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welch
Skins History Buff
Joined: 10 Jan 2004
Posts: 4671
Location: New York, NY
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| Posted: Wed Mar 28, 2012 6:20 am Post subject: Rypien, group, suing NFL because of concussions |
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"Former Washington Redskins quarterback Mark Rypien is the lead plaintiff in a class-action lawsuit that seeks compensation and medical care from the NFL for “repeated traumatic injuries to his head” that he incurred during his playing career.
In the suit, which was filed March 23 in the U.S. District Court of the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, Rypien — along with 126 other former professional football players — allege that the NFL was aware of the dangers and risks of “repetitive traumatic brain injuries and concussions for decades, but deliberately ignored and actively concealed” the information, court documents say."
<snip>
"According to the suit, Rypien, 49, suffered multiple concussions and head injuries during his playing days. He says he suffers from 'various neurological conditions and symptoms related to multiple head traumas.'"
Having seen Rypien stand his ground to complete a long pass to Gary Clark just before being crushed, I can believe it.
One of the players is James Steffen, who might be the Jim Steffen I remember as a Redskin DB around 1960.
Full story at:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/redskins/mark-rypien-sues-nfl-says-he-sustained-repeated-head-injuries-during-career/2012/03/27/gIQA9RczeS_story.html |
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Deadskins
JSPB22
Joined: 02 Jul 2004
Posts: 14756
Location: Location, LOCATION!
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| Posted: Wed Mar 28, 2012 9:55 am Post subject: |
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| I'm sure it's true, but this is the exact reason for all of these rule changes; so the league doesn't get sued for this kind of thing. |
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FanofallthatisGibbs
Hog
Joined: 03 Mar 2005
Posts: 214
Location: Somewhere in Central Asia
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| Posted: Thu Mar 29, 2012 6:52 am Post subject: |
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Simple solution:
Just like when you go skydiving, skiing or bungee jumping - sign a release. The NFL should have all of its players sign releases as a part of their contracts to protect themselves from the natural elements of the game. Let the players make their choices.
I guess the Players Union would never stand for it, but c'mon man, you're a football player and you know the dangers! You also know the money you'll see that 99% of the population will never see.
I think players are more angry at owners getting rich at the expense of their bodies, and I get that. But really, while I sympathize with the damage done, you also knew the risks going in.
Should military personnel sue the US Government every time they are injured or suffer from psychological trauma? |
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44diesel
Hog
Joined: 19 Sep 2011
Posts: 577
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| Posted: Thu Mar 29, 2012 7:55 am Post subject: |
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| FanofallthatisGibbs wrote: | Simple solution:
Just like when you go skydiving, skiing or bungee jumping - sign a release. The NFL should have all of its players sign releases as a part of their contracts to protect themselves from the natural elements of the game. Let the players make their choices.
I guess the Players Union would never stand for it, but c'mon man, you're a football player and you know the dangers! You also know the money you'll see that 99% of the population will never see.
I think players are more angry at owners getting rich at the expense of their bodies, and I get that. But really, while I sympathize with the damage done, you also knew the risks going in.
Should military personnel sue the US Government every time they are injured or suffer from psychological trauma? |
Skydiving, bungee jumping, or other activities that require signing a waiver are done only on occasion for recreation and therefor your exposure to the dangers, although real, are limited.
Professional football players are subjected to the risk on a regular basis. As for the money players get, I'll give you that many modern players make more than some small countries but that's not the case for most of the older players who have been involved in these claims. With how much money the NFL makes today I think that they should take care of those guys that helped get the league where it is today. The NFL does not have a severance package or retirement plans. Once your contract is up, so's your paycheck.
Sadly, there are even players in the Hall of Fame who never had an endorsement deal, never made a small fortune and are now in need of assisted living, and have numerous medical aliments that can't afford treatment. These guys played for the love of the game. There weren't as many rules in place for players safety nor was the equipment as advanced as it is today.
As for our troops, I think the govt. should do more for the young people who have risked their lives to protect our freedoms. I wouldn't necessarily even begin to compare their extreme sacrifice to an athlete who plays a recreational sport, but I think there is a measure of responsibility that those who put someone in harms way should have a hand in their aftercare. (*edit - Especially if they financially benefit from it.)
Just my two cents. 
