Image Courtesy of Evan Habeeb/ USA TODAY Sports
With the start of the 2013 NFL season just days away, most people would have thought the chatter would be about the upcoming season. However, today the NFL reached a $765 million agreement for concussion-related head injuries. Over the past few years roughly 4,500 retired players and player’s families have sued the NFL over brain related injuries that have occurred due to playing football in the NFL.
This lawsuit simply accused the NFL of not warning players enough about the risk of head injuries. The players stated the NFL was trying to exalt how violent and tough the sport of football really is, rather than focus on player safety.
Some players seem to be happy with the outcome, like former NFL running back Kevin Turner who has Lou Gehrig’s Disease. He stated that the payouts “will lift a huge burden off the men who are suffering right now.” Other former players like Kevin Mawae seem to like the settlement, but don’t believe it is enough. He tweeted this afternoon –
“NFL concussion lawsuit net outcome? Big loss for the players now and future! Estimated NFL revenue by 2025 = $27 Billion.”
Former players may have their different opinions on the settlement, however the NFL has taken new measurements to crack down on head related injuries. Now with a large settlement to help pay for these injuries, it’s safe to say the NFL believes this is a serious matter and isn’t taking it lightly.
Image Courtesy of tobewell.areavoices.com
As many of us know, over the last several years the NFL began to take steps towards reducing head related injuries in football. Rules such as the “crown of the helmet,” which prohibits a runner or tackler from initiating forcible contact with the crown of the helmet, have been strictly enforced to try to reduce the risk of injury to the head.
Since football is a violent hard hitting sport, it’s hard for the NFL to reduce all head related injuries. However with rules like the “crown of the helmet” it shows that their primary concern is player safety.
Overall, this is a win for both sides. The NFL is trying to limit head related injuries with stricter rules of the game which helps current NFL players. And for those former players already suffering the NFL is giving them $765 million, which will be used as follows: $675 million to a compensation fund, $75 million for medical exams and $10 million for a research and education fund.
1 Comment
Scott Swingle
August 30, 2013 at 11:53 pm$755,000,000 (minus 10 for “research”) divided by 4,500 players= $167,777 divided by 20 year agreed payment plan= $8,388 per year, not to forget the taxes these former players will have to pay from the compensation they receive since we know the NFL is shady like that. Not much of a win…. but I guess it’s a start even if it’s only 0.4 percent of the NFL’s yearly revenue.