Concussions in the NFL Legal Aspects of Sport - PowerPoint Presentation

1. Concussions in the NFLLegal Aspects of SportBy: Braxton Tucker

2. NFL Concussion SettlementWhat is CTE?NFL vs. OmaluMike Webster, Terry Long and Junior SeauActions Taken by NFLRiddell HelmetsPlayers OVERVIEW

3. Retired players claim that the NFL was negligent and mislead players about the dangers of concussionsAugust 29th 2013Concussion Litigation4500 players Including 36 Hall of Famers765million dollars-Settlement waiting approval by federal judge$75M cap to cover baseline exams$675 million to compensate former player or families who have suffered cognitive injury$10M for research and education fund$6M for litigation court expenses fees $5M cap for men with ALS (Lou Gehrig’s Disease), Parkinson’s Disease & Alzheimer’s Disease $4 M cap for those diagnosed w/ CTE after death, to family $3 M cap for those diagnosed with dementiaNFL Concussion Settlementhttp://youtu.be/a1855lilePY

4. Who is Eligible? All retired player, even players who never filed a lawsuit45 years old and youngerPlayer who have committed suicidePractice squad playersPlayers not elgible players died prior to 2006 (Mike Webster)Does not address current players in future yearsWho Funds?2 claim administratorsNFL no control in settlement processTax Exempt PayoutsIf player choose to opt out. NFL could drag out for years, this brings uncertainy, risk, cost, cost of time, may be decades before, end up with more or lessRetired by the time settlement is finalized and meet qualifications have access to pool of money (players who might have been plaintiffs not jus t plaintiffs) Retired players cliam that the NFL was negligent and mislead players about the dangers of concussionsNFL Concussion Settlement (Continued)

5. What is it? It is a progressive degenerative disease of the brain found in athletes and others with a history of repetitive brain trauma. (Sportslegacy.com)multiple concussions trigger progressive degeneration of the brain tissue, including the build-up of an abnormal protein called tau.Essentially CTE is a building up of tau, an abnormal protein that strangles brain cells in areas that control memory, emotion, and other functionsFormally known as “punch drunk” thought to be found only in boxers who have taken repetitive hits to the head. Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy(CTE)

6. In 2002, Dr. Bennet Omalu was assigned to do an autopsy on Mike WebsterObvious football had taken a toll on his bodyExamining the brain he discovered CTE which was a first in football playersFirst hard evidence that playing football could cause permanent brain damageOmalu stated, “I had to make sure the slides were Mike Webster’s slides, I looked again. I saw changes that shouldn’t be in a 50-year-old man’s brains, and also changes that shouldn’t be in a brain that looked normal.”NFL vs. Omalu

7. Dr. Omalu published his finding in Neurosurgery thinking the NFL would want to know more on the issue.League officials and doctors urged him to retract findings and this led to him being attacked saying he used “fallacious reasoning”Not wanting to believe there was a link with concussion from football to permanent brain damage officials were doing every thing they could to silence OmaluNFL doctor, “If 10 percent of mothers in this country would begin to perceive football as a dangerous sport, that is the end of football”NFL vs. Omalu (continued)

8. Elliot Pellman Jets Medical staff and Head of MTBIbelieved it was not a big problem “significant percentage of players returned to play in the same game” “ it can be concluded that mild TBI’s are not serious”Red Brick Broadway” to return to game16 scientific papers these papers were written and when problems arise they would deny actually writing parts of sectionLeague of Denial- (Book Published Oct. 8th,2013)TBI and CTE in the NFL20 years of deny the evidence of long term affect of concussionsNFL had cherry picked data to make the idea that this wasn’t a big problem Test on 400 playersMentality is different was to stay in the game shake it off , now I wish I would have step out of bounds a few more timesTobacco linked to denialNFL- Mild Traumatic Brain Injuries Committees

9. University of Wisconsin5th Round/ 125th pick in 1974Steelers 15, Chiefs 1After retirement suffered amnesia, dementia, and depressionIn 2002, he died at the age of 501st Former NFL player diagnose with CTE in 2002 after examinations by Dr. OmaluMIKE WEBSTERhttp://youtu.be/fFkWTGKNLT8

10. East Carolina University 4th Round/ 111th pick in 1984Steelers 8In 2005, At the age of 45 committed suicide from drinking antifreezeDiagnosed with CTE in 2005 after examining brain tissueTERRY LONG

11. USC1st Round/ 5th pick in 1990San Diego 12, Miami 3, New England 4After 19 years he retired in 2009In 2012, at the age of 43 committed suicide from a gunshot wound to the chestEstimated 1500 concussions in his careerFound CTE after examination by the National Institute of HealthJUNIOR SEAUhttp://youtu.be/b1v0-8ys1HU

12. Special Team InjuriesKickoff moved up 5 yards to 35 yard linereduced injuries by 40%Helmet to HelmetBanned helmet to helmet hitsResulting in suspension, fines & penaltiesTaken Action

13. After the 2013 season Riddell will no longer be the official helmet of the NFL68% of players wore Riddell last seasonMore than 2000 former players have sued Riddell claiming that helmets are overemphasized on how much the helmet will prevent brain injury National Operating Committee on Standards for Athletic Equipment (NOCSAE)No More Riddell

14. Steve Young- knocked out of final game Sept 27th 1999 due to concussionTroy Aikman – endured 10 concussion in his 12 year career his last concussion ended his 2000 season shortTony Dorsett(Age 59)- Rushed for more than 12,000 yards, recently diagnosed with CTEMentality is different was to stay in the game shake it off , now “I wish I would have step out of bounds a few more times”Other notable players

15. THE END