I don’t doubt that head injuries are causing long term problems for some football players. However I would think the NFL would use the defense that these head injuries could have occurred in college, high school, or other junior leagues and that the burden of proof falls on the athlete to prove the NFL is solely responsible.
No one put a gun to these guys heads to play while they made millions…do the math. Contact sports and repetitive hits can do damage to the body. I’m not discounting the tragedy of suicide but it’s not like PTSD that our veterans have when they come back from war. What compensation do they get?
Serious question….does the NFL provide work comp? If so, then can you really use a common law defense and say this guy knew what he was signing up for?
They must have work comp. Wasn’t there an article not too long ago about Louisiana changing (or trying to change) the rules for how pay is calculated for work comp to save money for the Saints?
I don’t think they meet the criteria for Independent Contractor. Their uniforms and “tools” are supplied for them, they are told when, where, and how to work, and their employer has control over them while they work. The contract they have sounds more like an employment contract.
I don’t doubt that head injuries are causing long term problems for some football players. However I would think the NFL would use the defense that these head injuries could have occurred in college, high school, or other junior leagues and that the burden of proof falls on the athlete to prove the NFL is solely responsible.
Good luck getting a deceased athlete to prove anything – bunch of deadheads, IMO
I guess medical records could come into play.
Too bad he shot himself and basically destroyed the evidence at the same time…
Where was their union in all of this?
No one put a gun to these guys heads to play while they made millions…do the math. Contact sports and repetitive hits can do damage to the body. I’m not discounting the tragedy of suicide but it’s not like PTSD that our veterans have when they come back from war. What compensation do they get?
Serious question….does the NFL provide work comp? If so, then can you really use a common law defense and say this guy knew what he was signing up for?
I’m not sure if they have WC or not, but are the players employees of the league or the team owner?
They must have work comp. Wasn’t there an article not too long ago about Louisiana changing (or trying to change) the rules for how pay is calculated for work comp to save money for the Saints?
They have contracts. Don’t that make them Independent contactors? A 1099?
I don’t think they meet the criteria for Independent Contractor. Their uniforms and “tools” are supplied for them, they are told when, where, and how to work, and their employer has control over them while they work. The contract they have sounds more like an employment contract.
Actually, most of them are shooting themselves in the chest, precisely to preserve evidence. The NFL just damaged them, it didn’t make them stupid.
I recall a study done last year or so. It gave proof that more head injuries occur in Girls High School Soccer then any other sport at any level.