Former NFL gamers petition US Division of Justice to probe civil rights violations in concussion settlement

Washington Post records show that doctors examining players had no choice but to use racial norms, and that the NFL and the law firm responsible for monitoring payouts have repeatedly challenged allegations made by black gamblers whose doctors did not have a racial norm.

A judge dismissed the former players’ lawsuit but expressed concern about race standardization and directed a mediator to investigate the issue. In June, both the NFL and Chris Seeger, senior attorney for the class of more than 20,000 former players, publicly pledged to remove racial standardization from the settlement and are in ongoing confidential negotiations on the matter.

Both Brad Karp, senior NFL attorney in the settlement, and Seeger have denied the allegations made in the lawsuit, insisting that doctors make the final decisions on whether to score by racing norms. But these arguments have been skeptical of several former players who note the racial makeup of the league, with black players accounting for more than 50 to 70 percent of the squad’s squad, according to various estimates.

“The owners obviously did this to save money,” said Charles Mann, the former Washington Football team defender who was one of five players directly involved in Wednesday’s effort. “We need fresh blood, new people to come in here and see this.”

Colts extend GM Chris Ballard, trainer Frank Reich

The Indianapolis Colts extended the contract of General Manager Chris Ballard and trainer Frank Reich until 2026.

Both Ballard and Reich signed the treaties, the Colts announced.

“In Chris Ballard and Frank Reich we have such a great combination of general manager and head coach as in the NFL, and I can’t tell you how proud I am that they run our franchise,” said Colts owner Jim Irsay. “I firmly believe that this soccer team is at the gates of big things, and that’s because of the culture they both cultivated during their time with the ‘horseshoe’. Regardless of whether we are marching towards the playoffs or are faced with adversity, whether we are building up our squad or making a difference in the community, with Chris and Frank we have the ideal leaders. “

Ballard was retired on January 29, 2017 and is entering his 21st NFL season. In his four seasons overseeing football operations, Indianapolis has two double-digit win records (11-5 in 2020 and 10-6 in 2018) and playoff appearances in those years. Ballard was named a 2018 NFL Top Executive by the Professional Football Writers of America.

Reich is going into his fourth season as head coach. Reich has led the Colts into the playoffs at the top in two of his first three seasons. He has 29 years of NFL experience as both a player (1985-1998) and coach (2006-present). He returned to the Colts after serving six seasons on the team’s coaching staff from 2006-2011.

Seahawks sack the ailing DE Aldon Smith

Aldon Smith’s stint with the Seattle Seahawks was brief when the team released the embattled defensive ending on Wednesday.

Smith was reinstated by the NFL in early 2020 after missing four seasons due to off-field issues. He played 16 games for Dallas last season and had five sacks and 48 tackles.

He signed a one-year contract with Seattle in April but was arrested two days later on a second-degree battery charge in St. Bernard Parish, near New Orleans. He is due to be indicted later this month.

Although Smith missed the Seahawks’ offseason program, coach Pete Carroll said at the start of training camp that the team was ready to support Smith.

Smith was the eleventh overall selection of the San Francisco 49ers in the 2011 draft. In his first two seasons, he set an NFL record of 33½ sacks before his career spiraled out of control on multiple drunk driving charges. He was also arrested in San Francisco in 2018 on domestic violence charges.

The Seahawks also announced that they have signed linebacker Lakiem Williams.

Panthers strengthen the linebacking corps

The Carolina Panthers have signed Josh Bynes to provide veteran depth with the linebacker, with prospective starter Denzel Perryman expected to be absent for some time battling an unknown injury. The 31-year-old Bynes started all 16 games for the Cincinnati Bengals last season and had 99 tackles, a fumble recovery and a sack. The 6-foot-1,235 pound Bynes has also played for the Baltimore Ravens, Detroit Lions and Arizona Cardinals during his 10-year NFL career. He has played in 117 games with 63 starts, made 477 tackles and 5½ sacks. Carolina needed help with the linebacker as Perryman’s return is uncertain and the team is in Indianapolis this week to take down the Colts. . . Baltimore coach John Harbaugh said rookie wide receiver Rashod Bateman is likely to miss “a number of weeks” with a soft bone problem. Bateman was drafted by the Ravens in the first round this year as part of Baltimore’s attempt to improve his passing game. Now it’s not clear when the Minnesota rookie might return. “It will take a couple of weeks. So, I don’t know how many, ”said Harbaugh. “It won’t take months, but weeks. We’ll see where we stand. “