The idea that the NFL hid something from players and is liable for their medical conditions is absurd. Below is an excerpt from a paper from the Congress of Neurologic Surgeons from 2002 stating that the research they have done is the FIRST to suggest severe or repeated concussions in high school atheletes can predict long term effects. The point of course being that research in the area is ongoing, and 10 years later it is no better understood why some people suffer repeated trauma without effects and others fall from standing and are impaired for the rest of their lives. There are many things in medicine that are poorly understood, and the pathophysiology of concussion is certainly one.
I am sympathetic to anyone who suffers from a long term illness, but it is difficult to fathom a player from the early 90's (which many are) joining the lawsut. To debunk the argument that "players in the past didn't make much money", in 1991, the poverty line in America was $6,620/year (http://aspe.hhs.gov/poverty/figures-fed-reg.shtml) and the average NFL salary was $422,149/year (http://articles.baltimoresun.com/1991-12-27/sports/1991361086_1_dan-marino-nfl-players-quarterbacks), that is 6377% more. The average NFL career is short, only 3.5 years, but that means a person at the poverty line (of which about 35% of our citizens live at or below) would still need to work for 223 years to equal the average NFL payout.
I concede there are taxes, agents, and numerous other variables that make the estimate very rough, but the point is simple, the Detroit Lions player Dominic Raiola was very apt to say "I think when you sign up for this job, you know what you're getting into. I don't know if I could justify suing the league when I am done. I have so much fun playing the game, I really don't worry about it. It's common knowledge that people are going to suffer. Memory loss is going to come. You're hitting every time you step on the field. I am ready for it. It's worth it -- totally worth it. This is the best job in the world. I would never trade it for anything."
"Cumulative Effects of Concussion in High School Athletes
Collins, Michael W. Ph.D.; Lovell, Mark R. Ph.D.; Iverson, Grant L. Ph.D.; Cantu, Robert C. M.D.; Maroon, Joseph C. M.D.; Field, Melvin M.D.
CONCLUSION : This study is the first to suggest a cumulative effect of concussion in high school athletes. A more severe on-field presentation of concussion markers is evidenced in high school athletes with a pronounced history of concussion. This study's findings highlight the need for more long-term outcome studies in high school athletes who sustain sports-related concussions."