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Post by mikecubs on Mar 25, 2018 15:32:05 GMT -6
Former players charge NFL with obstructing billion-dollar concussion settlementIn a court filing this week, lawyers for former players seeking compensation as part of last year’s estimated billion-dollar class-action concussion settlement with the NFL charged the league with trying to game the system in order to avoid paying medical benefits, according to multiple reports. “The NFL seeks to rig the Settlement system,” Gene Locks, the attorney representing more than 1,110 ex-players in the lawsuit, wrote in the court filing. “Historically, it has always engaged in scorched-earth litigation, and that is what the League is doing here, making it a Settlement in name only.”The central issue revolves around claims concerning dementia, a neurocognitive impairment with varying degrees of severity that can be difficult to diagnose with complete accuracy. According to reports, 1,113 of the 1,712 medical claims (or 65 percent) made in the first year since a Supreme Court ruling moved to finalize the settlement in January 2017 are seeking benefits related to dementia. Yet, just six of those claims have been paid out for a total of $4.85 million, well short of the estimations of 430 approved dementia claims and $72.3 million originally projected by the NFL. In total, the three most common categorical claims have fallen short of the league’s projections. The claims process is overseen by a third party, BrownGreer, although the NFL can appeal the settlement administration firm’s approvals, and therein lies the problem, per the latest court filing: “The NFL has turned the Settlement into a secret, privately litigated claim system that involves changing standards for claim packages, inconsistent and often improper standards of review, a black hole of audits, alleged deficiencies, anonymous opinions, denials, appeals, remands, technical squabbles over what a valid diagnosis might be, and the refusal by the NFL to agree to almost an interpretation of the Agreement that will streamline and make reasonable the claims process.” Deadspin detailed one such case from the court filing. One player diagnosed with early onset Alzheimer’s by a host of medical professionals had his claim frozen on the eve of its final approval when the NFL demanded an audit after losing its initial appeal, accusing him of fraud based on a four-year-old three-minute video it found online of the player speaking publicly, according to the lawsuit. “Clearly, the NFL is scouring the internet and social media sites to find isolated out-of-context moments of lucid behavior by a player to drum up doubt about a sound [early onset Alzheimer’s] diagnosis approved by BrownGreer and the Special Masters,” the latest court filing contended. Former New England Patriots cornerback Ronnie Lippett told The Washington Post his Alzheimer’s claim was denied because his dementia was considered a result of his sleep apnea and depression, and sources told the paper that other players are being denied due to symptoms of their disease. According to The Washington Post, the NFL has appealed 35 of the 185 total claims approved by BrownGreer, succeeding in overturning two, and another 670 dementia claims are being audited. “It’s played out the way I anticipated,” attorney Michael Kaplen, a brain injury specialist who raised similar concerns about the settlement process during the 2016 Supreme Court case, told The Washington Post. “These players are beginning to wake up and understand the settlement is a fraud. The majority of players who deserve compensation are not going to get compensation.”An NFL official denied the court filing’s claims off the record, and league spokesman Brian McCarthy said the claims process is being streamlined, suggesting “no legitimate claim has been rejected.” “The notion the NFL is throwing sand in the gears and trying to block and obstruct, nothing can be further from the truth,” a league official told The Washington Post under the condition of anonymity. “Ninety-four percent of the claims rewards have not been challenged on appeal,” the league official added anonymously. “In the overwhelming bulk of the awards made so far, the NFL has not filed an appeal. I just don’t think the statistics lie and there’s certainly been an emphasis on the few disappointed players and their representatives to try to suggest something — mainly that the league is obstructing the settlement process — when the actual facts are completely the opposite.” The majority of approved claims have been awarded to ex-players suffering from or succumbing to more easily diagnosed medical issues, such as Parkinson’s disease, Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE) and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). But this week’s court filing contends the NFL is specifically targeting players with dementia, because they make up the large majority of claims, aren’t easily diagnosed and are more prone to rejection in the settlement’s appeal and audit processes. sports.yahoo.com/former-players-charge-nfl-obstructing-billion-dollar-concussion-settlement-144952723.html
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Post by mikecubs on Mar 27, 2018 1:48:27 GMT -6
Ex-Giant Corey Widmer declines Montana Football HOF over concussionsFormer New York Giants linebacker and Montana State star Corey Widmer has declined his nomination to the Montana Football Hall of Fame, saying the sport "destroyed my life."Widmer said after numerous concussions he fears he suffers from chronic traumatic encephalopathy, a degenerative brain disease. He has depression and memory problems, suffers from mood swings and seeks to isolate himself. Recently, he said, his thumb has started twitching. " I'm 49 years old, depressed to the Nth degree but have a lot of money, and some people might say it's still worth it. I just tell them to watch what they wish for," Widmer told the Bozeman Daily Chronicle. "If someone could've explained all of this to me when I was 14, I would've given it all back in a heartbeat. I would've wished for something else." The Bozeman native said he couldn't in good conscience be a part of Saturday's banquet in Billings celebrating a sport that caused great suffering among his friends and that he believes endangers children. " When I refused entry I had to give an explanation, and my explanation is concussion," Widmer told Lee Newspapers of Montana .But he didn't want to state his reasons during the ceremony that inducted eight other members to the Montana hall, including former Detroit Lions tight end Casey FitzSimmons and former Carolina Panthers and Baltimore Ravens defensive tackle Dwan Edwards. The banquet also honored the Petrino coaching tree that began with former Carroll College football coach Bob Petrino and includes his sons -- Louisville coach Bobby Petrino and Idaho coach Paul Petrino. It also honored coaches who once played for Bob Petrino, a group that includes Denver Broncos special-teams coordinator Tom McMahon. "I don't want to make some political statement right in the middle of their party and take advantage of some very nice people," said Widmer, who was a plaintiff in the NFL concussion lawsuit. But he said he also couldn't stay silent