Last edited by 44diesel on Thu Mar 29, 2012 8:47 am; edited 2 times in total |
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Irn-Bru
FanFromAnnapolis
Joined: 20 Mar 2004
Posts: 10637
Location: on the bandwagon
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| Posted: Thu Mar 29, 2012 8:25 am Post subject: |
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| 44diesel wrote: | Skydiving, bungee jumping, or other activities that require signing a waiver are done only on occasion for recreation and therefor your exposure to the dangers, although real, are limited.
Professional football players are subjected to the risk on a regular basis. |
Not to mention that the players would never sign it . . . |
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The Hogster
#######
Joined: 06 Mar 2005
Posts: 7013
Location: Washington D.C.
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| Posted: Thu Mar 29, 2012 9:26 am Post subject: |
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| He didn't get those concussions in the 90-91 season. |
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Countertrey
the 'mudge
Joined: 09 Jan 2004
Posts: 12783
Location: Curmudgeon Corner, Maine
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| Posted: Thu Mar 29, 2012 10:18 am Post subject: |
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| The Hogster wrote: | | He didn't get those concussions in the 90-91 season. |
That was an awesome O-line performance... awesome. |
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welch
Skins History Buff
Joined: 10 Jan 2004
Posts: 4671
Location: New York, NY
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| Posted: Thu Mar 29, 2012 4:45 pm Post subject: |
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| Countertrey wrote: | | The Hogster wrote: | | He didn't get those concussions in the 90-91 season. |
That was an awesome O-line performance... awesome. |
Although I do remember two key plays when Ryp got clobbered a millisecond after he threw, both time to Gary Clark. First was int the first Giants game. Second, maybe for a TD, was in the SB. |
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FanofallthatisGibbs
Hog
Joined: 03 Mar 2005
Posts: 214
Location: Somewhere in Central Asia
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| Posted: Fri Mar 30, 2012 12:32 am Post subject: |
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| 44diesel wrote: | | FanofallthatisGibbs wrote: | Simple solution:
Just like when you go skydiving, skiing or bungee jumping - sign a release. The NFL should have all of its players sign releases as a part of their contracts to protect themselves from the natural elements of the game. Let the players make their choices.
I guess the Players Union would never stand for it, but c'mon man, you're a football player and you know the dangers! You also know the money you'll see that 99% of the population will never see.
I think players are more angry at owners getting rich at the expense of their bodies, and I get that. But really, while I sympathize with the damage done, you also knew the risks going in.
Should military personnel sue the US Government every time they are injured or suffer from psychological trauma? |
Skydiving, bungee jumping, or other activities that require signing a waiver are done only on occasion for recreation and therefor your exposure to the dangers, although real, are limited.
Professional football players are subjected to the risk on a regular basis. As for the money players get, I'll give you that many modern players make more than some small countries but that's not the case for most of the older players who have been involved in these claims. With how much money the NFL makes today I think that they should take care of those guys that helped get the league where it is today. The NFL does not have a severance package or retirement plans. Once your contract is up, so's your paycheck.
Sadly, there are even players in the Hall of Fame who never had an endorsement deal, never made a small fortune and are now in need of assisted living, and have numerous medical aliments that can't afford treatment. These guys played for the love of the game. There weren't as many rules in place for players safety nor was the equipment as advanced as it is today.
As for our troops, I think the govt. should do more for the young people who have risked their lives to protect our freedoms. I wouldn't necessarily even begin to compare their extreme sacrifice to an athlete who plays a recreational sport, but I think there is a measure of responsibility that those who put someone in harms way should have a hand in their aftercare. (*edit - Especially if they financially benefit from it.)
Just my two cents. |
I agree with almost everything you wrote, but my broader point is that playing football is a choice, and with that choice comes the voluntary act of putting yourself in constant threat of bodily harm.
Retroactively suing just stinks of sour grapes that they are not paid like the new kids these days. I feel for them, I just feel like class action lawsuits are a stretch. For me, it's more a complaint about our legal system than it is about how right or wrong the players are in trying to be compensated for their service and bodily sacrifice. |
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welch
Skins History Buff
Joined: 10 Jan 2004
Posts: 4671
Location: New York, NY
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| Posted: Sun Apr 01, 2012 2:17 pm Post subject: |
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I think the game has to change to protect the players better. Rypien, Jim McMahon, and Dave Duerson are all recent players...not vintage leather-helmet guys.
A larger paycheck or pension does not properly compensate for brain-damage.
