NFL Disability has been in the news quite a bit over the last week or so, and I’ve had a lot of questions come my way which I’ll try to address here.
The questions at the top of everyone’s list relate to a new disability class action lawsuit filed by Chris Seeger and a few other firms. Here’s some background you should be aware of before delving into the lawsuit itself since much of it is derived from another lawsuit filed by Michael Cloud.
Permanent link to this article: https://advocacyforfairnessinsports.org/2023/02/13/pulling-back-the-curtain-on-nfl-disability/
A new lawsuit in the US District Court for the Western District of Texas alleges that former Baylor women’s soccer head coach Paul Jobson forced players to go through repeated header drills using a ball machine and as a result of that abuse the plaintiff, Eva Mitchell, has suffered brain injuries traumatic enough that for the past 18 months she has been unable to function independently.
Permanent link to this article: https://advocacyforfairnessinsports.org/2022/03/02/lawsuit-highlights-lack-of-concussion-care-in-womens-soccer/
As a Congressional inquiry into the workplace culture of the Washington Commanders NFL franchise continues, more information is coming out about the abuse and harassment women endured on the job under the franchise’s current regime. The Real Sports Podcast is one such avenue that victims have used to share their horrific stories.
Permanent link to this article: https://advocacyforfairnessinsports.org/2022/02/05/real-sports-podcast-lays-bare-how-washington-commanders-staff-terrorized-women-on-the-job/
The National Hockey League might have gotten off easy with the majority of the class that took part in a concussion lawsuit settlement in 2018, but the estate of one former player is holding out for a potential day in court. After securing a preliminary victory in federal court when Judge John Z. Lee ruled the executor of the late Steve Montador’s estate, his father Paul Montador, can proceed with a claim against the NHL in the state of Illinois, the estate has done exactly that.
On Oct. 25, the Montador estate filed its complaint with the Circuit Court of Cook County, Ill. It demands a trial by jury and alleges four counts against the league and its Board of Governors.
Permanent link to this article: https://advocacyforfairnessinsports.org/2021/11/11/montador-estate-renews-wrongful-death-lawsuit-against-nhl/
Josh Gordon successfully applied for reinstatement in the NFL as the 2021 season got underway and is now a member of the Kansas City Chiefs. While he awaited a decision from Roger Goodell, fantasy team owners got excited again at the prospect of seeing him back on the field and watching him put up the big numbers we have grown accustomed to. Fans and talking heads alike also got to speculate on air and on social media about how long he would be able to stay on the field this time.
Permanent link to this article: https://advocacyforfairnessinsports.org/2021/11/02/a-case-for-josh-gordon-the-man/
Naomi Osaka making the decision not to talk to the press after games, during the Roland Garros tournament, citing her mental health as one of the reasons, started a conversation that I hoped would get us closer to what we have pretended to do in recent years: acknowledge the humanity of athletes regardless of their fame, success, and get real about the role we play in making those spaces unsafe for them. It didn’t. Instead, it showed me how far we still have to go and how far off target we are when directing our displeasure.
Permanent link to this article: https://advocacyforfairnessinsports.org/2021/06/07/protect-your-mentals-and-your-chickens/
I always advise caution when former players ask me if I think they should participate in this study or that, and I usually say, “NO.” The reason for that is that most of the studies I’ve been asked about were either sponsored or funded by NFL and/or NFLPA. I think of this similar to a Miranda violation with no warning where your data will most likely be manipulated and used against you and others.
That said, there are a few reputable studies that I’d encourage participation in. I have great regard and admiration for the work that Boston University and Concussion Legacy Foundation have done in advancing our knowledge of CTE, and how it relates to football exposure. Two new studies are getting underway; one by BU and the other by Johns Hopkins, endorsed by Concussion Legacy Foundation.
Permanent link to this article: https://advocacyforfairnessinsports.org/2021/04/11/two-reputable-nfl-player-brain-studies-getting-underway/
How can any message the NFL sends on social injustice be taken seriously when they endorse a policy in the Concussion Settlement that presumes African Americans are inferior to Caucasians? A recent study done by a law firm indicates that 3.4 TIMES as many African American players might qualify for an award if race norming [the inclusion of race in score calculations for Level 1.5 and 2.0 claims] was removed from the Settlement.
Permanent link to this article: https://advocacyforfairnessinsports.org/2021/02/11/a-black-brain-is-worth-1-3-of-a-white-brain-a-racist-settlement/
Permanent link to this article: https://advocacyforfairnessinsports.org/2020/11/23/new-lawsuit-seeks-to-halt-cuts-to-nfl-disability/
I first began following the Gordon case over two years ago in June 2018, though at the time I was unaware of the player’s identity. I became aware of the case when attorney, Wendy Fleishman of Lieff Cabraser objected to the inexplicable denial of Amon Gordon’s thrice approved claim…
As it turned out, the excruciating delays for Gordon and his family turned out to be a gift in that all of the lag-time allowed Fleishman to investigate and find her own answers as to the question of “Why?” since the Claims Administrator, Special Master, and Court refused to provide the basis of their denial. Perhaps now we know why they evaded– because the explanation is highly disturbing.
Short answer.
Amon Gordon is Black.
Permanent link to this article: https://advocacyforfairnessinsports.org/2020/10/26/nfl-concussion-appeal-argues-one-door-for-white-players-another-for-blacks/
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