Tony Dorsett hopes a tentative $765 million settlement with the NFL can make a difference in the lives of the thousands of former players who are suffering from concussion-related brain injuries.

Players like Dorsett, a Hall of Fame running back.

The settlement announced Thursday would provide immediate compensation for players, pay for medical exams and treatment, and underwrite research to protect future generations from the effects of repeated blows to the head. And Dorsett tells The Associated Press there is “definitely a dire need for help” for the players.

Former Philadelphia Eagles fullback Kevin Turner says the money will lift a “huge burden.” Former players and their families can now make decisions based on their health, not their finances, said Turner, who, at 44, suffers from Lou Gehrig’s disease.