anymore after reading a recent news story about a lawsuit filed by the family of a 16-year-old Belt High School student who suffered a concussion in a 2014 game and collapsed after playing the next weekend, leaving him nearly paralyzed and unable to speak."That was the moment that made me understand," Widmer said. He had taken a planned trip to Australia thinking he'd "just escape and walk away from everything. I didn't want the drama. "But when I got over there I just got this overwhelming guilt, anxiety and was not sleeping," he said. "Every day I was waking up thinking about this." So he came back to Montana to explain himself and to urge parents to delay their children's participation in tackle football, maybe even until their senior year in high school. He argued that letting children in fifth through eighth grade participate in tackle football equates to child endangerment. "If we can just have parents take another look at these kids and the potential dangers for the most prized possessions in their life, maybe they could put that off for a few years," he said. Widmer played with the Giants from 1992 to 1999, finishing with 271 tackles, 7.5 sacks and four interceptions. He was a standout defensive lineman at Montana State from 1987-91. www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/22922429/corey-widmer-formerly-new-york-giants-declines-montana-football-hall-fame
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Post by mikecubs on Mar 30, 2018 20:52:33 GMT -6
Mark Rypien opens up on mental health issues, attempted suicideFormer Washington Redskins quarterback Mark Rypien, the MVP of Super Bowl XXVI, says he once tried to kill himself -- the result of mental health issues stemming from his football days. Rypien detailed his problems for Spokane TV station KHQ and The Spokesman-Review, hoping it leads to more awareness of problems from playing football. "I suffer from a complex stew of mental health conditions," Rypien told KHQ-TV. "Dark places, depression, anxiety, addictions, poor choices, poor decisions, brought about from dozens of concussions and thousands of subconcussive injuries from playing this sport."Rypien told the outlets, in separate interviews, that he was speaking out after the January suicide of Washington State quarterback Tyler Hilinski and the death earlier this month of Coeur d'Alene (Idaho) High School principal Troy Schueller from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound. Rypien played collegiately at Washington State. His cousin, former NHL player Ryan Rypien, also suffered from depression and died in an apparent suicide in 2011. "Let's address this now," Rypien told the Spokesman-Review. "Let me share my story so others can share theirs. Let's get rid of this silence that happens when you're caught up in this cycle and you don't know how to find the help I've been afforded. "My story is impactful because people see me in a different light. I want them to see me in an accurate light. I've been down the darkest path. I've made some horrible, horrible mistakes. But I've given myself a chance to progress forward." Rypien said those poor choices included going to Spokane spas that were shut down as part of a prostitution sting in 2012. He also attempted suicide on the same day as his daughter Angie's birthday. Rypien said he swallowed 150 Advil pills and then drank a bottle of merlot.
When his wife, Danielle, found him, she poured hydrogen peroxide and charcoal down his throat, inducing him to vomit the pills. "It was the thought that people aren't going to miss me," Rypien told the newspaper. "My life is as s---ty as it could ever be. I was shameful and guilty of poor decisions, shameful and guilty of being depressed all the time. I didn't want to be around anymore. I didn't look at how this would affect my kids, my grandkids, my wife, my family." Rypien played 11 seasons in the NFL, helping the Redskins win the Super Bowl after the 1991 season and earning game MVP honors. He played for five other teams after he left the Redskins following the 1993 season. "My story is impactful because people see me in a different light. I want them to see me in an accurate light. I've been down the darkest path. I've made some horrible, horrible mistakes. But I've given myself a chance to progress forward." Mark Rypien, on mental health issues he links to his football career In 2012, he was the lead plaintiff in a class-action lawsuit against the NFL. Rypien claimed he suffered repeated traumatic head injuries and sought money as well as medical care from the NFL. Rypien also said his daughter suffered concussions while playing in the Lingerie Football League. Rypien, who said he was diagnosed with three concussions, now says he wouldn't want his grandchildren to play football."People think you have to be knocked out to have a concussion," Rypien told the newspaper. "There are hundreds of times you shake it off and get back in there. It's all about the cumulative hits. That's what cause brain damage."In November, police were called to his home for a domestic dispute. His wife declined to tell police what happened, telling the newspaper she worried what would happen to her husband if he were locked up. "They had warned us when they put him on it," Danielle Rypien told the newspaper. "We're not talking about an antidepressant. We're talking about an antiseizure med they added to his antidepressant, and it was the second one they had tried. The first one was also a disaster. They had warned us ... maybe he'll adjust into the medication after a rough patch, but expect weirdness. "This is not a snapshot of our relationship. This was a unique and crazy night." Mark Rypien said he has strong support now from a number of counselors and doctors in addition to his family. He has been tested at the Cleveland Clinic's Neurological Institute, the only part that is paid for by the NFL's trust, according to the newspaper. Because of that support, the Rypiens hope he can now can control his issues better than in the past. "But I might get worse," Rypien told the newspaper. "I've got strategies to get me through the next day, the next year, 10 years. But I don't know." www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/22968747/mark-rypien-former-super-bowl-mvp-washington-redskins-says-attempted-suicide
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Post by mikecubs on Apr 1, 2018 0:41:15 GMT -6
Could the NFL ban kickoffs? Concussion concerns have idea moving closer to reality.The issue of concussions has become a vexing one for the NFL, which has begun introducing measures aimed at reducing brain injuries. One idea that’s been discussed in recent years has gained renewed momentum, and if implemented, would have a major impact on how the league’s games are played. Kickoffs could become a thing of the past, if the NFL’s competition committee has its way. League officials involved have determined that, although kickoff rules have been changed to make them safer, their high-speed collisions still result in too many concussions. As reported Wednesday by ESPN, Green Bay Packers President Mark Murphy, a member of the competition committee, said that statistics compiled by the league showed that kickoffs were five times more likely than other plays to produce concussions.
