Objectors to the preliminary settlement of concussion claims brought against the NFL want the league to disclose all documents related to its role in ESPN backing away last year from supporting the PBS documentary "League of Denial." In court papers filed earlier this week, attorneys for seven players ask the court to compel the league to turn over the documents. "ESPN originally sponsored the project, but news reports indicate that the NFL pressured ESPN to revoke its sponsorship," the attorneys wrote. "The NFL’s conduct is related to its alleged efforts to poison the well of public knowledge about CTE and the link between football and CTE, and is therefore relevant now that the NFL has invoked the supposed immaturity of the science of CTE to defend the proposed settlement." The NFL alleged in the fairness hearing last month to debate the merits of the settlement that the science is still early for CTE. The attorneys for Sean Morey also ask for all documents the NFL has in its possession on CTE science. PBS aired "League of Denial" to great fanfare. The documentary, based on the book of the same name, explored the NFL and brain injuries. ESPN reporters Mark Fainura-Wada and Steve Fainura, who wrote the book played a large part in the documentary, but ESPN pulled its role supporting the documentary. The NFL denied it had a role in that decision. A federal court judge is expected to approve the concussion settlement later this month or early next year.
