SI: Diagnosed with dementia, Karras suing league for concussion danger

[HogNose]

(AP) -- To a generation of TV and film fans, Alex Karras will forever be the loving adoptive dad on the 1980s sitcom "Webster" or the big guy who punched a horse in 1974's "Blazing Saddles." Before his acting days, he was a football star, a three-time All-Pro defensive tackle for the Detroit Lions in the 1960s.

Now 76, and diagnosed with dementia, Karras is taking on the role of lead plaintiff: He and his wife, Susan Clark, are two of 119 people who filed suit Thursday in U.S. District Court in Philadelphia, the latest complaint brought against the NFL by ex-players who say the league didn't do enough to protect them from head injuries.

"All through the time that I've been with him, he has suffered headaches and dizziness and high blood pressure and all kinds of things that are ... usually the result of multiple concussions," Clark said from Los Angeles in a telephone interview with The Associated Press.

Read more: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/201...#ixzz1rv1MkDcB

[pjfootballer]

You're 76 years old. Little too late to be claiming this 40 years after you retire.

[Vilandil Tasardur]

Yeah. I feel for the players who are 45-55 and can't remember what interview they're giving or what the last question was. At 76, he's right around the average life expectancy; I don't see how you can claim that ANY health issue that develops at this point is football related.

[pjfootballer]

Yeah. I feel for the players who are 45-55 and can't remember what interview they're giving or what the last question was. At 76, he's right around the average life expectancy; I don't see how you can claim that ANY health issue that develops at this point is football related.

And I don't mean to be insensative to his situation, but at his age, that's when some people start experiencing dementia. Now, some people can live well into their 90s and still have their minds. My grandmother was 88 and was sharp as a tack when she died. The recent younger players (Duerson and Webster) that have died, it was good that these head injuries were brought to light. But I feel like it's a free for all amongst former players whether they suffered head injuries or not.

[fwo40]

I realize these are lawsuits with older players, but at what point can the NFL come out and say "look if you want to play football concussions are an occupational risk, if you don't like it find another sport."

Again I'm curious to see how they settle the cases of older players who will claim ignorance to that risk, but I think the NFL of today and the future should only be obligated to alert the player to the risk and move on.

[HailToTheRedskins14]

You can't take the NFL's side on this.

It's not like every player in the NFL is just living his dream. For some guys, they might think this is all they've got, and they have to take the risks involved or lose their job and livelihood. And I know, they get paid a bunch, but at the end of the day we have or have had guys hiding concussion symptoms and other injuries to take the field so they don't lose their job. Look at how hard we were on Malcom Kelly. I know of some NFL players that won't allow their children to play football, ever, period.

And let's not even talk about the peanuts these older players were making. The NFL should absolutely make a good faith effort to take care of these people. I'm not saying anything should be forced by government because I don't know how I feel on it, but as a company that is worth billions, it should be a no brainer to pick up a couple mil for the people that made you what you are. This is why I try not to complain too much about Goodell's strictness. Screw the fact that we, as fans, love a little bloodsport, you're talking about not only people's bodies but their minds as well. It's sad.

And the trickle down effect is what really worries me.






EDIT - As the second video shows, the main problem is the Second Impact Syndrome that is completely preventable if not for irresponsibility.

[Jimbo]

"All through the time that I've been with him, he has suffered headaches and dizziness and high blood pressure and all kinds of things that are ... usually the result of multiple concussions," Clark said from Los Angeles in a telephone interview with The Associated Press.

Not sure why he waited so long and is just now jumping on the bandwagon but, in his defense, he and Clark have been together since the late 70's and were married in 1980. If he's been suffering for that long then it was likely the result of concussions. The dementia might be almost impossible to prove, though.

Gotta agree with fwo40. Today's players should have long known concussions are an occupational risk. They are well paid for taking that risk. If you don't want to risk it, do something else. You gotta do something for the older players though. They weren't making big bucks and they really weren't warned. It was "rub some dirt on it and get back out there".

[JoeSkins]

I realize these are lawsuits with older players, but at what point can the NFL come out and say "look if you want to play football concussions are an occupational risk, if you don't like it find another sport."

Again I'm curious to see how they settle the cases of older players who will claim ignorance to that risk, but I think the NFL of today and the future should only be obligated to alert the player to the risk and move on.