T hat has remained the case, Murphy said, even after the NFL began placing the ball at the 25-yard line after touchbacks, rather than the 20, a measure meant to encourage teams to not bring kickoffs out of the end zone. Over the past decade, the NFL has also moved the spot of kickoffs up five yards and reduced the distance behind the line of scrimmage from which kicking team members can get a running start, changes designed to both reduce returns and lower the speed of collisions. Bob Glauber ✔ @bobglauber Suggestion for improving safety on kickoffs: Require a standing start by players from kicking team. Will reduce severity of collisions without a running start. #nfl 5:16 PM - Mar 28, 2018 14 See Bob Glauber's other Tweets Twitter Ads info and privacy However, Murphy said that part of the problem is that by the time would-be returners catch the ball in the end zone, many of the concussions have already occurred. In fact, an increase in touchbacks may have led to unanticipated dangers. “One player lets up, the player covering lets up, and one of the blockers comes over and, you know,” the Green Bay executive told reporters, per ESPN. “That creates problems when you’ve got one player going half-speed and the other one full speed.” Murphy asserted that while the NFL has “reduced the number of returns,” it has not “really done anything to make the play safer.” He added that the league would soon convene a group of head coaches and special teams coaches, with a mandate to “make changes” to create a safer kickoff play, or the league was “going to do away with it.” “It’s that serious,” Murphy said. “It’s by far the most dangerous play in the game.” It’s very unlikely that, if the NFL eventually decides to eliminate kickoffs, it would do so this season. The league did approve a number of rules changes, effective immediately, at its recent meetings, one of which is meant to reduce brain injuries and other potential damage. On Tuesday, the NFL announced that it would give players 15-yard penalties, and possibly ejections, for lowering their heads while initiating contact with other players. The application of that new rule is likely to cause some fans confusion and anger this season — for example, will it be called on Tom Brady when he lowers his head and bulls his way in for a goal-line quarterback sneak? — but getting rid of kickoffs would be certain to prompt a major outcry. It’s a play deeply tied to the history of the game, and it can produce some of the most compelling, momentum-altering moments. As a Bears blogger tweeted Wednesday, “So they’re getting rid of the play that gave us Devin Hester — the most exciting Bears player of my lifetime. Can’t see how this is a good thing.” Hester, who many believe belongs in the Pro Football Hall of Fame, is an example of a problem that’s been cited about the possible elimination of kickoffs. Those plays provide jobs in the NFL for specialists, in addition to young players hoping to find a way to latch on with teams before fully developing their skills at their respective positions. Peter Schrager ✔ @pschrags The elimination of kickoffs would have enormous ramifications on roster building. Lots of Special Teams players in NFL make 53’s on kickoff work. Mere suggestion of this as a possibility would have me at great unease if I’m one of the hundreds around NFL who make livings on them. 1:56 PM - Mar 22, 2018 439 162 people are talking about this Twitter Ads info and privacy One counter to those objections is that NFL games would still have punts and place kicks, providing incentives to keep players with special-teams prowess. In addition, as long as the league maintains its roster size at 53 players, losing a few spots currently allocated to kick-return units could free up room for veterans who don’t play on special teams, keeping familiar names to fans around longer. Another potential issue is this: If there are no kickoffs, then there are no onside kicks, seemingly robbing teams of the ability to stage dramatic, late-game comeback attempts. One possible solution was suggested several years ago by then-Buccaneers coach Greg Schiano, now the defensive coordinator at Ohio State, in which a team that scored would then be given the ball back right away, but at its 30-yard line and with a fourth-and-15 situation. The team would thus have a choice of punting the ball away, mimicking the effect of a kickoff but under safer circumstances, or going for it. Schiano said at the time that he began reconsidering kickoffs in 2010, when he was head coach at Rutgers and one of his players, Eric LeGrand, suffered a major spinal injury on such a play. “One of the things that when I was researching, I think it was like, in the old kickoff rules, 17 percent of the catastrophic injuries happened on kickoffs, yet it’s only about 6 percent of the plays in the game,” Schiano said. “Well, that is disproportionate.” As it stands now, more than a few fans already think that some of the NFL’s rule changes, such as penalties for targeting defenseless receivers, have resulted in a disappointingly watered-down product. Traditionalists would howl at the elimination of kickoffs, but that radical change appears closer than ever to becoming a reality. www.washingtonpost.com/news/early-lead/wp/2018/03/28/could-the-nfl-ban-kickoffs-concussion-concerns-have-idea-moving-closer-to-reality/?utm_term=.1e3d56f61a7b
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Post by mikecubs on Apr 1, 2018 0:48:33 GMT -6
LOL Each time the numbers don't add up CTE wise another sacrifice must be made. Kickoffs/pee wee etc.... When those don't work then high school must go and other parts of the game. The problem is NOTHING is going to make it safe so sacrifices must keep coming until there is absolutely NOTHING left of the game but flag football which very few will like.
