More players sue NFL over concussions

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ATLANTA, May 3 (UPI) -- A lawsuit against the National Football League filed Thursday in Atlanta by more than 100 former players alleges the league hid the dangers of concussions.

Jamal Anderson, Chris Doleman and O.J. Santiago are among the litigants. More than 1,500 former players are currently involved in suing the NFL over health issues, particularly head injuries, sustained during their playing days, CNN reported Thursday.

The latest lawsuit, filed by attorney Mike McGlamry in Atlanta's U.S. District Court, states the NFL "repeatedly refuted the connection between concussions and brain injury" and "downplayed and misrepresented the issues, and misled the players concerning the risks associated with concussions."

Similar suits against the NFL have been consolidated for a trial in Philadelphia, but no trial date has been set, the news service said.

The filing in Atlanta cites scientific evidence connecting concussions and Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy, a neurodegenerative disease that results in memory loss, mood swings and symptoms similar to Alzheimer's disease. It points out CTE can only be diagnosed after a patient's death, and 12 cases of CTE have been detected in deceased former players.