A group of retired NFLers yesterday accused the league of "cynically supplying them with powerful painkillers and other drugs that kept them in the game but led to serious complications later in life." The lawsuit, filed in federal court in S.F., seeks unspecified damages on behalf of more than 500 former players and "charges the NFL with putting profits ahead of players' health." It names eight plaintiffs, and lawyers are "seeking class-action status" (AP, 5/20). The suit also seeks an "injunction creating a testing and monitoring program" (CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 5/21).
The suit is in its early stages, so it is "too soon to say what its prospects for success are or how costly it could be to the NFL." NFL Senior VP/Communications Greg Aiello said that the league "hasn't seen the lawsuit yet," and its attorneys "haven't had an opportunity to review it" (USA TODAY, 5/21).
This lawsuit was the second report on this morning's editions of ABC's "GMA" and NBC's "Today," while CBS' "This Morning" led with the lawsuit. Last night's editions of ABC's "World News," CBS' "Evening News" and NBC's "Nightly News" all led with the lawsuit (THE DAILY). Paul Silverman, one of the attorneys for the former players, appeared on NBC and said, "What you have in the NFL is a bunch of anesthetized gladiators … and the NFL is simply putting profit before players" ("Nightly News," NBC, 5/20).