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Post by mikecubs on Apr 14, 2018 7:10:14 GMT -6
Brett Favre has memory issues, may have had 'thousands' of concussionsBrett Favre says he might have had "thousands" of concussions during his Hall of Fame career. The three-time NFL MVP who played from 1992-2010 and was known for his aggressive approach to football said Thursday on NBC's "Megyn Kelly Today" that he is experiencing short-term memory issues.Favre, 48, has become an advocate for concussion research and said he had three or four known concussions during his lengthy career, which spanned 302 regular-season games and 24 in the postseason. "But as we're learning about concussions," he told Kelly, "there's a term we use in football and maybe other sports, that I got 'dinged.' When you have ringing of the ears, seeing stars, that is a concussion. "If that's a concussion, then I've had hundreds, probably thousands, throughout my career, which is frightening." Favre added that he worries about developing chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) as he ages. "My football career has meant a great deal to me and has provided a lot of things, a lot of joy not only for me, but for my family," Favre said. "Now, my family doesn't have to face the physical problems that could potentially arise, or the mental problems that could, but they are directly associated with me in that regard. It's kind of a blessing and a curse. "I grew up playing football. My dad was the coach, he was tough on me, he was a hard-nosed, just in-your-face-type of guy, and he didn't know what concussions were about. We knew basically what a concussion was, but the thought process in those days was you would never come out of a game or practice because you had a little head ding. You would be considered, for lack of a better term, a sissy. "My point in this is 30 years ago, there wasn't a problem in anyone's mind from playing football. It was just a matter of being tough, and the ones who stuck it out and made the most of it. Now, what we know, is it has nothing to do with toughness and that's a lot scarier. So I look at my career as something wonderful. I didn't know; had I known in Year 5, I would have looked at my future a bit closer as my career unfolded." Favre appeared on Kelly's program with three other retired star athletes: soccer's Abby Wambach, baseball's David Ross and Favre's fellow Pro Football Hall of Famer and former teammate Kurt Warner. All four have invested in a company developing a concussion-treatment drug that is not yet approved by the Food and Drug Administration. Favre said he would not encourage youngsters to play football. "The brain and just the skull itself, for (8- to 15-year-olds), and maybe even older, is not developed enough and they should not be playing tackle football," Favre said. "We should protect them, especially when there is no treatment solution out there."www.foxnews.com/sports/2018/04/13/brett-favre-has-memory-issues-may-have-had-thousands-concussions.html
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Post by mikecubs on Apr 14, 2018 7:13:43 GMT -6
NFL wants special investigator to look into concussion settlement fraud
The NFL is seeking the appointment of a special investigator to address what it claims is widespread fraud of its concussion settlement with former players -- another step in a growing feud between the sides. In a filing Friday to the U.S. District Court of Eastern Pennsylvania, the league said nearly half the claims it has received have been red-flagged for audit. Of that, more than 400 have been rejected after an independent claim administrator found them to be fraudulent. The NFL is requesting the special investigator to assist the claim administrator and recommend sanctions. "We want to ensure that players and their families receive the benefits they deserve," said attorney Brad Karp, whose firm represents the NFL. "Fraud threatens the integrity of the settlement and the prompt payment of legitimate claims. There is significant evidence of fraudulent claims being advanced by unscrupulous doctors, lawyers and even players. The appointment of a special investigator was specifically contemplated in the agreement and will provide important additional tools to assist the independent, court-appointed administrators in identifying fraudulent claims and related misconduct." Lawyers for the players alleged in a filing last month that the NFL is intentionally slowing the claims process, according to the Washington Post. Dementia claims have been especially slow to be paid out. According to the Post, only six of the 1,113 claimants with a dementia diagnosis have been paid.
To date, more than 20,000 former players are part of the class eligible to share in a settlement that is uncapped but could approach $1 billion over its 65-year life. The settlement has approved 377 awards, according to its website, and is committed to more than $411 million in monetary awards. But the process has been slower than expected because of fraud, according to the NFL. Among the examples listed in the league's claim: • A law firm representing more than 100 players directed at least one to report for a medical test hungover and on Valium. • A law firm representing more than 50 players used a pediatric neurologist to diagnose Alzheimer's disease. Of that group, 75 percent were diagnosed, many of whom were in their 30s and 40s. • The same neurologist submitted identical vital signs for 21 players. • A "disturbing pattern" of text messages and other communication in which players were coached by claims service providers to "beat the neuropsychological tests." Christopher Seeger, the lead attorney for the players, said Friday in a statement that the appointment of a special investigator would be "appropriate." But he warned that the NFL shouldn't use the issue of fraud as an excuse to withhold payments to deserving players. "We have previously expressed concerns about potentially fraudulent claims and agree the appointment of a special investigator is appropriate," Seeger said. "However, we will not allow this small number of claims to be used as an excuse by the NFL to deny payment to legitimately injured former players. Unlike other NFL benefits programs, this settlement is overseen by the court, and the League cannot escape its responsibility. We will make sure that former NFL players and their families receive every benefit they are entitled to under this agreement." www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/23155938/nfl-wants-special-investigator-look-concussion-settlement-fraud
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Post by mikecubs on Apr 14, 2018 7:21:20 GMT -6
This is another major issue. Yes a major amount of NFL players are screwed up(and an uncomfortable amount of hockey players too) but guys who are ok and want $$$ are going to abuse this.
