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.
