The NFL is using a technicality when it comes to giving Ken Stabler's family money from the concussion settlement.
Yes, Ken Stabler died from colon cancer. He also died after April 22, 2015, so he isn't eligible for money because his death occurred too late for his estate to claim any money because he wasn't diagnosed with Alzheimer's Disease before he died.
Legally the NFL is doing what they can to make sure they don't have to pay all the players that suffered head injuries.
The NFL lied about concussions. They are spending more money on advertising to make claims that they are changing the game so the game will be safer, and this money could be used to pay these players now suing the NFL. Players are still getting concussions and retired players are still dealing with the issues caused by repetitive injuries.
Professional football has an inherent risk of head injury. There isn't a helmet made that completely eliminates the risk of head injuries. When that concussion-proof helmet is created, the risk of head injury will be eliminated, but until that day happens every player runs the risk of permanent damage.
Just remember that at one point the NFL used to celebrate hard hits. They embraced the animal side of football and made profits from some of the most vicious tacklers. The NFL released annual videos of the best hits and best tacklers. The apparent marketing value of celebrating hard-hitting football was so good for the bottom line that the NFL did their best to suppress medical information pointing to the damage caused by repetitive head injuries.
These players knew the risk they were taking for quick wealth and fame, or you would hope that they knew that they were putting their health at risk.
Should the NFL pay Ken Stabler's family the money they deserve? Will fans get upset at the fact the NFL is using technicalities to get out of paying the money to a lot of players that deserve it?
Is the NFL sticking it to Ken Stabler again? Stabler didn't get elected to the NFL Hall of Fame until after his death. Sure, Stabler threw more interceptions then touchdown passes, but that is because he finished his career on some really bad teams. Ken Stabler has more fourth-quarter comebacks than Troy Aikman, Terry Bradshaw, and Len Dawson. The NFL didn't wait as long as they did with Stabler when it comes to other quarterbacks with fewer wins and less Super Bowl wins.
Just think about the fact the NFL paid out money to 912 former players, and that is out of 20,540 players that sued the NFL. The numbers are weak, but the NFL is still a business, and the bottom line is the NFL doesn't want to pay the players for the injuries they received from a lifetime of football.
No comments:
Post a Comment