Then at the lower levels let's say a future Al Bundy(football or hockey version) who's amounted to nothing after high school wants some $$ because he's selling women's shoes. What's to stop him from suing his school/college saying his head is messed up?
The leagues of course are going to say most of the cases are fraud and hope the players die off before they get paid and abuse it the other way to save $$$. It's just a total mess.
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Post by mikecubs on Apr 24, 2018 15:33:32 GMT -6
NFL to discuss future of kickoff at planned May 1-2 summitThe NFL is finalizing plans for a summit to continue an unprecedented offseason discussion about player safety, a league spokesman confirmed. The meeting, planned for May 1-2 at NFL headquarters in New York, will include a focus on the future of the kickoff. There is no indication that the kickoff could be eliminated for this season. But the league has moved with uncommon speed in recent months to address a league-record 291 diagnosed concussions in 2017, as well as the serious spine injury suffered by Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Ryan Shazier. Green Bay Packers president Mark Murphy said the NFL's competition committee wants injury rates on kickoffs to drop, or else it will recommend eliminating them.Owners have approved a rule that would penalize and potentially eject players for lowering their heads to initiate contact. For the first time, the league joined the NFL Players Association to ban the use of 10 helmet models. The NFL office is also preparing a team-by-team memorandum to address a spike in training camp concussions. The kickoff has long been a source of concern for NFL medical staffs. T he league's competition committee sounded new alarms in March after receiving data that showed concussions were five times more likely to occur on kickoffs than other plays, even after a series of minor rule changes designed to reduce returns.Green Bay Packers president/CEO Mark Murphy, a member of the committee, said the league was planning a special-teams summit -- the one now confirmed for May 1-2 -- to issue a clear warning. "If you don't make changes to make it safer," Murphy said, "we're going to do away with it. It's that serious. It's by far the most dangerous play in the game." An attendance list for the summit, which will also include discussion on the safety of interior line play, has not yet been finalized. Longtime NFL special-teams ace Steve Tasker, now a CBS broadcaster, recently told the Buffalo News that he had been invited. In addition to former players, the meeting is expected to include team executives, along with current and former coaches. Commissioner Roger Goodell frequently convenes similar cross-discipline summits. They have not concluded with a rule or policy change. Instead, they are designed to provide background for future competition committee discussions. Goodell hosted two such meetings in recent years before the league rewrote its catch rule this spring. A similar gathering early in the 2017 offseason eventually led to a relaxation of post-touchdown celebration rules. At issue with the kickoff is whether any realistic ideas remain for making the play safer beyond the steps the league already has taken. The league has spent much of this decade tweaking rules to reduce returns, and thus minimize the chances of injury, while also eliminating violent wedge-blocking schemes. In 2017, only 40 percent of kickoffs were returned. The rest were either touchbacks, went out of bounds or were impacted by another penalty. " We've reduced the number of returns," Murphy said in March, "but we haven't really done anything to make the play safer."As Murphy's words reverberated around the league, several prominent special-teams players have spoken out against a future elimination. The New England Patriots' Matthew Slater told reporters last week that it would be "tragic" to take it away because it is part of "the fabric of the game." Slater wondered about the slippery slope of eliminating fundamental parts of the game. "It really makes me ask the question, 'Where do you go from here?'" he said. "What would happen next? I don't know the answer to that. I don't know. But I look at a number of plays. I look at a goal-line stand. I look at a third-and-1. Think about the collisions that are happening there.
"Those may be deemed unsafe by some people, so if you make a drastic change such as this, what's next? What happens? The reality is football. This is a contact sport. This is a violent sport. All of us that are playing the game understand that there are inherent risks that come along with playing the game. If you're not OK with those risks, I respect that, and maybe you should think about doing something else."The New York Giants' Michael Thomas called the danger of kickoffs "a false narrative." In a video posted to Twitter, Thomas added that players on kickoffs have time to protect themselves and avoid big collisions. "If you're trying to do this because you're thinking about player safety," Thomas said, "or trying to protect guys, or even thinking about future lawsuits or whatnot, then there are so many other things and ways you can protect this game, and getting rid of the kickoff is not one of them." The NFL's next inflection point for possible rule changes will come at its spring meeting, scheduled for May 21-23 in Atlanta. One of the items already on that agenda is finalizing the process by which players will be considered for ejection when penalized for lowering their helmets to initiate contact. www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/23289179/future-kickoff-discussed-nfl-summit
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Post by TheDeuce on Apr 25, 2018 8:10:33 GMT -6
If you dislike football so much because of injuries you must really hate NASCAR. Dozens of deaths, including spectators.
