Former NFL Players Suing League Over Painkiller Use

A dozen former NFL players have filed a lawsuit against the National Football League, claiming the league and its teams of repeatedly administering the painkiller Toradol before and during games, which they say worsened high-risk injuries like concussions.

In the lawsuit, the players contend the league failed to warn them of possible consequences of taking the medication, which is a blood thinner that the suit claims can “prevent the feeling of injury,” thus making harder to recognize when players had concussions.

The former players include Joe Horn, Matt Joyce and Jerome Pathon, who all played in the late 1990s and early 2000s and say they suffer from anxiety, depression, short-term memroy loss, severe headaches, sleeping problems and dizziness, said Christopher A. Seeger, lead attorney for the players.

The league disputes the lawsuits claims, which include negligence, fraud, fraudulent concealment, negligent misrepresentation and conspiracy. The former players are seeking unspecified compensatory and punitive damages and reimbursement of legal costs.

“The N.F.L. has long made player safety a priority and continues to do so,” Greg Aiello, a league spokesman. “Any allegation that the N.F.L. intentionally sought to mislead players has no merit.”

If you or a loved one is suffering the effects of a football related concussion, contact Texas injury attorney David Buckley.