New York: Five former NFL players, including six-time Pro Bowl defensive end Neil Smith, are suing the union for not providing accurate information about the risk of head injuries.
The lawsuit on behalf of Smith, Ladell Betts, Anthony Davis, Christian Ballard and Gregory Westbrooks was filed Thursday in the US District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri, with the plaintiffs claiming the NFL Players Association “withheld information from the players about the risks of head injuries.”
The former players are seeking medical monitoring and financial compensation for long-term chronic injuries, financial losses, expenses and intangible losses. It refers to the “pathological and debilitating effects of traumatic brain injuries [TBI] caused by concussive and sub-concussive impacts.”
The players named former union presidents Trace Armstrong, Troy Vincent and Kevin Mawae in the suit.
“This lawsuit has no merit and we will defend our union and our past presidents,” the NFLPA said in a statement. “It erroneously alleges that the NFLPA knowingly and fraudulently concealed from players the risks of head injuries players faced by playing in NFL games and practices over the last several decades.
“The NFLPA has made the health and safety of its members a priority and the advancements in professional football on concussion education, prevention and treatment are a result of our efforts.”
Smith spent 13 seasons in the NFL, nine with Kansas City, and was one of the game’s top defensive players. He retired in 2000.
Betts was a running back for nine seasons, the first eight with Washington. He retired in 2010.
Davis played eight seasons with four teams and won a Super Bowl with Baltimore after the 2000 season, his last year in the league.
Ballard, a defensive end in 2011 and 2012, left the Vikings last September. Coincidentally, he is being represented by the union in a grievance concerning about $240,000 in 2013 salary that he collected but the team is trying to recoup.
Westbrooks, now 61, played parts of seven seasons from 1975-81 as a linebacker and special teamer with four clubs.
Meanwhile, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell says interest in the league is so strong in London that the city could end up having a team of their own before the decade is out.
“It depends on if we continue to see that growth and how fast it goes,” Goodell told the NFL Network on Thursday. “We couldn’t be happier with what we are seeing.
“We actually couldn’t be more surprised by the tremendous demand for NFL football in London and the UK in general, and frankly even Europe. It’s not something I think is 15 or 20 years away, it could be five or 10 years away.” For the upcoming season, the National Football League is staging three regular season games in London, the most contests ever held overseas during an NFL campaign.
“The [London] fans want to see more NFL football,” said Goodell. “Our clubs have responded very favourably. We’re anxious to do more of it.” Patriots owner Robert Kraft also expressed his bullishness on giving Londoners a team of their own.
“We played here three times,” Kraft said. “It’s amazing, the last two times we sold 85,000 tickets out, just like that. It was a great experience.
“I know enough of us in the ownership category along with executives at the league level feel that would be a great entry point and a way for us to expand the reach of the NFL.
“I’d personally like to see a franchise in London before the decade’s out.”
