The NFL sent teams a 651-word letter today responding to the N.Y. Times’ concussion article, reiterating the league’s earlier and lengthier statement that called the piece ill-founded and sensational. Sent from Exec VP/Communications Joe Lockhart and Exec VP & General Counsel Jeff Pash, the letter said that it is true as the article reported some concussions were left out of a study covering '96-'01, but that the NFL never claimed otherwise. The letter also attacked the Times for trying to link the NFL to tobacco lobbyists, saying the examples offered by the newspaper fell apart upon closer examination.
The letter states, “We will continue to press both the Times and other media outlets to print facts, not innuendo and speculation. Today's piece, unfortunately, is very much on the latter side of that line.” This letter, and the 1,052-word statement from earlier today, appear to signal a new strategy under Lockhart, hired in January, to aggressively confront stories like the one in the Times. Lockhart was a spokesperson for President Clinton and replaced Paul Hicks, who presided over the league’s widely criticized response to the player misconduct scandals.
Read the full letter, in addition to the NFL's earlier statement.
