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Plaintiffs Hope Settlement Can Help Ailing Players

nfl_logo2011-medTony 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.

Judge: NFL, Players to Settle Concussion Lawsuits

nfl_logo2011-medPHILADELPHIA (AP) — A federal judge says the NFL and more than 4,500 former players want to settle concussion-related lawsuits for $765 million.

The global settlement would fund medical exams, concussion-related compensation and medical research.

The plaintiffs include at least 10 members of the Pro Football Hall of Fame, including former Dallas Cowboys running back Tony Dorsett. They also include Super Bowl-winning quarterback Jim McMahon and the family of Pro Bowl linebacker Junior Seau, who committed suicide last year.

The lawsuits accuse the league of hiding known risks of concussions for decades to return players to games and protect its image. The NFL has denied any wrongdoing.

Senior U.S. District Judge Anita Brody in Philadelphia announced the proposed settlement Thursday. She still needs to approve the deal, which comes after months of court-ordered mediation.

Broncos Implement New NFL Bag Policy

DenverBroncosDENVER (AP) — Broncos fans will have to be a bit more transparent with their belongings this season because of a new NFL policy limiting the types and sizes of bags that can be brought into stadiums.

The Denver Post reports that beginning with Saturday’s preseason game against the St. Louis Rams, only two bags will be allowed per person. Spectators can bring one clear bag with maximum measurements of 12 inches by 12 inches by 6 inches or a one-gallon plastic freezer bag, and a small personal item bag 4.5 inches by 6.5 inches that does not have to be see-through.

Seat cushions, binoculars, cameras and blankets that don’t have to fit into bags are still allowed.

Broncos spokesman Erich Schubert says everything that was permitted before is still allowed in, “it’s just the way you carry it.”

Skies over MetLife Stadium a Focus for Super Bowl

nfl_logo2011-medNEWARK, N.J. (AP) — Will it snow?

That’s a main question for next year’s Super Bowl at the Meadowlands, the first to be held in a cold-weather locale.

Behind the scenes, the focus is on much more, including how to move people in and around — and over — MetLife Stadium.

Federal aviation officials say they’re working on flight restrictions over the stadium for Super Bowl Sunday. It’s a challenge because MetLife Stadium sits a few miles from Teterboro Airport to the north and several miles from Newark Liberty International Airport to the south. Those two airports and New York’s LaGuardia and JFK combine to make the most congested airspace in the country.

No-fly zones have been used at Super Bowls since the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.

Congress Could ‘Intervene’ on HGH Testing in NFL

nfl_logo2011-medNEW YORK (AP) — The top Democrat on the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee says the NFL players’ union “is now holding HGH testing hostage” and that could “force Congress to intervene.”

Rep. Elijah Cummings of Maryland says in a statement emailed by his office to The Associated Press on Thursday that the “NFL Players’ Association continues to disregard its promise to implement HGH testing.”

The oversight committee held a hearing in December to take a look at the science behind blood tests for human growth hormone. HGH is a banned performance-enhancing drug that is hard to detect and has been linked to health problems such as diabetes, cardiac dysfunction and arthritis.

Two full NFL seasons have passed without a final agreement on HGH since the August 2011 labor deal paved the way for testing.

NFL: Players Have ‘Buyer’s Remorse’ on HGH Testing

nfl_logo2011-medNEW YORK (AP) — The man who oversees the NFL’s drug program says the players’ union has “buyer’s remorse” about HGH testing.

A union official says “the only thing” the league cares about “is power.”

Ah, just another day in the squabbling between the NFL and players over how to put in place blood testing for human growth hormone. Thursday’s latest public back-and-forth, featuring NFL Senior Vice President Adolpho Birch and NFL Players Association spokesman George Atallah, comes exactly two weeks before the first game of the 2013 regular season.

Two full seasons already have come and gone since the NFL collective bargaining agreement signed in August 2011 paved the way for blood testing for HGH.

Von Miller Fades into the Broncos Background

Von-Miller-Denver-Broncos-FENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) — All-Pro linebacker Von Miller donned a scout team skullcap over his helmet Wednesday and spent much of practice helping the Denver Broncos prepare to play more than a third of the season without him.

Miller was part spectator, part tutor when he wasn’t squaring off against Pro Bowl left tackle Ryan Clady as a member of Denver’s scout team in his first practice since the NFL handed him a six-game suspension for violating the league’s drug-abuse policy.

Nate Irving took his place at strongside linebacker in the base defense alongside Danny Trevathan and Wesley Woodyard, and Shaun Phillips replaced him at rush end in the nickel packages as the Broncos began working on Plan B following the NFL’s verdict.

