Several concussion lawsuits are being combined | NFL
PHILADELPHIA — At least four lawsuits blaming the NFL for concussion-related dementia and brain disease will be consolidated in Philadelphia, and more could follow.
A U.S. judicial panel approved requests Tuesday by the league and plaintiffs lawyers to try similar cases before Senior U.S. District Judge Anita B. Brody in Philadelphia.
The lawsuits represent more than 300 retired players or spouses, including Jim McMahon, a Super Bowl champion quarterback.
“(This) allows Judge Brody to now bring everybody together and put this in an organized environment where all the legal issues and the medical issues and the scientific issues can all be decided in one place,” said lawyer Larry Coben, who filed the first lawsuit in August on behalf of McMahon and six others.
The players accuse the league of negligence and intentional misconduct in its response to the headaches, dizziness and dementia former players have reported. Some say they have no symptoms but want to be monitored for future health problems.
NFL officials vow to vigorously defend the claims.
Brody will handle all pretrial issues, including potentially key rulings on what evidence can be used at trial.
Reid seeks improvement
PHILADELPHIA — Before Steve Spagnuolo chose to join the New Orleans Saints’ staff, the former St. Louis Rams coach was offered an unspecified position with the Philadelphia Eagles.
Spagnuolo was in demand after his dismissal from St. Louis.
Eagles coach Andy Reid wanted his friend to join his staff and work with defensive coordinator Juan Castillo. But Spagnuolo picked the Saints over returning to the Eagles, where he served as an assistant coach from 1999 to 2006.
Castillo was heavily criticized in his first season at a new position after coaching the offensive line for 13 years.
Speaking to media at length for the first time since the season finale Jan. 1, Reid was perhaps more candid than he has been during his 13 seasons in Philadelphia. He said he understood Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie’s comments about needing to do a better job, and expects more from himself and the team after a disappointing 8-8 season.
“I understand where he’s coming from, and I’m right there with him on that,” Reid said. “He didn’t say anything in there that ruffled my feathers or anything else that I don’t completely agree with. And listen, I know that’s how the fans feel, and I understand that.”
Note
• Green Bay quarterback Aaron Rodgers was underwhelmed by the effort of NFC teammates in Sunday’s 59-41 Pro Bowl loss to the AFC in Honolulu, according to an ESPN.com report.
“I felt like some of the guys on the NFC side embarrassed themselves,” Rodgers told a Milwaukee radio station Tuesday.
Rodgers didn’t name specific players.
“I was just surprised that some of the guys either didn’t want to play or, when they were in there, didn’t put any effort into it,” Rodgers said.