The NFL’s concussion lawsuit epidemic continues to grow. Former NFL tight end Matt Schobel has filed a civil complaint against the NFL in Texas, according to TheBigLead.com. Schobel played for the Bengals and Eagles.
The allegations in this single-plaintiff lawsuit echo the other pending concussion lawsuits. Schobel claims that the NFL knew or should have known about the long-term health effects of concussions, that the NFL understated and/or concealed the evidence, and that the NFL failed to take steps aimed at warning or protecting players from concussions.
Meanwhile, the former player who filed the first concussion lawsuit against the league, Ray Easterling, reportedly has committed suicide, according to NFLConcussionLitigation.com. His claims against the league could be converted to a wrongful death action, similar to the suit filed by the estate of Dave Duerson against the NFL.
In the coming days and weeks, we’ll be taking a closer look at the concussion litigation -- the claims, the defenses, the status of the lawsuits, and all other relevant issues. Most NFL fans don’t care about the situation, but all should. Though it’s more than a bit unrealistic to suggest these claims could result in the extinction of the NFL, the lessons learned by the NFL (and concerns regarding future litigation) could continue to push the league toward safety measures that will potentially change the way the game is played in a manner that alienates some fans.