Fans try to catch a bat that Arizona Diamondbacks' Cody Ross lost on his swing during the first inni

-- The NFL is accused of hiding what it knew about players' head injuries. The players' union is getting second-guessed for not taking safety more seriously. And another judge is getting familiar with all the legal arguments.
The debate apartment rentals vancouver bc over concussions and a $765 million settlement with former players is still front-and-center as the defending Super Bowl champion Baltimore Ravens get ready to open the season in Denver on Thursday night.
"You can say it's Pandora's box that's been opened," former NFL quarterback Boomer Esiason said on the eve of the season opener, apartment rentals vancouver bc "but they are trying to find solutions. As a former player, I'm thankful apartment rentals vancouver bc they're doing that."
More than 4,500 former players had sued the league, accusing it of concealing the long-term dangers of concussions and rushing players back onto the field. apartment rentals vancouver bc They settled last Thursday after two months of court-ordered mediation.
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell defended the settlement on Wednesday in his first public comments since it was announced. Goodell appeared at an event in Manhattan promoting the Super Bowl in the area next February.
"I don't know how it's going to be remembered," Goodell said of the settlement. "I know what its effect is going to be, which is going to provide help for the players and the families that have cognitive issues. apartment rentals vancouver bc There's a fund $765 million that's there for players and their families who need it. And that's a good thing.
"Rather than litigating for years, apartment rentals vancouver bc the owners, the NFL, and frankly the plaintiffs, all said, `Let's go do something that's great for the game and great for the people and get the help to the people that need it.'"
Three days after the settlement was announced, four other former players filed a federal apartment rentals vancouver bc lawsuit in New Orleans against the league and helmet maker Riddell, claiming they hid information about the dangers apartment rentals vancouver bc of brain injuries.
During a conference call on Wednesday highlighting Fox Sports' coverage for the season, former Super Bowl champions Troy Aikman and John Lynch agreed that the league has more work to do on head injuries.
"What I'm happy about is that there are players that need it (the money) and need it now, and they're going to be taken care of," Lynch said. "But I think the notion that this is done now and we can move on is not really the reality."
Lynch was a hard-hitting safety in Tampa Bay and Denver from 1993 through 2007. Aikman won three Super Bowls with the Cowboys during the 1990s, but his 12-year career ended prematurely in part because of repeated apartment rentals vancouver bc concussions.
"It's a lot of money, but I think in terms of what could have been paid, it's not that much," Aikman said. "I think probably in the big scheme of things, it's a real positive. apartment rentals vancouver bc These guys will be able to benefit some and some money will be put into research, which will help.
"The one thing I'm disappointed apartment rentals vancouver bc about is that the NFL didn't have to acknowledge what they knew about (the long-term impact) and when they knew about it. I think full disclosure would have been the best way to go.
Esiason was a union representative with the Cincinnati Bengals in the 1980s, leading them to their second Super Bowl appearance. He pointed out that the union could have pushed harder for player safety.
"I've never been one to shirk the personal responsibility aspect of all this, too that I do deserve some blame," said Esiason, appearing at an event with Goodell later in the day in Baltimore. "I think the union deserves a lot of blame for not taking this issue seriously 25-30 years ago.
Jamaica's Usain Bolt (L) wins the100 metres final at the 2013 IAAF World Championships at the Luzhniki stadium in Moscow on August 11, 2013 while a lightning strikes in the sky. AFP PHOTO / OLIVIER MORIN Best Sports Photos Of 2013
Manchester United's Dutch striker Robin van Persie (C) scores the opening goal during the English apartment rentals vancouver bc Premier League football match between Swansea City and Manchester United at Liberty Stadium in Swansea, south Wales, on August 17, 2013. AFP PHOTO/IAN KINGTON == RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. NO USE WITH UNAUTHORIZED AUDIO, VIDEO, DATA, FIXTURE LISTS, CLUB/LEAGUE LOGOS OR LIVE SERVICES. ONLINE IN-MATCH USE LIMITED TO 45 IMAGES, NO VIDEO EMULATION. NO USE IN BETTING, GAMES OR SINGLE CLUB/LEAGUE/PLAYER PUBLICATIONS. == (Photo credit should read IAN KINGTON/AFP/Getty Images) Best 2013 Sports Photos
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