Football is the only sport, played on a large field with a ball, which allows wholesale substitutions. The result is 300 plus pound players with relatively fresh legs delivering massive blows. If players had to play on both sides of the ball, 300 pound players might make good bowlers, but they certainly wouldn’t play football

If the NFL if the suits/settlements become a problem the there they will be able to get legislative relief.  The senators and representatives from states where football is a religious experience would rush to throw the ex-players with memory and depression problems under the bus.  I would guess that there would be “cover”  with some sort of minimum medical coverage similar to the way military vets are handled.

I find it difficult to believe that players didn’t have as good an idea of the risks to their bodies and brain function as supposedly the NFL would have. It has been evident for a long time that severe kneeproblems go along with length of time playing and position played. What was the League supposed to do, have players sign a waiver accepting that playing football is a risky sport?

In order for the NFL to assume full liability – that is to say, the affected player(s) wins 100% of claim -  those players would have to somehow prove a willful malfeasance (e.g.: purposeful withholding of information) by the NFL that would have affected them. I don’t think that will be the case. It will prove almost impossible for a player to lay full culpability on the league – too many other factors to consider (such as genetics, lifestyle outside the sport, etc.).

Football, like any sport, has and will continue to evolve. Part of that evolution is risk awareness and prevention. Every major pro sport I know of has a well documented history of attempts to make their sport safer – through technology, rule changes, or whatever – that cannot be disputed. Sure, there have been many things to subvert this (steroids, bounties, etc.) but nothing anyone can clearly say was perpetrated by the league.

And should any of these cases win when they finally are heard, the appeals process will likely be considerably lengthy.  I’d like to think there is a more honorable outcome these players are really aiming for than just to alleviate themselves of fault and collect money – Perhaps changing the pension/benefits system to allow for these conditions when they do arise for retired players, perhaps just creating more awareness of this kind of danger.

I think I’m going to sue the beer companies!  My short term memory is shot.

I believe a class action settlement will occur, and that will take care of these suits against the NFL. Even a one billion dollar settlement would not destroy the league. One way or another the NFL could afford to pay that, but what might threaten the sport’s future is the elimination of HS football, and college football. Both of those institutions also face potential liability. 

Right now, parents are legally liable if they smoke around their children. Is it inconceivable that parents will face criminal sanctions for even allowing their children to play football? I think that is what will ultimately threaten the existence of the sport. 

All of these lawsuits aimed at the NFL, but how will these players be able to prove that their Pop Warner league, High Schools, or colleges aren’t to blame for their current situation? Not to say that they are, but there just seems to be too many factors involved for any real blame to be laid entirely on the NFL.

I’m sorry, Art–now you’re sounding like that woman at the Times who wrote the idiotic, ill-informed, and badly done editorial about the UW’s policy.

I notice also that you don’t mention the Pac-12 coach for whom the word ‘injury’ doesn’t seem to exist. But then, for him, neither does the concept ‘players misbehave and should be disciplined for it.’ After all, it’s perfectly normal to drive 140+ on the freeways in a “borrowed” rental car while smoking it all, right? Just boys being boys. Or so Chip would have it.

If none of the UW’s next three opponents (Stanford, Oregon, USC) report or talk about injuries, what’s your problem with UW taking the same stance? You give the impression of a little boy who had his favorite toy taken away.

And I’m sorry, but “Truth be told — not that the Huskies would go that far –” is in the slanderous area, and I’ve always thought you were above such tactics. I wonder what Royal would think. Remember Royal? My late mother certainly did, after all the years she worked at the P-I. Shame on you.