The NFL wants to ask a group of former players suing the league for concussion-related injuries they contend they suffered during their playing days whether they understood how to tackle. The query is one of many the NFL has for the former players that the league submitted to a Pennsylvania federal court earlier this month for approval. The eight former players, including former Super Bowl-winning QB Jim McMahon, are suing the NFL for the alleged injuries, contending the league hid the severity of the effects of playing football. The NFL wants to combine the lawsuit, Easterling v. NFL, with three similar cases filed in California. In its discovery request, the NFL asked for information in 21 specific areas, including “Plaintiffs’ understanding of tackling methodologies.” Other areas include their medical histories, what damages they are seeking, medical and scientific studies related to the lawsuit, and proof that the players’ injuries stemmed from their reliance on what the NFL was saying at the time about concussions. The players, for their part, requested discovery in two areas: the NFL’s knowledge of the neurological impact of playing football, and dialogue the league had with helmet makers about the issue. The NFL proposed finishing discovery by Feb. 15; the players, by Feb. 1. The NFL also has asked for all proceedings in the case to be suspended pending its request to consolidate the four cases.