As for comparing NFL players to Soldiers or Marines, it points up how disconnected people are, usually, from the American military. Maybe we need to bring back the draft so that everyone -- every family -- takes part in the risk.
Right now, our military volunteers and warfare is, or should be, a last resort matter of the life or death of the country.
Football is different. It should be a game, and a profession, but players should not asked to wager their long-term health. |
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Countertrey
the 'mudge
Joined: 09 Jan 2004
Posts: 12783
Location: Curmudgeon Corner, Maine
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| Posted: Sun Apr 01, 2012 4:55 pm Post subject: |
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How would you change it, John? Penalize contact? Go to flag football rules? Rypen would have played exactly the same way, whether fully aware, or not. He enjoyed being thought of as one tough SOB...
I would suggest that if the NFL adequately cared for it's vets, there would not be a suit. |
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Manchester_Redskin
Hog
Joined: 02 Mar 2004
Posts: 468
Location: Ex-Brit now living in Thailand
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| Posted: Mon Apr 02, 2012 5:32 am Post subject: |
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| I read somewhere that Chip Lohmiller was also claimimg ... how did he get a concussion? too many taps on the head for kicking PAT's I guess |
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welch
Skins History Buff
Joined: 10 Jan 2004
Posts: 4671
Location: New York, NY
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| Posted: Tue Apr 03, 2012 4:01 pm Post subject: |
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| Countertrey wrote: | How would you change it, John? Penalize contact? Go to flag football rules? Rypen would have played exactly the same way, whether fully aware, or not. He enjoyed being thought of as one tough SOB...
I would suggest that if the NFL adequately cared for it's vets, there would not be a suit. |
I've been thinking about that. Maybe:
- training (don't lead with your helmet)
- penalize head-first tackles or blocks. You remember how Mike Bass nearly broke his neck...although I think Bass was trying to tackle with a shoulder-pad, and not square on his helmet.
- Maybe less padding. Seems wrong at first, but maybe there would be less concussions if the hitting player did not have so much padding underneath "plastic armor".
- On that, it would be interesting to know some statistics on concussions in the leather-helmet days. Maybe some from rugby, where there seems to be no padding at all.
Before I forget...I'd want to prevent these injuries. Yes, the players should be compensated fairly, but money doesn't make up for a player's having dementia at 45 or 50. |
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Countertrey
the 'mudge
Joined: 09 Jan 2004
Posts: 12783
Location: Curmudgeon Corner, Maine
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| Posted: Tue Apr 03, 2012 4:39 pm Post subject: |
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| welch wrote: | | Countertrey wrote: | How would you change it, John? Penalize contact? Go to flag football rules? Rypen would have played exactly the same way, whether fully aware, or not. He enjoyed being thought of as one tough SOB...
I would suggest that if the NFL adequately cared for it's vets, there would not be a suit. |
I've been thinking about that. Maybe:
- training (don't lead with your helmet)
- penalize head-first tackles or blocks. You remember how Mike Bass nearly broke his neck...although I think Bass was trying to tackle with a shoulder-pad, and not square on his helmet.
- Maybe less padding. Seems wrong at first, but maybe there would be less concussions if the hitting player did not have so much padding underneath "plastic armor".
- On that, it would be interesting to know some statistics on concussions in the leather-helmet days. Maybe some from rugby, where there seems to be no padding at all.
Before I forget...I'd want to prevent these injuries. Yes, the players should be compensated fairly, but money doesn't make up for a player's having dementia at 45 or 50. |
A long term study of Rugby and Aussie rules might be useful... but I doubt that there is any significant informed data from the old days... Despite the claims of the plaintiffs, I don't believe there was even much known in the early 90's about the effects of repetitive concussions over the long term. |
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SkinsJock
08 Champ
Joined: 24 Feb 2004
Posts: 11532
Location: New England
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| Posted: Tue Apr 03, 2012 5:01 pm Post subject: |
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I played rugby - although the rules have maybe changed, you were not allowed to wear padding or protection unless a Doctor required it - the feeling that we as players had was that the padding and the helmets caused more problems than they helped
You felt that you could hit someone harder because you were protected - this actually caused more injuries
Rugby also does NOT allow any blocking, hitting or tackling a player that does not have the ball
the problem is that the part of the game that is attractive and marketable is the hitting - you can't really take it away or dilute it - the fans will not like it |
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