Former football players sue NCAA over concussions

[alp227]

Source: AP

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (AP) — Three former college football players are suing the NCAA, saying it failed to educate them about the risks of concussions and did not do enough to prevent, diagnose and treat brain injuries.

Chris Walker and Ben Martin, who played for Tennessee from 2007-2011, and Dan Ahern, who played for North Carolina State from 1972-76, filed a class-action lawsuit in federal court in Chattanooga, Tenn., on Wednesday.

The complaint alleges the NCAA failed to meet its obligation to former players and because of its neglect the players are "suffering the dramatic consequences." The lawsuit seeks an NCAA to fund a medical-monitoring program for former football players.

The lawsuit is similar to one filed in federal court against the NCAA in 2011 in Illinois. Attorneys in that case recently asked a judge to make it a class-action suit.

Read more: http://bigstory.ap.org/article/former-football-players-sue-ncaa-over-concussions

[monmouth3]

1. If you don't already know the chances of getting brain injuries from football, maybe this

isn't your game..

[QSkier]

4. Much more research and discovery has come about in

the last few years about this type of brain injury, both among professional football players and from high school and college athletes.

This is not something like smoking where the risks have been known for 50+ years.

Although I doubt the suits will result in great settlements, it is time supporters of the sport woke up to the nature and scope of injuries that may be out there among those who played American football.

Any wake-up call on this is a good one, even if it takes the form a lawsuits, IMO.

[olddad56]

5. maybe they forgot because of the concussions.

[GeorgeGist]

9. Maybe progressive politics ...

isn't yours.

[monmouth3]

11. What makes you think that?

[alp227]

10. Well, for many working-class/poor Americans football or sports has been their way to success.

Especially in places like the Rust Belt where the manufacturing jobs have disappeared and it's either work at Wal-Mart or go to college and get outta here.

[monmouth3]

12. I agree, but that has nothing to do with knowing what brain injuries can occur when playing

football. It seems to me a big gamble.

[CreekDog]

13. you're saying players from 1972-1976 should know what you know now about brain injuries?

or didn't you read the article?

[monmouth3]

15. Of course I read it, and voiced my opinion. You're going to great lengths to be obtuse..n/t

[CreekDog]

16. I asked you whether players from the early 70's should've known what's *now* known about the dangers

that's the premise of your initial response.

what it seems like is that you posted that these suing players should've known better because we all know the dangers now of brain injuries in football, but they played as long as 40 years ago --are you saying they should have known then, when they were in their late teens, what we know now about the risks of brain injuries.

but i'm the one being obtuse.

[heaven05]

2. looking for money

that's all. Hit in the head enough, concussion. Logic. Play football long enough, damage. It's a brutal sport, sport.

[xynthee]

7. And they should get it, too!

They're not allowed to make a dime while they're in school, and now they're brain-damaged for the rest of their lives, so these greedy football schools need to cough it up. It wasn't widely known how permanently concussions damage the brain until fairly recently. The NFL knew about it and covered it up, so it stands to reason that the despicable sports programs at these schools knew about and covered it up, too.

[CreekDog]

14. how much of that was known in the 1970s?

and how much of that was known by high school aged kids in the 1970's?

[LuckyLib]

3. Go back to the original paperwork your parents signed for your high school football league.

It's all there. It's a bit late to realize you put your physical and mental health at risk, then try to collect.

[snooper2]

6. ex NFL players got a payday...My Turn!

[Manifestor_of_Light]

8. So you want the taxpayers to support them instead?

Or the NCAA who sanctioned and made plenty of money off these young men?

I see no problem with suing the NCAA as well as the NFL.

More than one retired NFL player has committed suicide by shooting themselves in the heart so their brain would be intact for the brain researchers.