NFL office says to fight accusations in legal suits filed in various courts by former players – NFL News
The National Football League (NFL) has requested a federal judicial panel in Miami to consolidate all legal suits filed by the league’s former players in various courts of laws regarding its concussion policies.
NFL’s request is to be heard by the panel on January 26, 2012, that could decide to unify all the suits to be heard before a US District Court judge in Philadelphia, as it is being aimed by the league office.
About a dozen of suits filed in different cities by the former players are targeting the league office for compensations against its policies regarding head injuries, which they say were responsible for aggravating their injuries.
Despite the league office, having earlier been silent on the issue, saying the players safety has always been a priority for them, it has now spoken about fighting all these allegations.
"The NFL has long made player safety a priority and continues to take steps to protect players and to advance the science and medical understanding of the management and treatment of concussions," spokesman, Brian McCarthy, said Monday.
"The NFL has never misled players with respect to the risks associated with playing football. Any suggestion to the contrary has no merit."
The NFL, as a result of an agreement with the NFL Players Association (NFLPA) reached earlier in 2011, has changed its concussion policies, introducing rather enhanced safety measures.
This included the placing of a certified athletic trainer at press box during each game to assist teams’ medical staff in monitoring, assessing and treating players for concussions.
However, the former players’ suits, which have been filed at a regular interval since July last year, have criticized the league’s concussion policies such as excessive use of pre-game pain killers.
Almost all the players have demanded compensation from the league office, claiming its policies have cost them their career and made things even more difficult for them in their post-career lives.
The issue of suits became even more significant in light of the recent controversy surrounding handling of Cleveland Browns’ quarterback, Colt McCoy’s head injury.
McCoy suffered a concussion in the Browns game against the Pittsburgh Steelers into the week 14 of 2011 regular season of the NFL. However, the player was allowed to return to resume his play without testing him for his head injury by the teams’ medical
staff on the sideline.
The Browns consequently became a subject of an inquiry by the NFL and NFLPA. However, they escaped a punishment despite that the review pointed out at a system failure at the Browns.
This was the latest incidence, which the league’s office was criticised for. Some circles believe the NFL commissioner should have come harder on the Browns.
However, now with the NFL office in the court is expected to answers these questions and accusations from former players.
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