A federal judge on Monday granted preliminary approval to a

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A federal judge on Monday granted preliminary approval to a landmark deal that would compensate thousands of former NFL players for concussion-related claims. Marquette King Jersey . The ruling by U.S. District Judge Anita Brody in Philadelphia came about two weeks after the NFL agreed to remove a $675 million cap on damages. Brody had previously questioned whether that would be enough money to pay all claims. "A class action settlement that offers prompt relief is superior to the likely alternative — years of expensive, difficult, and uncertain litigation, with no assurance of recovery, while retired players physical and mental conditions continue to deteriorate," Brody wrote. More than 4,500 former players have filed suit, some accusing the league of fraud for its handling of concussions. They include former Dallas Cowboys running back Tony Dorsett and Super Bowl-winning Chicago Bears quarterback Jim McMahon, who suffers from dementia. The settlement is designed to last at least 65 years and give $1 million or more to retirees who develop Lou Gehrigs disease and other profound neurological problems. "This is an extraordinary settlement for retired NFL players and their families — from those who suffer with neuro-cognitive illnesses today, to those who are currently healthy but fear they may develop symptoms decades into the future," plaintiffs attorneys Sol Weiss and Christopher Seeger said in a statement. NFL senior vice-president Anastasia Danias said in a statement that the league was "grateful to Judge Brody for her guidance and her thoughtful analysis of the issues as reflected in the comprehensive opinion she issued today." The original settlement included $675 million for compensatory claims for players with neurological symptoms, $75 million for baseline testing and $10 million for medical research and education. The NFL would also pay an additional $112 million to the players lawyers, for a total payout of more than $870 million. The revised settlement eliminates the cap on overall damage claims but retains a payout formula for individual retirees that considers their age and illness. A young retiree with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or Lou Gehrigs disease, would receive $5 million, a 50-year-old with Alzheimers disease would get $1.6 million and an 80-year-old with early dementia would get $25,000. Even with the cap removed, both sides said they believe the NFL will spend no more than about $675 million on damage claims by ex-players. Critics of the deal have said the league, with annual revenues approaching $10 billion, was getting off lightly. They could raise objections at a fairness hearing scheduled for Nov. 19, and ultimately opt out of the settlement. However, they would then face the risk of a protracted legal fight, and would have to prove any injuries were caused by NFL concussions and not any suffered in youth or college sports. The proposed NFL settlement had originally barred claimants from seeking a separate settlement against the NCAA, but that clause has been removed. A separate lawsuit is pending against the NCAA in Illinois. "I think the judge has forced them to make improvements," said University of Richmond law professor Carl Tobias, who teaches product liability law. "I think she always felt she had an obligation to the players, to be sure they were getting a fair deal ... given the treatment to date." The settlement would be capped at $4 million on behalf of players diagnosed with traumatic brain injury after their deaths, such as San Diego star Junior Seau or Pro Bowler Dave Duerson. Both of their families, through lawyers, have expressed concerns about the settlement. Duerson died at age 50. A family lawyer has called their projected $2.2 million award to the family "not adequate." Royce Freeman Broncos Jersey .com) - P.K. Subbans power-play goal 4:08 into overtime sent the Montreal Canadiens into the All-Star break with a 2-1 win over the Nashville Predators on Tuesday. Broncos Jerseys . -- Wes Welker is unlikely to suit up for Denvers game Thursday against San Diego after leaving Sundays win over Tennessee with his second concussion in four games. http://www.thebroncosstoreonline.com/Youth-Tramaine-Brock-Broncos-Jerseys/ . Griffin scored 13 of his 31 points in the final 7:05 and Dudley got 11 of his 20 points in the third quarter, leading the defending Pacific Division champions to a 112-85 victory over the Charlotte Bobcats on Wednesday night. "Dud is a shooter.TORONTO - Greivis Vasquez has never been short on confidence, a trait Terrence Ross and a few of his teammates could use a healthy dose of right now. Imma be an all-star too, the back-up point guard shouted at Pelicans forward and MVP candidate Anthony Davis, an old friend, before shoving reporters aside in an attempt to interrupt the pre-game media scrum with his former coach Monty Williams. We saw the good (nine assists, spark to start third-quarter run) and the bad (5-for-14 shooting, blown defensive assignment on Tyreke Evans game-winner) from Vasquez on Sunday evening, but the Raptors most pressing issue, suffering their seventh loss in a span of nine games, may be his biggest strength. Were playing in mud right