ban on scrums. But many argue they should remain if the rules are followed and players are trained properly. Sound familiar?

Yup, I had forgotten about the amount of pressure they put on their necks and heads while doing that.

[Dan Henderson]

How about AARP? Should they warn their members, "Studies show that most retired people die?"

Most? I remember CS Lewis saying that the generational mortality rate is always 100%. Has something changed? ...

[Gina Stevenson]

Most? I remember CS Lewis saying that the generational mortality rate is always 100%. Has something changed? ...

Well, not Dave, but I just see a wee bit of TIC/sarcasm(?) in the use of that one word there: "most."

[Dan Henderson]

Well, not Dave, but I just see a wee bit of TIC/sarcasm(?) in the use of that one word there: "most."

thus the TIC response...