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Post by mikecubs on Apr 25, 2018 21:51:59 GMT -6
If you dislike football so much because of injuries you must really hate NASCAR. Dozens of deaths, including spectators. m. I don't dislike football, I wish they do come up with a CTE pill. Football was my 1st sport I followed. Just realistic it destroys too many of the participants and it's in big long term trouble short of a CTE pill. Also given what we now know it's immoral for minors to be participating in it. It should be made like MMA. Go to a football academy at age 18 to train for NFL. Hate NASCAR more than soccer even, how boring a bunch of guys going in a circle for hours. Nice try! The tries that football backers do to disparage other sports that have the occasional freak accident to a sport that admits that it destroys 28% of its players neurologically won't work. No Fan Deaths Nascar is proud of its record of no fan casualties. (The Pocono race, while tragic, could hardly be blamed on Nascar.) Because Bill France, from the beginning, felt that spectator safety at Nascar events was so important, there has never, to date, been a spectator death at a racing event which was caused by negligence on Nascar’s part. hubpages.com/autos/Nascar-Races-A-Look-At-Fan-Injuriesper wiki A separate list compiles drivers who have died of a medical condition while driving or shortly thereafter and another section shows non-driver deaths. The premier series of NASCAR has seen 28 driver fatalities, the most recent of which occurred in February 2001 when Dale Earnhardt was killed during the Daytona 500. The average NFL career length is 2.66 years from 08 to 14. Take 53 players per team times 32 teams and you are getting thousands of guys screwed up. That don't even count college and lower levels. NASCAR has an age limit of 18 from my understanding, isn't in the schools(high school or grade schools) and isn't dependent of the whole system needing a pipe line of kids under the age of consent to keep the talent pipeline plugged. You are in MASSIVE trouble when something as fundamental to the game as a kickoff may have to go. Read the comments below this article from NFL fans on removing the kickoff. It's just not mean old MikeCubs conspiring against football. www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000923684/article/nfl-poised-to-explore-possible-elimination-of-kickoffsThis is the entire problem. Football was designed as a violent contact sport. That was the appeal of it. Big men running into each other at VERY high speeds. When Omalu found CTE that was likely the end of it as a major sport long term. Football is trapped caught in a catch 22. There's 2 options neither good. 1. Keep removing stuff until it becomes flag. What's next after kickoffs? Punts? Can't run the ball on goal line situations and passes are mandated on 3rd/4th and ones because goal line plays are too dangerous? Offensive and defensive linemen are removed and football goes to 8 on 8 or 7 on 7? Football will lose all it's appeal you keep doing these things. 2. Keep it as it is. You do that participation keeps going down, people keep losing interest once they find out what happens to players at all levels. Football is likely to be banned eventually at pee wee first(4 states are thinking about it) and eventually once pee wee goes high school will be the next target. Remember they likely will be able to test for CTE within 5 years(likely sooner). What happens liability wise/participation wise when they find it in pee wee/high school?
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Post by mikecubs on May 3, 2018 15:00:31 GMT -6
Proposal trying to make NFL kickoffs 'more of a punt play'The NFL is finalizing a proposal to make significant changes to the kickoff, intensifying the tweaks of recent years in what might be a final attempt to salvage the most dangerous play in football.The adjustments -- prompted largely by a group of special teams coaches who traveled to a Wednesday meeting at league headquarters -- are designed to make the kickoff "much more of a punt play," according to competition committee chairman Rich McKay. The kickoff will remain on a "short leash," according to committee member and Green Bay Packers president/CEO Mark Murphy, but it appears to have survived for at least another year. The proposed changes will be written into a formal document by next week and presented to owners for approval during their May 21-23 meetings in Atlanta. They include: * Coverage teams would lose the 5-yard head start they previously had;* Five players would need to be aligned on each side of the kicker;
* All wedge blocks, including two-man double teams, would be eliminated;
* Eight of the 11 return team members would be lined up within 15 yards of the restraining line, and blocking would be prohibited within those 15 yards;
* There would be no pre-kick motion;
* Onside kick rules would remain largely unchanged.The governing idea was to reduce the space and speed of collisions that have historically occurred on kickoffs. "With the old rule, you had guys running at each other," said Kansas City Chiefs special-teams coordinator Dave Toub, one of nine current special teams coaches in the room for the discussion. "Now, you'll have guys running with each other down the field. That makes a big difference ... because the distance between the two of them are closer. The distance between the front line and the kickoff return team is so tight that when they run down the field, it's a lot like a punt. They're running together. You're pushing people on the side and you don't have those big collisions. That was the main thing in our proposal." The competition committee discarded some of the coaches' more radical proposals, including a rule that would place all fair-caught kickoffs at the 25-yard line. But league executives in attendance were generally encouraged by the depth of the proposed changes. Murphy, who announced in March that the kickoff would be eliminated if it could not be made safer, said he is "cautiously optimistic" about the new direction. "I give these coaches credit," Murphy said. "To me this was a breakthrough, that they're really looking at it to make it safer." Concussions in 2017 were five times as likely to occur on kickoffs as on other plays. A total of 71 concussions occurred on kickoffs between 2015-17, according to McKay. That figure was a dramatic outlier among NFL injury data, even after a number of changes in recent years designed to reduce returns, and prompted a scramble to address it before the 2018 season. Murphy said that "time will tell" if the new approach pushes down the