Page 12 - Florida Sentinel 3-17-17

IN THE SPOTLIGHT
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Concussions: A Life-Death Issue For NFL Athletes Being Brought To Center Stage By Lawsuits
BY KENYA WOODARD Sentinel Feature Writer
In the 1980s, James Har- rell played a total of nine years in the National Football League for the Detroit Lions (8 years) and the Kansas City Chiefs (1 year).
In those days, it was noth- ing for Harrell, a linebacker, to take a hard hit on the field and then return back to the game.
Fast forward 30 years and Harrell, 58, is suffering from what he says is post-concus- sion syndrome, a set of symp- toms that can include headaches, cognitive issues, and irritability.
There’s no cure, but finally, Harrell is poised to receive some financial relief from his former employer.
He is one of an estimated 20,000 retired and former NFL players who are eligible to receive a monetary award as part of the league’s concussion settlement.
JERRY BELL (#82) ... Played for Coach John McKay
JAMES HARRELL
There’s a deadline to file a claim and Harrell – the cur- rent president of Tampa’s Na- tional Football League Players Association’s Retired Players Chapter – said he’s working to get former players signed on.
“We’ve had some guys who are set for life and they don’t want to do anything,” he said. “But this is about your kids.”
The class action settlement – which was first filed in 2010 – became final earlier this year after the Supreme Court de- clined to hear appeals.
In the case, former players accused the league of covering up its knowledge of the link be- tween football and the degen- erative brain disease known as chronic traumatic en- cephalopathy or CTE.
A player’s diagnosis, his age at the time of diagnosis, and number of years in the league determine the amount of his payout.
Players do not have to prove causation.
Claims can be filed starting this month and until August 7, said Attorney Tom Parnell, with Gibbs and Parnell, who represents Harrell and other players.
Atty. Parnell said many of his clients are in poor health. Some have extreme memory loss, while others are unable to hold conversations.
The majority are in their 40s and 50s, he said.
While some players ex- pected more, Harrell said he’s satisfied with the terms of the settlement.
“The numbers are life- changing and can make play- ers whole,” he said.
Jerry Bell, vice president of Tampa’s retired players chapter, said he would have liked to see the case go to trial “to see what the NFL knew and didn’t know.”
But that would have in- creased the risk of losing, so “you can’t help but be satis- fied,” said Bell, 58, who played tight end for four sea- sons with the Tampa Bay Buc- caneers.
Bell said he also suffers from post-concussion symp- toms. He said he’s encouraged by changes the league has made to the game to make it safer.
For example, players are removed from the game after a hard hit and must be examined by a doctor before the next game.
Is it enough?
“I think they’re doing as much as they can,” he said.
Nowadays, Harrell is the defensive coordinator for Plant High School’s football team.
It’s his hope that settle- ment and the spotlight on CTE will make the game much safer for his students than it was for him.
As for regrets, Harrell – a University of Florida and Chamberlain High School alum – said he has none.
“That was the best time of my life,” he said.
PAGE 12-A FLORIDA SENTINEL BULLETIN PUBLISHED EVERY TUESDAY AND FRIDAY FRIDAY, MARCH 17, 2017