ATHLETIC ASSHOLES

[Cutz]

I understand targeting deep pockets and going after the NFL rather than their respective clubs.

Anyway, I don't watch a lot of football. Could a pro actually play through a game with a broken neck or broken ankle? I'd think his judgment and agility would be way off, even if the pain was numbed by scrips.

Yes. Donovan McNaab, QB for the Eagles, broke his ankle (three places of his fibula) getting tackled on the third play of the game. He went to the locker room, got it taped up, I'm sure popped some meds, and returned to the game with a reported 'sprained' ankle. After the game and x-rays, he was out for the rest of the season. Donnie Mac was usually a mobile QB, and his running ability was severely compromised with the ankle injury, but he just stayed in the pocket and threw the ball a lot. Obviously it depends what position the guy plays, but playing through more minor injury is common.

It's important to remember that this stuff is separate from the concussion lawsuits. That was a major action by a bigger contingent of players, and the NFL has a settlement given primary acceptance to the tune of like 800 million bucks, but not capped, so if more money is needed in the future, they have to dump more in (from what I understand.) That was settled because the NFL as an organization had buried concussion data. The players being given prescription drugs would be a doc by doc and club by club thing, so I don't really see it going too far at the organization level.

Pertaining to the concussion lawsuit, one guy said this about the NFL being able to audit the claims for brain injury/concussion money:

League owners and executives have long thought that this case was lawyer-driven, with lawyers signing up many undeserving players with form contracts to drive up the numbers. And as someone who received many inquiries from former players, I admit to seeing some of that, with calls like this:
Player: “Do you think I should join that lawsuit?”
Me: “Do you have any symptoms?
Player: “No….but I might. And the lawyers say it’s all contingent, I don’t pay anything.”
Me: “Well, how do you feel about suing for something you don’t have?”
Player: “Well, the NFL got over on me and I don’t feel bad getting a little more.”

I see a lot of bitterness from many retired players about the way things ended in their career, with a sense they deserved more: more playing time, more money, more respect, etc. Unfortunately, this settlement will not answer many of those players’ issues.(http://mmqb.si.com/2014/07/10/nfl-concus...-approval/)

So you could see why while some players actually have cause or need to sue the NFL, others would just be trying to get money. While I would feel bad for anyone who was 'forced' to play through injury, it's more likely they were complicit in playing while injured so that they could make their paycheck. Players don't like to sit out.