NFL – Page 7 – North Platte Post Archive

Judge: NFL Concussion Opt-Outs Due by Tuesday

Posted on October 11, 2014

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Tuesday remains the deadline to opt out of the NFL’s settlement of concussion claims after a judge in Philadelphia denied an extension request.

Lawyers for some retired players want the deadline delayed until after a Nov. 19 fairness hearing on the settlement. But Senior U.S. District Judge Anita Brody denied their request this week.

The lead lawyers who negotiated the minimum $765 million deal oppose the delay. They say many of the nearly 20,000 former players need the money quickly.

The plan would pay $1 million or more to retirees with the most severe neurological problems, such as Parkinson’s disease.

But the average award for Alzheimer’s disease or dementia would be about $190,000.

The deal may not be finalized by year’s end. Brody will take written briefs through mid-December.

NFL Penalties Up More than 2 Per Game this Season

Posted on October 9, 2014

The NFL’s emphasis on defensive-backfield penalties has contributed to an average of more than two extra flags every game this season, a 15 percent rise from 2013.

And the man in charge of officiating is OK with that.

Most of the increase comes thanks to passing-game rules the competition committee decided to emphasize or reword. According to STATS, illegal contact, defensive holding, defensive illegal use of hands, and offensive pass interference are all at Week 5 highs for the last 20 years.

There already have been more illegal contact calls than for all of last season.

NFL Vice President of Officiating Dean Blandino tells the AP on Thursday that “we’re in a good place” and “if we pull back now, then we aren’t being consistent.”

NFL Owners’ Meetings Focus on Personal Conduct

Posted on October 8, 2014

NEW YORK (AP) — There hasn’t been much football talk at the NFL owners’ meetings Wednesday.

Instead, the focus has been on the personal conduct policy, and on educating everyone involved in the league about domestic violence.

After approving the sale of the Buffalo Bills to Terry and Kim Pegula in the morning, the owners listened to a presentation on domestic violence that included a video by a former player appealing for recognition and action. They also began intense discussions on potential changes to the personal conduct policy and how to discipline players, executives, and even their peers, should they make missteps.

There have been plenty such mistakes recently, most notably the Ray Rice and Adrian Peterson abuse cases. In the midst of a maelstrom over how the league has handled those and other incidents, Commissioner Roger Goodell has asked for a re-examination of the policy.

Brain Injury Expert Faults NFL Concussion Deal

Posted on October 8, 2014

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — A researcher studying the brains of former athletes with traumatic brain injuries opposes the plan to settle NFL concussion claims.

Dr. Robert Stern of Boston University says many of the 76 deceased players with the brain decay known as CTE would not have qualified for awards during their lives.

Stern tells The Associated Press that many of them exhibited severe mood disorders — but not the dementia or Alzheimer’s disease covered by the plan.

A judge in Philadelphia will hear final objections next month to the settlement, under which the NFL would pay at least $765 million over 65 years. But nearly 20,000 ex-players must decide whether to opt out by next week.

CTE, or chronic traumatic encephalopathy, can only be diagnosed after death, but Stern believes that will change within a decade.

Poll: Most NFL Fans Think Goodell Should Keep Job

Posted on October 8, 2014

NEW YORK (AP) — Most NFL fans believe Commissioner Roger Goodell should keep his job after his handling of recent domestic violence cases, according to a new Associated Press-GfK Poll.

Only 32 percent say Goodell should lose his job over the issue, with 66 percent saying he shouldn’t.

Support for his handling of the cases is much lower, though, with 42 percent saying they disapprove. The same percentage neither approve nor disapprove, with just 15 percent approving.

Goodell initially suspended Ray Rice for two games after the Baltimore Ravens running back was charged with assaulting his then-fiancee. The commissioner defended the punishment at first, before admitting more than a month later that he “didn’t get it right.”

When a video of the assault later surfaced, Goodell suspended Rice indefinitely, saying the images constituted new evidence. Rice was released earlier that day by the Ravens.

