Concussion lawsuits put spotlight on NFL policies

Before the rules that made kickoffs safer, before NFL guidelines about sitting players who have suffered concussions, before defenseless receiver became a part of the Sunday conversation, offensive lineman Mike Schad remembers getting knocked unconscious while blocking as part of the wedge for the Los Angeles Rams' kick-return team.

"Before they made all those changes I got ear-holed," said Schad, who would go on to play with the Eagles from 1989 to 1993. "Next thing you know, I'm sitting on the sideline."

Two days later, Schad was back in practice, using his head to help fend off defensive linemen, a technique his coaches had taught, he said. There was no talk of concussions or long-term consequences.

But as Schad saw two former Eagles teammates die young, he grew concerned. Safety Andre Waters killed himself at age 44; guard Tom McHale, Schad's backup one season in Philadelphia, died of a drug overdose at 45 after becoming addicted. Each was later found to have chronic traumatic encephalopathy, a degenerative brain disease in athletes with a history of brain trauma. It can lead to memory loss, confusion, aggression, depression, and dementia.

After seeing what happened to his teammates, Schad said recently, "I'm worried about my future. I'm worried about what's happened. I'm 48."

Schad is one of an estimated hundreds of former players suing the NFL, saying the league failed to provide them proper information about the risks of concussions, downplayed the potential problems, and didn't keep up with studies published outside of league circles.

"They relied on the league, trusted the league to know when it was healthy for them to play, and the league failed them miserably," said Craig Mitnick, a Haddonfield attorney who is part of a team representing Schad and other former Eagles, including linebackers Seth Joyner and Jeremiah Trotter, whose suit was filed Friday.

The NFL will strongly contest the claims by these players and many others who have sued in recent months.

"The NFL has long made player safety a priority and continues to do so," said a statement from the league. "Any allegation that the NFL intentionally sought to mislead players has no merit."

The lawsuits come as research and public discussion have made brain trauma a prime topic of discussion in professional sports and youth leagues alike, from football and hockey to soccer and lacrosse.