Judge Approves NFL Concussion Settlement

Published April 23, 2015 at 12:52 PM EDT

Former NFL player Kevin Turner speaks during a news conference in Philadelphia on April 9, 2013. As former players Dorsey Levens, center, and Bill Bergey listen. The NFL agreed Wednesday, June 25, 2014, to remove a $675 million cap on damages from thousands of concussion-related claims after a federal judge questioned whether there would be enough money to cover as many as 20,000 retired players. The plaintiffs include Kevin Turner, who played for the Philadelphia Eagles and New England Patriots and is now battling ALS. (Matt Rourke/AP)

A federal judge has approved a plan to resolve thousands of NFL concussion lawsuits that could cost the league $1 billion over 65 years.

The league expects 6,000 of nearly 20,000 retired players will suffer from Alzheimer’s disease or moderate dementia eventually, and the settlement approved yesterday would pay them an average of $190,000.

Here & Now sports analyst Mike Pesca discusses the settlement with host Robin Young.

Guest

Mike Pesca, Here & Now sports analyst and host of Slate’s daily podcast The Gist. He tweets @pescami.

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