Ex-Players Sue NFL Over Concussions
Group claims the league intentionally hid knowledge of harmful effects for 90 years.
| Posted Wednesday, July 20, 2011, at 10:33 AM
Seventy-five former players are reportedly suing the NFL, claiming that the league intentionally withheld knowledge of the serious effects of concussions for nearly 90 years.
According to TMZ.com, the lawsuit claims that: "The NFL knew as early as the 1920's of the harmful effects on a player's brain of concussions; however, until June of 2010 they concealed these facts from coaches, trainers, players and the public." The plaintiffs are seeking unspecified damages
According to the report, the group includes former Pro Bowlers Rodney Hampton of the New York Giants and Mark Duper of the Miami Dolphins, along with former Super Bowl MVP Ottis Anderson.
NFL spokesman Greg Aiello issued a statement Tuesday saying the NFL had not yet "seen the complaint but would vigorously contest any claims of this kind," according to ESPN.
The suit reportedly alleges that the NFL waited until 2010 to admit that multiple concussions can affect memory and cause dementia and chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), a degenerative brain condition that has been linked to the deaths of several former NFL players.
