NS.. ex-NFL players sue league... It's starting to make sense now

Exactly right. I am friends with former NFL players, as well as current ones.

They've also stated that they are basically "owned" by the NFL, and can only use the team doctors. They can request approval of a specialist (i.e., Dr. Andrews, et al), but they can't go out on their own for a second opinion, or they'd be released, traded, etc.

I've also been told by a former player, that there were times that he didn't remember finishing the game after a hard hit. He basically said when games were close, and if you were able to walk and appeared physically capable, they sent you back out on the field.

There's much more detail to this. If I wasn't personally informed by these players, I'd certainly think like the OP states.

Players do have the right to outside second opinions and the right to pick the surgeon they want if surgery is needed. This is spelled out in the CBA.

Section 4. [FONT=Garamond,Garamond][FONT=Garamond,Garamond]Player’s Right to a Second Medical Opinion: [/FONT][/FONT]A player will have the opportunity to obtain a second medical opinion. As a condition of the Club’s responsibility for the costs of medical services rendered by the physician furnishing the second opi-nion, such physician must be board-certified in his field of medical expertise; in addition, (a) the player must consult with the Club physician in advance concerning the other physician; and (b) the Club physician must be furnished promptly with a report concern-ing the diagnosis, examination and course of treatment recommended by the other physician. A player shall have the right to follow the reasonable medical advice given to him by his second opinion physician with respect to diagnosis of injury, surgical and treatment decisions, and rehabilitation and treatment protocol, but only after consulting with the club physician and giving due consideration to his recommendations.
Section 5. [FONT=Garamond,Garamond][FONT=Garamond,Garamond]Player’s Right to a Surgeon of His Choice: [/FONT][/FONT]A player will have the right to choose the surgeon who will perform surgery provided that: (a) the player will consult unless impossible (e.g., emergency surgery) with the Club physician as to his recommen-dation regarding the need for, the timing of and who should perform the surgery; (b) the player will give due consideration to the Club physician’s recommendations; and (c) the surgeon selected by the player shall be board-certified in his field of medical expertise. Any such surgery will be at Club expense; provided, however, that the Club, the Club physician, trainers and any other representative of the Club will not be responsible for or incur any liability (other than the cost of the surgery) for or relating to the adequacy or competency of such surgery or other related medical services rendered in connection with such surgery.