number of concussions and other injuries. McKay said he was confident that it would. Part of that assurance, McKay said, came from a related decision to prohibit players from lowering their helmets to initiate contact with an opponent. One-third of 2017 concussions on kickoffs occurred when helmets were lowered, he said. "I would be surprised if we don't make some progress on this play," McKay said. "The changes that you are going to look at will have a positive impact." The coaches' presentation was made largely by the Washington Redskins' Ben Kotwica. Along with Toub, Kotwica was joined at the meeting by: Baltimore Ravens special-teams coordinator Jerry Rosburg, the Chicago Bears' Chris Tabor, the Cincinnati Bengals' Darrin Simmons, the Los Angeles Rams' John Fassel, the Miami Dolphins' Darren Rizzi, the Minnesota Vikings' Mike Priefer and the New England Patriots' Joe Judge. Other special-teams veterans included former coaches Chuck Priefer and Bobby April. New York Giants special teams ace Michael Thomas was in attendance, as were former special teams standouts Steve Tasker, Antwaan Randle El and James Thrash. The NFL Players Association was represented by Don Davis, its senior director of player affairs. www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/23385442/proposal-trying-make-nfl-kickoffs-more-punt-play
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Post by mikecubs on Jun 5, 2018 10:19:14 GMT -6
Former 49ers great Dwight Clark dies at 61 after battle with ALS Dwight Clark, the receiver who made one of the most memorable plays in NFL history and jump-started the San Francisco 49ers dynasty, died Monday at his home in Montana. Clark, who had been battling amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) since he first began feeling weakness in his left hand in September of 2015, was 61 years old. Clark's wife, Kelly, shared the news of her husband's death via his Twitter account. Dwight Clark ✔ @dwightc87 I’m heartbroken to tell you that today I lost my best friend and husband. He passed peacefully surrounded by many of the people he loved most. I am thankful for all of Dwight’s friends, teammates and 49ers fans who have sent their love during his battle with ALS. Kelly Clark. 5:39 PM - Jun 4, 2018 80.4K 23K people are talking about this Twitter Ads info and privacy "The San Francisco 49ers family has suffered a tremendous loss today with the passing of Dwight Clark," the team said in a statement. "We extend our condolences and prayers to Dwight's wife, Kelly, his family, friends and fans, as we join together to mourn the death of one of the most beloved figures in 49ers history. For almost four decades, he served as a charismatic ambassador for our team and the Bay Area. Dwight's personality and his sense of humor endeared him to everyone he came into contact with, even during his most trying times. The strength, perseverance and grace with which he battled ALS will long serve as an inspiration to so many. Dwight will always carry a special place in our hearts and his legacy will live on as we continue to battle this terrible disease." Clark first disclosed his diagnosis in March 2017 on former 49ers owner Ed DeBartolo Jr.'s website, but said in that statement that he began feeling weak in 2015. After what he called months of tests and treatment, Clark was diagnosed with ALS, which is also known as Lou Gehrig's disease. In the time since his diagnosis, Clark said he had lost strength in both hands, his midsection, lower back and his right leg while also losing significant weight. DeBartolo helped Clark and his family relocate in March to be near him in Whitefish, Montana. In April, DeBartolo hosted a group of about 30 friends and former 49ers to visit Clark at his Montana ranch. "It was beautiful because we got to see him smile,'' said former teammate Roger Craig, who said he almost fainted when he heard the news of Clark's death. "That's all I wanted, to see him smiling. We cried, we all got a taste of Dwight, all we wanted to do is see him smile the whole time we all were there and he smiled the whole time. He made us feel good and I know he felt good knowing he had all those teammates there to support him." Garrison Hearst, who was among the former teammates who visited Clark in Montana, tweeted that "We lost a great one." View image on Twitter View image on Twitter Garrison Hearst @garrisonhearst5 🙏🏿🙏🏿🙏🏿 Rest In Peace!!! We lost a great one!!! Love you brother!!! 6:24 PM - Jun 4, 2018 487 100 people are talking about this Twitter Ads info and privacy In a statement, DeBartolo said that he "lost my little brother and one of my best friends." "I cannot put into words how special Dwight was to me and to everyone his life touched," DeBartolo said. "He was an amazing husband, father, grandfather, brother and a great friend and teammate. He showed tremendous courage and dignity in his battle with ALS and we hope there will soon be a cure for this horrendous disease. "I will always remember Dwight the way he was -- larger than life, handsome, charismatic and the only one who could pull off wearing a fur coat at our Super Bowl parade. He was responsible for one of the most iconic plays in NFL history that began our run of Super Bowl championships, but to me, he will always be an extension of my family. I love him and will miss him terribly. Our hearts and prayers are with his wife Kelly, his children and the entire Clark family." The 49ers held "Dwight Clark Day" last season at an Oct. 22 game against the Dallas Cowboys. In what would be his final appearance in front of such a large group of 49ers fans, Clark addressed the crowd, ownership, his family and more than 40 teammates from a Levi's Stadium suite. That day, he said he simply wanted one more chance to be around the team he loved. "When Keena Turner [San Francisco's vice president of football affairs] asked me what I wanted to do, whether raise money or have some kind of function, I said I just want to see my teammates," Clark said that day. "And the 49ers heard that and flew all these players in so I could see them one more time." In honor of Clark, the 49ers gave away T-shirts with images of "The Catch," the leaping grab Clark made in the back of the end zone to beat the Cowboys in the 1981 NFC Championship Game, imprinted over his No. 87. Famous sportscaster Vin Scully narrated a video tribute to Clark that was played on the scoreboard, and Hall of Fame quarterback Joe Montana introduced Clark. "Dwight was a vibrant charismatic soul!! Jennifer and I are heartbroken over his passing," Montana wrote in a Twitter post Monday night. "While we knew it was inevitably coming, it came