NFL, Former Players Reach $765M Concussion Settlement

[GeorgeCostanza]

Chicago Bears DB Chris Conte

"I'd rather have the experience of playing and, who knows, die 10, 15 years earlier than not be able to play in the NFL and live a long life."

I'm going to go out on a limb and guess he doesn't have children yet.

http://espn.go.com/chicago/nfl/story/_/id/12040968/chris-conte-chicago-bears-says-playing-nfl-worth-long-term-health-risk

 

[ifmanis5]

#nfl Judge OKs potential $1B NFL concussion deal: Judge OKs potential $1B NFL concussion deal http://t.co/6tEEmncjKH #q
— Text NFL (@textnfl) April 22, 2015

 

[MentalDisabldLst]

a total sell-out to the class action lawyers that buys the NFL out of contingent liability down the road for, at most, ten cents on the dollar.

total travesty.

 

[IdiotKicker]

Chicago Bears DB Chris Conte
"I'd rather have the experience of playing and, who knows, die 10, 15 years earlier than not be able to play in the NFL and live a long life."
I'm going to go out on a limb and guess he doesn't have children yet.
http://espn.go.com/chicago/nfl/story/_/id/12040968/chris-conte-chicago-bears-says-playing-nfl-worth-long-term-health-risk

Ralph Waldo Emerson has one of my favorite quotes on this subject. "Its not the length of life, but the depth of life."

I'm not saying that Conte is right or wrong. But there is a big part of me that understands where he is coming from. Having played soccer for the last 25 years and with some of the emerging research on CTE as far as low-velocity repetitive impact, there's a chance that I've done some damage through playing. I also know that my ankles aren't what they used to be and I've had a few broken bones. But it's not something I'd ever give up because of what it gave me, both in terms of experiences and opportunities.

Soccer clearly is not football in terms of the effects it has on players in their 40s and 50s. But I think we have to be careful to distance ourselves from the notion that someone cannot make the choice to accept those consequences without looking at them as crazy. I think the big thing is creating awareness and information surrounding the topic, so people can make an informed decision. And if that decision is what Conte says, I understand it, respect it, and have had the same thoughts as he has on the topic.

 

[Super Nomario]

Ralph Waldo Emerson has one of my favorite quotes on this subject. "Its not the length of life, but the depth of life."

I'm not saying that Conte is right or wrong. But there is a big part of me that understands where he is coming from. Having played soccer for the last 25 years and with some of the emerging research on CTE as far as low-velocity repetitive impact, there's a chance that I've done some damage through playing. I also know that my ankles aren't what they used to be and I've had a few broken bones. But it's not something I'd ever give up because of what it gave me, both in terms of experiences and opportunities.

And you and Conte might very well feel the same way later in life. But having kids does change your perspective on the downside of the tradeoff. It's one thing to abstractly not be concerned too much about quality of life in your 60's and 70's; it's another thing when you face the reality of maybe not seeing your daughter's wedding (which was the first image Chuck Pagano went to when he got his cancer diagnosis). Friendship and sacrifice and the elements of character forged in the successes and failures of competition speak to "depth of life"; but being able to throw a ball around with your son (and hopefully, grandson) does, too.
 

Soccer clearly is not football in terms of the effects it has on players in their 40s and 50s. But I think we have to be careful to distance ourselves from the notion that someone cannot make the choice to accept those consequences without looking at them as crazy. I think the big thing is creating awareness and information surrounding the topic, so people can make an informed decision. And if that decision is what Conte says, I understand it, respect it, and have had the same thoughts as he has on the topic.

Sometimes the choice is being made really young though. A kid who starts playing football in college is probably qualified to make his decision. A kid who starts playing football in high school is maybe qualified. A kid who starts playing Pop Warner at 10 isn't going to be able to process the potential long-term ramifications.

 

[StupendousMan]

And you and Conte might very well feel the same way later in life. But having kids does change your perspective on the downside of the tradeoff.

 
I don't want to send this discussion off the rails, but some people don't have children. 

 

[Super Nomario]

 
I don't want to send this discussion off the rails, but some people don't have children. 

Yeah, and I really don't want to be the "everything in life is trivial until you have kids" guy. My point is that there are valuable and fulfilling life experiences that people have in their later years that one who suffers CTE issues might miss out on - for most people, that's kids, but for many others it could be going to Egypt to see the pyramids or fixing up the country home you always wanted or trying all the flavors at Baskin Robbins. There shouldn't be a tradeoff between "short, fulfilling life" and "long, unfulfilling life"; hopefully we can all aspire to lives that are both long and deep.

 

[mauf]

a total sell-out to the class action lawyers that buys the NFL out of contingent liability down the road for, at most, ten cents on the dollar.

total travesty.

 
I disagree. It's not an overwhelming win for either side, but settlements seldom are.
 
If the case had continued through the litigation process, I doubt the players could have gotten a class certified. This means each individual claim would have to be tried separately. Some older players' claims would likely be barred by a statute of limitations. Many players would struggle to prove causation -- there are plenty of guys who never played footballl, or only played at the high-school and/or college levels, who end up with Parkinson's, early-onset Alzheimer's, and (more rarely) CTE. Also, I have to think a fair number of juries would agree with the league's argument that players assumed the obvious risks of playing such a violent game.
 
A few players likely would have won multi-million dollar court judgments after years of litigation, but for most players, the certain money is a better deal.

 

[mauf]

By the way, one of Roger Goodell's core responsibilities is to bring owners together to do things that might cause short-term pain, but are best for the long-term health of the collective enterprise. That's a much more important part of his job than handling player discipline.
 
I don't think this settlement is highway robbery like MDL does, but it's a good deal for the owners. This is why the owners pay Goodell big money and tolerate his PR foibles.