NS.. ex-NFL players sue league... It's starting to make sense now
How could the NFL know if the medical community itself didn't know?
That's not what I meant.
The medical community didn't know everything it knows today, but there was some information coming to light.
The players allege that the NFL knew some things and didn't properly act on them. If that's not true...
Also they are saying in part, that although there was certainly a "legal" right in their contracts to get second opinions, sit down because they didn't know which team they were on or what their name was, etc...that they were, nonetheless coerced to play through injuries. (I don't know about THIS suit, but that's a contention in most of them)
Surely everyone here has worked at a job where certain assignments were voluntary, and yet not doing them was considered detrimental to the career? I have, and that's the allegation some players are making.
See Colt McCoy. That guy didn't have a clue what was happening to him. He was staring into space waiting for the huddle. Look at his face during the game, between snaps. He looked more spacey than the most stoned person I've ever seen. He was gone. That player can't be hit with the "personal responsibility" line...the doctors have the responsibility to say "no, sit down" and to tell the coaches the same. And the coaches have a responsibility to listen -- and do what's best for their players in the long term.
At the very least, even if the NFL knew nothing and the players knew what they were getting into, the NFL should be taking better care of its players after they retire. Healthcare coverage should be complete and unlimited. The NFL is without a doubt rich enough to do so, and it wouldn't have been without those players.