Former Players, NFL Films Feud over Image Rights

nfl_logo2011-medPHILADELPHIA (AP) — There could be one clip of Hall of Famers that won’t make the NFL Films archives: The sight of John Riggins and other greats heading to court seeking a big payday from the company.

Ten former NFL players, including five Hall of Famers, want the league to pay if NFL Films uses images of them without their consent. They filed a lawsuit in New Jersey to reclaim payment for the use of their names, images and likenesses from film footage they say was used on NFL Network and to promote the league without the ex-players consent.

Jon King, an attorney for the players, compared the lawsuit, filed on Tuesday, to the one from former UCLA basketball star Ed O’Bannon against the NCAA because they deal with “individuals’ rights to control the use of their image.”

The NCAA, and video game company Electronic Arts, are facing similar suits in California. This case cites a recent ruling in California that determined EA Sports could not use First Amendment protections to defend its actions.

“In the EA case, it had to do with computer graphics depictions of players,” King said Wednesday. “As technology increases, it becomes more lifelike and realistic. In the NFL Films case, it’s the players’ images, but committed to film for DVD and really, more these days, for distribution on the NFL Network.”

Hall of Famers including Riggins, Dave Casper, Tom Mack, Curley Culp and Ron Yary are part of the lawsuit.

“NFL Films has never obtained authorization from retired players to use their images to be, as NFL Films puts it, the ‘backbone’ of the NFL Network,” according to the 81-page filing obtained by The Associated Press. “NFL Films’ conduct goes far beyond simply use of images without consent. It continues to this day to strike licensing business deals, in New Jersey, affirmatively, and falsely, misrepresenting that it has obtained all former players’ consent to appear in its promotional materials. The NFL does likewise.”

There was a $50 million settlement in April between the NFL and a group of retired players seeking publicity rights. The NFL said Wednesday that settlement was “fair and reasonable” and should be enough to placate this group of players.

“We agree with the judge that the settlement will benefit the large class of retired players particularly those in need of medical and financial assistance,” NFL spokesman Greg Aiello said Wednesday.

The complaint against the NFL and NFL Productions notes that in 1993, all players’ contracts began to include clauses that granted the NFL authority to use the names, images and likenesses of players to publicize and promote the league. They claim it was never included with the players in the suit.

The filing also contends that the league and NFL Productions violated state laws regarding unfair competition and rights of publicity, as well as a federal statute claiming the league and its production arm were unjustly enriched by improperly using the former players.

The others listed on the suit are Mike Bass, Willie Buchanon, Roman Gabriel, Joe Kapp and Phil Villapiano. It also asks that former players who have opted out of the Dryer v. NFL lawsuit, their heirs and assigns be included in this case.

Though there is no stated sum in the complaint, it notes that according to published reports in 2002, NFL Films was making $50 million per year in licensing revenue, which applied only to third parties such as television networks.

King said this group of players are interested in learning what “NFL Films is really worth as a marketing tool.”

“That’s the interesting thing that takes this case into the future,” he said. “This type of thing was never envisioned 10 years ago, 20 years ago. It has to do with the technology, when things change from a quaint, small entity like NFL Films to providing what the NFL calls the backbone of the NFL Network.”

Google and NFL Meet; Sunday Ticket Up for grabs?

googlePORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Google has been holding talks with the National Football League, raising speculation that the internet monolith is seeking new inroads into television.

Other tech companies like Apple are reportedly in talks with cable companies to boost access to television through their devices.

With Google sitting on a cash pile of $48 billion, the league’s Sunday Ticket package is easily within its budget.

The contract is currently held by DirecTV, which pays about $1 billion annually for the rights. That contract, however, expires at the end of the 2014 season.

The NFL confirmed its meetings with Google Wednesday, but declined to discuss the nature of those talks, as did Google.

The Sunday Ticket Package provides fans with access to most NFL games, with blackouts for those shown on NBC or ESPN.

Source: Appeals ”Final Hurdle’ to HGH Test in NFL

nfl_logo2011-medA person who works for the NFL says while several issues have been resolved regarding HGH testing for players this season, the league and union can’t agree on whether the commissioner will hear appeals for violations other than a positive test.

The person sent an email Thursday to The Associated Press to update the status of negotiations between the league and the NFL Players Association. The information was provided on condition of anonymity because the sides’ talks about the drug policy are supposed to remain confidential.

The email says “the final hurdle appears to be” the union’s desire to have someone other than Roger Goodell rule on appeals that involve violations of the law or “demonstrated use” of a performance-enhancing substance without a positive test.

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