Brain Injuries in the NFL

     Brain injuries, specifically concussions are a serious issue in the National Football League (NFL). This issue is significant for former players. Former players have filed lawsuits against the NFL, it's helmet maker, Riddell, and their former teams because they feel that information was kept from them and that they were lied to regarding the dangers of brain injuries. Former players are also upset because they are now experiencing brain injury symptoms.

photo credit: proplayerinsiders.com

     

     I disagree with the lawsuits. I disagree because I think that these players understood that by playing football, they were putting themselves at risk.

     

     One lawsuit that was filed against the League and Riddell was discussed in detail in a September 3rd, 2013 Huffington Post article titled, New NFL Concussion Lawsuit: Jimmy Williams, Rich Mauti, Jimmy Keyes, Nolan Franz File New Suit. The article says that Williams, Mauti, Keyes, and Franz want, "a medical monitoring and treatment program for all former, current and future NFL players." The former players not only want the League and Riddell to set up the programs, they want them to fund them as well. Williams, Mauti, Keyes, and Franz want these programs because of what their suffering from. The article says, "each has had headaches, dizziness, memory loss, depression, cognitive dysfunction and medical bills." I believe these problems are the reasons the former players are trying to get the programs in place for current and future players. They don't want them to suffer from what their suffering from. 

     Former players are also suing the teams they played for. According to a December 4th, 2013 Fox Sports article titled, Five former Chiefs players sue team over head injuries, "Leonard Griffin, Chris Martin, Joe Phillips, Alexander Louis Cooper and Kevin Porter," are suing the Kansas City Chiefs because they not only believe that information was kept from them about the dangers of brain injuries, but they also feel like they were lied to about the dangers of brain injuries.  

    Since these two lawsuits were so recent, decisions have not been made yet. However, in regards to the lawsuit against the League and Riddell, this is not the first time the League has been in this situation. If history tell us anything a huge settlement could be coming. According to an August 29th, 2013 Chicago Tribune article titled, NFL, players agree to settle concussion lawsuit, the league and thousands of former players agreed on a settlement of 765 million dollars. If a settlement does occur in the lawsuit against the NFL and Riddell, it could be even larger since the helmet maker is now involved.