now, Dwane Casey said after a disappointing 95-93 defeat at the hands of a New Orleans Pelicans team missing their two best players. Confidence-wise, weve got to come out believing were going to make a play offensively or defensively. Just playing with that type of confidence, that type of belief that you can get it done. It feels like the weight of the world is on our shoulders. Somehow, someway we have to get back to playing basketball, and not feeling like the weight of the world is on our shoulders. Vasquez started the second half in place of the struggling Ross, who didnt play a second in the games final two quarters. For 11 minutes, the Raptors - led by Vasquez, DeMar DeRozan and Amir Johnson - competed at the level in which Casey had challenged them to play just ahead of tip-off. Todays game plan is simple, the Raptors head coach had said. Play hard. Its simple. So if they get intimidated by that, were in trouble. The Raptors scored 35 points in the third quarter, one fewer than they had totalled the entire first half, but were bested 81-58 during the other three frames. Coming off a 15-point loss to lowly 76ers, New Orleans was playing without the injured Davis and Jrue Holiday in what seemed like an advantageous opportunity for Toronto to get back on track, or at least boost their fleeting confidence. Instead, they came out flat once again. They scored 14 points in the opening 12 minutes, a first quarter season-low, and had just 36 at the break, fewest theyve registered in any half this year. As they marched off the court following a lifeless 24 minutes of play, Vasquez noticed and took issue with the spattering of boos he heard from yet another sellout crowd at the Air Canada Centre. Fans have to be patient, the 28-year-old guard said. Discouraged how they boo us and stuff like that. I dont think thats very nice because we are really playing hard for them and representing the city. We want the best and we want to win. Toronto took a 12-point lead in the third quarter, a 28-point swing in just under 13 minutes, before it all came crumbling down again. The offence, red-hot moments earlier, dried up in a hurry and journeyman centre - and former Raptor, once upon a time - Alexis Ajinca scored 10 of his career-high 22 points down the stretch. It was a contest the Raptors deserved to lose, and sure enough they did jjust that. Bradley Chubb Broncos Jersey. No team, regardless of their confidence-level, should expect to steal a game in which they play just 11 minutes of spirited basketball. Were not losers in here, Vasquez said. We want to win, we play hard. It hurts. It bothers us that were losing the way that were losing, but its part of the NBA. So whoever wants to go out with us, its cool. Whoever is not [on board], its cool too. Is there anyone in the room who is not on board, Vasquez was asked as a follow up. No, I wouldnt say that, he responded. I wouldnt say that. After another uninspiring first-half performance - scoreless on three shots in just under 11 minutes of action - Ross spent the entire second half on the bench. As his teammates jumped to their feet applauding each bucket during their third-quarter run, the third-year swingman remained glued to his seat. Reminiscent of his postseason slump last spring, Ross body language told his story as it has for most of this month. Since averaging 36 minutes in the teams final five games of December, the 23-year-old is yet to log 30 in eight contests to begin the new year. Hes hit just two of 15 shots over his previous three outings while his attention detail, primarily on defence, has been noticeably askew. Casey has been hesitant to pull Ross from the starting lineup, and gave little indication on whether this change will be permanent going forward, but the struggling forward forced his hand on Sunday. Were not giving up on him, Casey said after the game. Hes a young man. All those [young] players, like Ive always said, theyre going to be up and down. Weve just got to help him any way we can. Whether its extra work, whether coming out of the lineup is going to help his confidence, whatever it is, weve got to get his mojo going. Weve just got to be there for him the best way we can, uplift him just like we do everybody else, said DeRozan, who scored a team-high 22 points, 13 of them in the third. Weve all been there playing in this league. Everybodys been there some type of way. Weve just got to help him out the best way we can and get him back on his feet. And once he gets rolling its going to be something he definitely needed when he looks back on it. So, the Raptors go back to the drawing board, with little time to get back on their feet before facing the upstart Milwaukee Bucks in Wisconsin on Monday. The confidence they had for the bulk of 2014, the edge, the mojo, the belief, whatever you want to call it, has escaped them. Somehow they need to rediscover it, and fast. The past week or two, we just stopped being ourselves, Vasquez said. Weve got to change. We do know that. One of the biggest things about this team and this locker room is that we care about each other. Chemistry. Weve got to get our energy back, weve got to get our love for the game back. We need to struggle. This is good for all of us, because now we see who is with us. 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