A proposed settlement between the NFL and thousands of former players over the league's longtime use of their images without compensation received a boost Friday when attorneys announced that more than 90 percent of the players had agreed to the deal.
For most of the summer, lawyers had argued whether enough former players would support the $50 million settlement or whether it would unravel because too many players objected. The tentative settlement, which is before a federal judge in St. Paul, would give most of the money — $42 million — to a special panel that would funnel the money to help players with among other things medical screening, career transition advice, housing and health and dental coverage.
Court documents released Friday stated that more than 25,000 former NFL players had endorsed the settlement, and that 2,140 players had asked to be excluded from it.
The question now is how many of the players who opted out of the settlement will pursue separate legal action. Minneapolis lawyer Michael Ciresi, a former U.S. Senate candidate, already is leading one attempt to get some players a better settlement.
The legal fight had pitted former players against the NFL over the league's decades-old use of film that showed some of the NFL's most iconic stars and moments, such as the 1967 "Ice Bowl" game at Green Bay's Lambeau Field. Critics had complained that the players should receive more money from the NFL, which now has $9.5 billion in yearly revenues.
The original lawsuit had featured some of the NFL's greatest stars from the past, including several noteworthy former Vikings players. The lawsuit's six original plaintiffs included three former Vikings: Jim Marshall, Joe Senser and Ed White. But former NFL great Jim Brown was among many other players who had endorsed the settlement.