way [too] soon! We are grateful for the decades of love and friendship we shared." Dwight Clark was on the receiving end of one of the most iconic plays in NFL history -- one that spurred the 49ers to their first Super Bowl victory and jump-started a dynasty that would see San Francisco win four world championships in the 1980s. Rob Lindquist/Getty Images "The Catch" spurred the Niners to their first Super Bowl victory and was the unofficial beginning of a dynasty that would see San Francisco win four world championships in the 1980s as well as make eight playoff appearances in 10 seasons. Known as "Sprint Right Option," the play became one of the most iconic in league and franchise history. On the play, Montana took the snap and rolled to his right before floating a pass in Clark's direction. Clark timed his leap and his reach just right and hauled in the pass by his fingertips before landing safely in the right corner of the north end zone. The Niners went on to a 28-27 victory and would go on to win Super Bowl XVI against the Cincinnati Bengals. When the 49ers closed down Candlestick Park in 2013, "The Catch" was named the No. 1 play in the stadium's history. "I just loved the guy, man, and idolized him," former teammate and Hall of Fame receiver Jerry Rice told 95.7 The Game. "I would just sit back and just watch him, and I just wanted to try to emulate him, on the football field, off the football field. ... This guy -- he was one of the greatest football players to ever play the game, but also he was a great individual." A native of Kinston, North Carolina, Clark played collegiately at Clemson before he became a 10th-round pick of the 49ers in the 1979 NFL draft. As the story goes, legendary 49ers coach Bill Walsh discovered Clark when he was at Clemson to scout quarterback Steve Fuller. As Clark was heading out to play golf, he got a call from Walsh asking him to handle receiving duties for Fuller in the workout. Walsh came away so impressed with Clark, who had just 33 catches and three touchdowns in 34 college games, he decided to draft him. Clark spent his entire nine-year career with San Francisco, earning two Pro Bowl berths and a pair of Super Bowl titles. He still ranks third on San Francisco's receiving yards list (6,750), fourth in receptions (506) and seventh in touchdown receptions (48). When his career ended in 1987, Clark moved into the team's front office, where he earned three more Super Bowl rings as an executive. He joined the Cleveland Browns in an executive role in 1999. "All of us in the NFL are saddened by the passing of Dwight Clark," NFL commissioner Roger Goodell said in a statement. "Dwight made many memorable contributions on the field as a two-time Super Bowl champion and later as a member of the front office of the 49ers and Browns. He will forever live on in our memories for The Catch but also for his kind, gentle and courageous spirit." Clark is survived by his wife and three children from a previous marriage, daughter Casey and sons Riley and Mac. www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/23698130/former-san-francisco-49ers-great-dwight-clark-dies-61-battling-als
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Post by mikecubs on Jun 12, 2018 6:54:01 GMT -6
NCAA Heads To Trial In Landmark CTE Brain Injury Lawsuit, CVN To Webcast LiveThe first trial in the country over the NCAA’s supposed responsibility for a football player’s brain injuries begins on Monday in Texas state court, and Courtroom View Network will webcast the proceedings gavel-to-gavel. The landmark trial marks the first time a jury will hear arguments related to chronic traumatic encephalopathy, or CTE, a degenerative brain disease caused by repeated blows to the head. Plaintiff Debra Hardin-Ploetz claims the NCAA is responsible for the death of her husband Greg Ploetz. Greg played for the University of Texas from 1968-1971, and his widow’s attorneys argue his brain showed classic signs of CTE after his death in 2016 following years of neurological problems. Hardin-Ploetz’s case is an important bellwether, with similar class-action claims pending in federal court, and the potential for additional lawsuits against professional sports franchises. CTE, which often doesn’t present until years after an injury and can eventually progress to dementia, has come to prominence after numerous high-profile NFL players were posthumously diagnosed with the disease, like former New England Patriots player Aaron Hernandez, who committed suicide in prison. Hardin-Ploetz’s attorneys claim the NCAA knew as far back as the 1930’s that concussions posed a risk for neurological injury but failed to adopt safety guidelines to adequately protect players. The NCAA argues Greg Ploetz chose to play a full-contact sport that by definition involves physical risk. “Ploetz voluntarily participated in the activity of playing football and accordingly assumed the risk of injury,” states the NCAA in a court filing. The trial is taking place before Judge Ken Molberg in Dallas County’s 95th Civil District Court, and is expected to take three weeks to complete. CVN’s webcast will begin from the start of opening statements forward. Hardin-Ploetz is represented by Shrader & Associates LLP, Baron and Blue, and Goldberg Persky & White PC. The NCAA is represented by Reed Smith LLP, Bryan Cave LLP and Levinger PC. blog.cvn.com/ncaa-heads-to-trial-in-landmark-cte-brain-injury-lawsuit-cvn-to-webcast-live
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Post by mikecubs on Jun 26, 2018 11:24:15 GMT -6
NCAA Settles CTE Lawsuit With Family of Former Texas Player Greg PloetzThe NCAA has settled a lawsuit with the family of a former University of Texas football player that said the organization was responsible for his brain injuries and death decades after his playing career. The lawsuit in Dallas was settled Friday after three days of trial. A court administrator confirmed the settlement but said no terms were released. The widow of former Longhorns defensive lineman Greg Ploetz sought to hold the NCAA responsible for his health problems long after his playing career. Ploetz died in 2015 and Boston University researchers concluded he had extensive brain damage known as chronic traumatic encephalopathy. The lawsuit was seen as a potential landmark case if the jury ruled against the NCAA. The NCAA previously agreed to give $70 million for a brain trauma trust fund to settle other lawsuits. NCAA officials and family lawyers did not immediately respond to messages seeking comment. www.si.com/college-football/2018/06/15/ncaa-cte-lawsuit-greg-ploetz
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