The National Football League has been in the middle of a contentious lawsuit for numerous months now. More than 4,500 former football players brought forward a claim against the NFL, alleging that they covered up the dangers they knew about concussions and head injuries.

Many former players have claimed they suffered from depression, dementia, Alzheimer's, suicidal tendencies, and other medical complications following head injuries caused by their time in the NFL. The lawsuit is rooted in the claim that the NFL was aware of and hid studies that linked concussions to neurological problems for numerous decades. Now, the NFL will not only have to payout to those who suffered, but will be required to take action to prevent future injuries and unawareness.

Former Settlement Rejected, Cap Removed

The lawsuit is coming close to being finalized, with an agreement to compensate the players for all head injury-related damages reaching preliminary approval. On the table now is a $1 billion settlement, which some are agreeing to and others still claim is far too low for all players and parties involved.

The judge in the case has asked to revise the case in order to give more compensation coverage to the retired players involved in the settlement. According to the current plan, the settlement will be paid out to an estimated 20,000 players over the course of 65 years. When put into perspective, this begins to seem somewhat small. However, the judge previously rejected a deal of $765 million from the NFL that she believed would not be sufficient for all the players involved.

The presiding judge now believes that the current settlement being discussed is much more acceptable and will provide the necessary funds for the injured players over the six and half decade time frame. The new "uncapped" settlement also includes a $10 million fund for educational programs that will serve to improve concussion prevention and increase awareness. The NFL seems to support the new settlement offer, approving the adjustments and working to secure the deal.

Unfortunately, many players and their families are still unsure of how the settlement will impact them. The terms make it very unclear what each player can expect to receive, making many hesitant to jump on board with the new offering still. If a player wished to opt out of the settlement and pursue litigation in their own, they would face severe legal obstacles and a tough defense from the NFL's legal team. This road may be even more long and filled with uncertainty then the settlement, putting many injury victims and families in a tough position.