I agree with your sentiment, but the NFL can't very well come out and say that. It would be bad for business to look callous on the subject. OSHA regulations govern professional sports occupations so they can't simply ignore these issues and chalk them up to personal risk. I know it sounds backwards, and as I said I agree with your sense of overall fairness, but there is, as in almost any other part of life, red tape and bureaucracy involved.

[Dirt]

Do boxers get paid 'extra to cover long term concussion effects'? Do basketball players sue over broken ankles? These guys know what they signed up for. I mean what is the answer, what will make them happy? Free medicare forever after retirement? Even if more benefits are given, these guys will still get concussions and still have the effects in old age. Money isn't going to change that, you already had a career in football. In other words, what do they REALLY want? Less concussions?(not happening) or just more money? "Pick up a couple mil" for them? Is that really going to change anything or magically cure these banged up heads? No. It is literally brain damage, you can see it in a doctors office. It's done. "picking up a couple mil" for them just sounds like a sympathy parting gift, or like a payout/settlement to a grieving family after a death.

The problem, that can be fixed, is not letting guys run back in 'ala Colt McCoy after being clearly knocked out. However (and I'm no doctor, but..) what exactly is the difference? You get knocked out 3 weeks later, then a couple more times in your career, and you're retiring with a handful of concussions regardless. Then we're back to square one as a 75 year old Colt McCoy is suing over being knocked out so much and not being compensated enough..I guess.

It's a topic of interesting discussion, but when it all comes down to it, I really don't think there is any solution here. For anyone. This is the way it will be until the guys are literally not allowed to touch each other.

I'll put it this way: The people who were unknowingly working around dangerous asbestos have every right and reason to sue, sue, sue like crazy. They didn't sign up to work around dangerous materials. When you sign up to bang heads for a living, you don't get to turn around and sue because your head got banged. Just like it's RIDICULOUS for smokers to sue Camel after getting cancer via 40 years of smoking. It seems you can sue just about anyone for just about anything, and I don't get it.

[Taylor 36]

^^^ Which is why the NFL has been cracking down on injuries so much. That is the only thing they can do to legally survive in the future. Fans, and even some of the dumb ass players, attack Goodell for turning the league into "a flag football" league. But, the guy is responsible for protecting the league. By toughing up rules on hits and players returning to games after injuries, he is covering the league's collective ass from future lawsuits. People can complain about it, but in ten, twenty years, when we are still able to cheer for our favorite NFL teams, we will have to look back on this time as part of the reason why.

[SkinsFTW]

People can complain about it, but in ten, twenty years, when we are still able to cheer for our favorite NFL teams, we will have to look back on this time as part of the reason why.

By then the'll have full uniforms made out of tempurpedic material and airbags built into the helmets

[pjfootballer]

^^^ Which is why the NFL has been cracking down on injuries so much. That is the only thing they can do to legally survive in the future. Fans, and even some of the dumb ass players, attack Goodell for turning the league into "a flag football" league. But, the guy is responsible for protecting the league. By toughing up rules on hits and players returning to games after injuries, he is covering the league's collective ass from future lawsuits. People can complain about it, but in ten, twenty years, when we are still able to cheer for our favorite NFL teams, we will have to look back on this time as part of the reason why.

Or, the NFL can start having liability clauses in their contracts absolving the NFL for any injuries they may occur during their career or have them sign liability papers.

[JoeSkins]

I'll put it this way: The people who were unknowingly working around dangerous asbestos have every right and reason to sue, sue, sue like crazy. They didn't sign up to work around dangerous materials. When you sign up to bang heads for a living, you don't get to turn around and sue because your head got banged. Just like it's RIDICULOUS for smokers to sue Camel after getting cancer via 40 years of smoking. It seems you can sue just about anyone for just about anything, and I don't get it.

In the complaint they allege that the NFL took on an independent affirmative duty to protect players from brain injuries and then proceeded to lie to players about the effects of certain head trauma. It is therefore much worse, they claim, than cases of employers who were negligent in allowing people to work with and around asbestos. It is, however, like the lawsuits over smoking, as both have concealment and conspiracy elements. I'm not necessarily on board with their allegations, just that they claim the NFL told them "We'll take care of it and you won't get hurt," and then didn't do anything.

[hawgboy]

So does this explain "Webster"?

[roanoker]

At 76, Karras may end up on the great football field in the sky before this issue is adjudicated.