Friday, August 30, 2013

NFL Concussion Settlement By the Numbers

Yesterday, the NFL and former players who sued the League agreed in principle to resolve the pending litigation for $765 million.  The players' claims were based on the alleged cover-up of the effects of concussions and Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBI).  Here is the breakdown of the numbers:

SETTLEMENT:  $765 million (the players' attorneys fees also to be paid by NFL)
NUMBER OF YEARS FOR NFL TO PAY OUT SETTLEMENT:  20
NUMBER OF PLAINTIFFS:  4,500
NUMBER OF PLAYERS COVERED BY SETTLEMENT: 18,000
MAXIMUM AWARD FOR AN INDIVIDUAL PLAINTIFF:  $5 million
NFL REVENUE FOR 2012:  Approximately $10 billion
NFL TV CONTRACT:  $3.1 billion
MINIMUM LENGTH FOR EXISTENCE OF FUND FOR FUTURE PAYOUTS:  60
MINIMUM BALANCE FOR FUND FOR FUTURE PAYOUTS:  $50 million
2010 EARNINGS OF TOP 8 NFL OFFICIALS:  $51.5 million

Most importantly, the issues surrounding this case will not be brought to light in a court of law, and the public will never know when and what the NFL knew or should have known about concussions and TBIs.