HGH Testing Finally Begins in NFL

Posted on October 6, 2014

NEW YORK (AP) — Testing for human growth hormone in NFL players has begun.

The testing originally was agreed to in the 2011 labor agreement but was delayed because the union was not comfortable with the procedures or science involved. Both sides agreed last month on the new policy, which took effect Monday and brings HGH testing to the NFL for the first time.

A total of 950 tests will be performed in the regular season, postseason and preseason. In the offseason, approximately 385 tests will be done.

The league and union also agreed to a minimum two-game suspension for a first driving-under-the-influence conviction. Longtime suspensions would be imposed for cases with extenuating circumstances such as personal injury or property damage, or in cases of repeat offenders.

NFL Hires Another Domestic Conduct Adviser

Posted on October 3, 2014

NEW YORK (AP) — The NFL has hired Beth E. Richie as a senior adviser on domestic conduct.

Richie is the director of the Institute of Research on Race and Public Policy and a professor of African-American studies, criminology, sociology, gender and women’s studies, and criminal law and justice at Illinois-Chicago. She is considered a leading expert on issues of sexual assault.

Richie joins five previously hired advisers. According to a memo sent by Commissioner Roger Goodell to all team chief executives and presidents, the advisers meet with the league daily “to help develop our educational and service programs, and to assist in revising our personal conduct policy.”

Goodell also mentioned that the NFL met with the heads of groups representing the parents of pro football players, and with Dr. Dara Richardson-Heron, the CEO of the YWCA, the largest provider of domestic violence services in the United States.

9 Ex-Players Opt Out of NFL Concussion Litigation

Posted on October 3, 2014

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Lawyers for thousands of former football players involved in the NFL concussion litigation say nine have opted out of the proposed settlement.

The deadline to opt out is Oct. 14, although some retirees want a judge to extend the date.

The NFL has agreed to pay at least $765 million over 65 years. About 20,000 ex-players would be covered by the agreement.

Individual awards could reach $5 million for severe brain trauma. The average ex-player with Alzheimer’s disease or dementia is expected to get about $190,000.

The players’ lawyers filed a motion Thursday asking U.S. District Senior Judge Anita Brody to keep the current timelines for settling the case. They say families need money soon.

But some plaintiffs want the opt-out deadline delayed until after the judge weighs the fairness of the settlement in November.

Bears Announce NFL Draft Headed to Chicago in 2015

Posted on October 3, 2014

NEW YORK (AP) — The 2015 NFL draft will be held in Chicago, according to a tweet by the Bears.

The Bears posted the announcement on their Twitter account Thursday, saying: “2015 NFL Draft will be held in Chicago next April 30-May 2 at Auditorium Theatre of Roosevelt University.”

Moving the draft out of New York, where it has been held for decades, was likely once the league began taking bids for the event. Los Angeles and Chicago were the finalists for next year’s event.

The NFL soured on Radio City Music Hall after it was forced to move the draft back two weeks into May this year. But under Commissioner Roger Goodell, the league also has considered moving around the draft for a while.

Refs Union Criticizes NFL Inconsistency on Calls

Posted on October 2, 2014

NEW YORK (AP) — The union representing NFL on-field officials criticized the league Thursday for inconsistencies in grading calls, including two high-profile penalties from recent games.

In a release, the NFL Referees Association says the NFL has “caused confusion for NFL officials as to what the league does and doesn’t want called.”

The union referred to penalties on Washington’s Chris Baker for a hit on Eagles quarterback Nick Foles on Sept. 21, and to Chiefs safety Husain Abdullah last Monday night for going to his knees to celebrate an interception return for a touchdown. Abdullah actually had gone to his knees to pray — an act exempted from celebration penalties.

The union says both calls were graded as correct even after NFL executives announced that they were incorrect. Baker got a 15-yard penalty and was ejected from the game at Philadelphia. Abdullah also received a 15-yard penalty.