Art Monk vs. NFL

[SmootSmack]

Hall of Fame receiver Art Monk latest to sue NFL - Washington Times

[mooby]

This should be interesting.

[skinsfan69]

This is really starting to get old. Sorry but some of these players are just trying to get paid. Not saying this is the case with Monk but they all knew the risks.

[MTK]

Originally Posted by skinsfan69

This is really starting to get old. Sorry but some of these players are just trying to get paid. Not saying this is the case with Monk but they all knew the risks.

Not so sure about that.

What we know today about concussions is far different than 20 years ago.

[Daseal]

Originally Posted by Mattyk

Not so sure about that.

What we know today about concussions is far different than 20 years ago.

So should you be able to sue a doctor 20 years after an operation because there's more information about the disease and they have better methods? No, it's part of the medical process. When it comes down to it, most of these guys are looking for a payday after mismanaging their money.

Football is a tough sport. It's tough on both body and mind to play -- and that's why I don't complain that they get paid a kings ransom. It is a violent sport that causes long term damage. We've known that for a long time. You can't possibly think that slamming your body into someone else at full speed hundreds or thousands of times a year isn't going to have lasting effects. We don't need modern medicine to reaffirm that.

It's too bad that so many of the old players are having issues. I have a lot more understanding for the guys that had to work another job while playing football. Who made the league on their back before the big contracts. But Art got paid a lot of money to sacrifice his body. Give them the collectively bargained health care and thank them for their service.

[CrustyRedskin]

I guess my neighbor should sue somebody, he was a roofer for about thirty years and cant even walk upright. Maybe my uncle should sue, he was a machinist and mechanic forever and cant even open his hands. Ive been teaching for about 15 years and my minds shot, im lawyering up im fixn to get paidddd beeetches!!!

I guess all enlisted military pros should be lawyering up to.

[FRPLG]

Originally Posted by Mattyk

Not so sure about that.

What we know today about concussions is far different than 20 years ago.

Maybe, maybe not. How can the NFL be held responsible if this is the case?

I am torn on this. On one hand I think "Nobody knew how bad this stuff can be so how can anyone be held responsible?" on the other I think "If the NFL really knew this stuff then why wasn't it a bigger deal in general?"

I think I mostly believe these players as a whole are as responsible for this as the NFL is so these lawsuits are ridiculous. Until I see some evidence the NFL league and teams made some concerted effort to knowingly endanger players then I sorta don't want to hear it.

[MTK]

Originally Posted by FRPLG

Maybe, maybe not. How can the NFL be held responsible if this is the case?

I am torn on this. On one hand I think "Nobody knew how bad this stuff can be so how can anyone be held responsible?" on the other I think "If the NFL really knew this stuff then why wasn't it a bigger deal in general?"

I think I mostly believe these players as a whole are as responsible for this as the NFL is so these lawsuits are ridiculous. Until I see some evidence the NFL league and teams made some concerted effort to knowingly endanger players then I sorta don't want to hear it.

I'm not saying they should or shouldn't be held responsible. Just saying it's not fair to say the players knew all the risks at that time. And I'm not saying even the league knew, but I guess the point was maybe they should have.

[Schneed10]

Originally Posted by Daseal

So should you be able to sue a doctor 20 years after an operation because there's more information about the disease and they have better methods? No, it's part of the medical process.

Yeah this is the key point for me. The only way the players have a case in my mind is if they can show that the NFL knew concussions were dangerous at the time and didn't do enough to prevent them.

We know more today about them, that doesn't mean the NFL knew about it back then and hid it.

I think the players are just using this as leverage to get the NFL to settle on better benefits for retired players.

[CrustyRedskin]

Originally Posted by Schneed10

Yeah this is the key point for me. The only way the players have a case in my mind is if they can show that the NFL knew concussions were dangerous at the time and didn't do enough to prevent them.

We know more today about them, that doesn't mean the NFL knew about it back then and hid it.

I think the players are just using this as leverage to get the NFL to settle on better benefits for retired players.

I agree but how in the heck could you prove that, talk about a witch hunt. But im sure Godell could find somebody to finger!!

[firstdown]

Its like Evel Knievel sueing Harley Davidson for his injuries.

[Defensewins]

Its all about money? Really?
It is called Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy. It is about awareness and creating funds for more research. Amazing that it is independent Research Universities like the Sports Legacy Institute at Boston University that is at the forefront of researching this condition. This is the same group that studied Dave Duerson's brain and will be studying Seau's.
I would be interested to see how much the $9-billion a year NFL spends to help research this disease?
All the while the citizen's of Minnesota are being forced to spend tax payer money to build the nfl a new stadium. Yeah you are right, the players are greedy.

OTL: Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy - ESPN Video - ESPN

This video gets really interesting at the 01:19 mark.

[GusFrerotte]

Originally Posted by Mattyk

Not so sure about that.

What we know today about concussions is far different than 20 years ago.

A concussion was deemed serious enough back then as now. Maybe the coming of the MRI, etc has helped diagnose how serious it is, etc, but a shot to the head was always deemed dangerous. If not, why the development of hard shelled helmets? This is just another payday for these guys on the heels of the Seau tragedy. Should all of those wounded/maimed veterans of Iraq/Afghanistan sue the US Army for them getting injured? They signed up for the military and common sense should have told them what was going to be expected of them in war. You can say the same thing with regards to firefighters and cops, and they get paid way less than NFL football players. Sorry, but you play you pay and it doesn't matter what sport you play in. Look at MLB catchers and knee problems. See any of them suing MLB? Or how about hockey players losing teeth, concussions, etc? You never hear about that because these guys took the dangers in consideration, but decided to live life and play the sport they love. This is just high profile ambulance chasing, and if it doesn't get nipped in the bud, all it is going to mean is fans will pay more out of their pocket somehow.

[imaskin4life]

Slum Village - Get Dis Money - YouTube

[MTK]

Originally Posted by GusFrerotte

A concussion was deemed serious enough back then as now. Maybe the coming of the MRI, etc has helped diagnose how serious it is, etc, but a shot to the head was always deemed dangerous. If not, why the development of hard shelled helmets? This is just another payday for these guys on the heels of the Seau tragedy. Should all of those wounded/maimed veterans of Iraq/Afghanistan sue the US Army for them getting injured? They signed up for the military and common sense should have told them what was going to be expected of them in war. You can say the same thing with regards to firefighters and cops, and they get paid way less than NFL football players. Sorry, but you play you pay and it doesn't matter what sport you play in. Look at MLB catchers and knee problems. See any of them suing MLB? Or how about hockey players losing teeth, concussions, etc? You never hear about that because these guys took the dangers in consideration, but decided to live life and play the sport they love. This is just high profile ambulance chasing, and if it doesn't get nipped in the bud, all it is going to mean is fans will pay more out of their pocket somehow.

Gotta disagree. Players are held out of games these days until they pass an independent test. There's much more awareness now vs 10 or 20 years ago. And there's a heck of a lot more research going on studying the long term effects as far as memory loss and early onset dementia.

And this class action started long before Seau's death.