It's Time to end the NFL Concussion Settlement Appeals
“What matters now is time, and many retired players do not have much left. I hope this settlement is implemented without delay so that we can finally start helping those in need.” - Deceased NFL player and lead plaintiff in the NFL Concussion Settlement - Kevin Turner
Here we are, almost three years after reaching a Settlement Agreement with the NFL over the issue of concussions and we still don’t have a final deal. It’s like a bad dream. Like the Twilight Zone. Like the movie Groundhog Day, where Bill Murray relives the same day over and over again. When will it end?
The Settlement is now being appealed by the estate of former NFL player, Cookie Gilchrist. In the complaint, Scott Gilchrist said that living players can receive a maximum of $5 million under the settlement, while families of CTE victims, like his father, have a lower maximum of $4 million.
I know Scott personally and I understand his concerns, but isn’t it time for everyone to put aside their own interests and focus on the hundreds of players and other families that will receive immediate monetary awards through this settlement? Not to mention - but I will anyway - the thousands of former players who will receive compensation and other benefits over the next 65 years.
Even if I never get bad enough to receive an award (and I pray that I don't) it gives me peace of mind to know that the Settlement funds will be there if I need them. There is no limit on the amount of money the NFL is liable to pay former players under the agreement.
This case has dragged on much too long. On two seperate occassions U.S. District Judge Anita B. Brody asked negotiators to tweak the settlement - and they did. The appellate courts have heard every argument in the book - and have thrown it back at the guys who filed and failed to get the changes they wanted.
This last ditch “Hail Mary” effort to get the highest court in the land to suddenly change all the previous court rulings and decisions will, in my opinion, do nothing but continue to delay the monetary awards for the guys who need it most - and need it now.
Before Kevin Turner passed away, his father, Ray Turner prophetically said “There’s a lot of players in really bad shape that are probably not going to see (the money) because of the delays."
When Mr. Turner made that statement to the Associated Press back on June 24, 2015, he wasn't trying to bully or intimidate anyone into dropping their appeals, he was just stating the facts. And he was right. Many players - including his son - have not, and will not see the money because they have died.
The fact is, all of these delays could have been avoided. How? Well, for starters, every former player had the opportunity to opt out of the Settlement and by doing so, reserve the right to continue their individual lawsuit against the NFL. I truly respect the 225 brave men who opted out and are continuing their battle to get what they believe is in their best interest, because it doesn’t hold up the Settlement. It doesn’t affect 20,000 other former NFL players!
Here’s another fact: I’m not a voice in the wilderness. From day one, there have been hundreds of former NFL players that have gone on record against the appeals that are holding up the Settlement. You can read some of their comments here. Feel free to post your own comments at the bottom of the page.
Sorry if I sound like a broken record that keeps singing the same chorus line of a song over and over, but even so, it’s good to know that there are a lot of other former players and family members that are singing in harmony with me. And the chorus line? “Stop Delaying and Denying………..‘cuz too many are Dying.”
