A federal judge said the NFL and more than 4,500 former players will settle their concussion-related lawsuits for $765 million.
A group of former players headed by Tony Dorsett, Jim McMahon and the family of deceased Junior Seau accused the NFL of hiding known risks of concussions so that players could return to games and league could protect its image. The NFL still denies any wrongdoing, but they avoid an extended and even costlier litigation process by settling. They also avoid letting the public know exactly how guilty they really were. The $765 million will be used for medical benefits, retired players' injury compensation, medical research and lawyer fees. It's a monumental moment for a league that only recently began taking player safety seriously. Although the NFL got off relatively cheap, players will be better protected going forward.
