Former players sue NFL over concussion-related injuries
Seven former players sued the NFL in Philadelphia over the league’s handling of concussion-related injuries, the first potential class-action lawsuit of its kind.
The players accuse the league of training players to lead with their heads, failing to properly treat them for concussions and trying to conceal links between football and brain injuries.
The plaintiffs include two-time Super Bowl champion Jim McMahon, who has said he played through five concussions but now frequently walks around “in a daze.”
The suit accuses the NFL of negligence and intentional misconduct in its response to the headaches, dizziness and dementia that former players have reported. The suit, filed Wednesday, seeks medical monitoring along with funds to pay for the care of injured players.
NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy said the league had not seen the lawsuit but would vigorously contest any such claims.
Larry Coben of Philadelphia, an attorney for the former players, said one client might soon lose his home because of his health-related financial problems.
“The big issue, for us, is they were told for decades to lead with their heads,” Coben told the Associated Press. “The NFL would never admit that there’s any correlation” to later health problems.
Seventy-five retired players sued the NFL last month in Los Angeles, alleging the league has known since the 1920s about the harmful effects of concussions but concealed them from players, coaches, trainers and the public until June 2010. That suit also names helmet-maker Riddell, the NFL’s official supplier, as a defendant.
The federal suit filed in Philadelphia, though, is the first to seek class-action status and potentially include anyone who had played in the league and suffered a concussion or head injury.
GOLF
Sluman leads Senior Players
Jeff Sluman shot a six-under-par 65 for a one-stroke lead after the first round of the Senior Players Championship, the Champions Tour’s final major of the season, at Harrison, N.Y.
Sluman had seven birdies and a bogey on Westchester Country Club’s tree-lined West Course. Gary Hallberg and Peter Senior opened with 66s.
Jay Haas, the 2009 winner, Corey Pavin and Michael Allen were two strokes back at 67, and Fred Couples, defending champion Mark O’Meara and Tommy Armour III had 68s.
Jeff Quinney and Tommy Gainey shot seven-under 63s and were tied for the lead after the first round of the PGA Tour’s Wyndham Championship at Greensboro, N.C.
Quinney had eight birdies, including five in a row early in his round. Gainey had five birdies and an eagle, matching his career-best round. Stuart Appleby shot a 64.
Peter Lawrie of Ireland shot a six-under 66, taking a one-stroke lead after the first round of the European Tour’s Czech Open at Celadna, Czech Republic. Another Irishman, Damien McGrane, Victor Dubuisson of France and Pedro Oriol of Spain were tied for second, one stroke back.