CTE:Why doesn't the NFL protect its interests with a signed waiver (1 Viewer)

[JetMaxx]

Frankly it's rather shocking that this doesn't exist currently considering the litigious nature of the subject and future ramifications. Going foward, will the NFL require the signing of a liability waiver for inclusion to play in order to protect its interests and thereby preserve the sport as we know it?

 

[Raider Nation]

Gotta say I didn't envision seeing two CTE threads on the first page.

 

[The Man Who Met Andy Griffith]

A lawyer could chime in, but I'm not sure that a waiver would be binding. Workplace injury laws are there to protect workers from shenanigans like this--otherwise every employer would make their employees sign waivers.

 

[jackdubl]

You can't just waive anything. Some things can't be waived for public policy reasons. For instance, a hospital cannot make you waive your right to sue for medical malpractice as a condition for being treated, and no court would enforce it if they did. Also, the league has a federal anti-trust exemption, which further limits what they can do in this regard.

 

[Ilov80s]

Also, by making you sign a meaningless waiver, doesn't that possibly imply that the NFL is admitting that playing football can cause CTE?

 

[Mr. Retukes]

While they're at it, why not have players sign a waiver releasing the NFL from following the laws of the United States.

 

[Hooper31]

Because there's no proof of cause and effect.

 

[Ministry of Pain]

Frankly it's rather shocking that this doesn't exist currently considering the litigious nature of the subject and future ramifications. Going foward, will the NFL require the signing of a liability waiver for inclusion to play in order to protect its interests and thereby preserve the sport as we know it?

I've been posting for over a month that a waiver form is well on it's way to being put forth by Goodell and the NFL. As part of the $765M they settled out of court for, part of the agreement is that the scientific results are not held over their head and they are absolved of any wrong doing in this. The final piece of the puzzle to protect the owners and the shilled is a waiver consent of some kind. I don't think the NFLPA is going to allow it though, and I think Duper, Dorsett, and all the rest want to come forward now to ensure that kind of release from liability does not happen…although it kind of started with the lawsuit settlement.

Gotta say I didn't envision seeing two CTE threads on the first page.

I think it is starting to hit home for many as players we cheered for and wanted to be like growing up are starting to fall by the waste side.

 

[Phenix]

Really? The fact this question was asked shows me the OP is not very up to date on fundamental life information. I'm gonna make my mail man sign a waiver in case he slips on ice, lol.

I thought this is something people learned through education of life, but I could be wrong.

 

[cobalt_27]

Because there's no proof of cause and effect.

Not yet, anyway. In fact, there is more evidence to suggest repeated concussions do not pose a significant long term threat than there is evidence that they do.

 

[jackdubl]

Really? The fact this question was asked shows me the OP is not very up to date on fundamental life information. I'm gonna make my mail man sign a waiver in case he slips on ice, lol.

I thought this is something people learned through education of life, but I could be wrong.

I learned it in law school, then relearned it studying for the Bar. I don't think life will teach you much about waivers of liability. On the other hand, experience plus common sense should help you figure out you must not be able to waive everything all the time, or else everybody would be doing that and lawsuits wouldn't exist.On a side note, this reminds me of my idea to cut down on junk mail. I was going to create a form letter stating that I charge a $1(or as high as sounds reasonable) processing fee for processing any future unsolicited advertisements, send it in response to ads in my mailbox, then I would start sending out my bills once I received another ad in the mail. It sounds legally binding to me, on some levels anyway.

 

[Hooper31]

Because there's no proof of cause and effect.

Not yet, anyway. In fact, there is more evidence to suggest repeated concussions do not pose a significant long term threat than there is evidence that they do.

It kills me that emotional rants become the accepted norm and this sort of rational logic is often ignored.

 

[fatness]

This waiver idea is fanciful thinking and will never happen. If it did the incidence of coaches sending players to intentionally injure opponents would rise, without any repercussions other than those imposed by the NFL, which is only interested in protecting its image. Players would never agree to it.