Op-Ed: Worker's Comp Could Cost The NFL More Than The Concussion Settlement
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Young_Chitlin
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By: BARRY PETCHESKY
The headline on and main talking point from this L.A. Times article is almost distracting, but it's fun: It turns out that ? and/or hypocrite Deion Sanders, who criticized former players are just "trying to make money" off of concussion lawsuits against the NFL, filed his own worker's compensation claim alleging that he's disabled from head trauma and other playing injuries.
But the bigger picture is more fascinating, if less conceptually satisfying. Taking advantage of a unique California law that allows athletes to pursue injury claims against their teams even if they only played a single road game in California, nearly 4,400 athletes, 80 percent of them football players, have filed worker's comp claims.
The Times pulled out the current NFL employees with claims pending; They include NFL Network analysts Marshall Faulk, Michael Irvin, Darren Sharper, and Willie McGinest, and current coaches from nearly every team.
In all, the paper estimates the claims could cost as much as $1 billion, to be paid by the teams and by their insurance companies.Although workers' compensation is administered by states, it essentially functions as a private insurance program. Awards are paid by employers or their insurance companies, not taxpayers. Employees who are injured at work may file for workers' compensation, but they cannot sue in civil court.
California is one of a handful of states that recognize so-called cumulative injuries, incurred over time, a category that includes brain trauma. It also allows some players to file years or even decades after their careers are over, because of a notification provision that most teams failed to follow. That has made it the forum of choice for retired athletes in recent years.
The train might be leaving the station soon. Legislation to be voted on next week could ban professional athletes from pursuing worker's comp claims unless they played for California teams. Which seems fair, until you remember California's particularly steep "? tax," which requires all athletes to pay income taxes for road games they play in the state. That tax pulls in more than $200 million a year.
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http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-deion-sanders-brain-list-20130906,0,6031781,full.storyDeion Sanders; analyst, NFL Network
Brian Baldinger; analyst, NFL Network
Bucky Brooks; analyst/reporter, NFL Network
Marshall Faulk; analyst, NFL Network
Michael Irvin; analyst, NFL Network
Willie McGinest; analyst, NFL Network
Darren Sharper; analyst, NFL Network
Phil McGeoghan; assistant wide receiver coach, Miami Dolphins
Pepper Johnson; linebackers coach, New England Patriots
Anthony Lynn; assistant head coach, New York Jets
Mike Devlin; offensive line coach, New York Jets
Tim McDonald; defensive backs coach, New York Jets
Todd Washington; assistant offensive line coach, Baltimore Ravens
Jon Embree; tight ends coach, Cleveland Browns
Mike Sullivan; offensive line coach, Cleveland Browns
Cedric Smith, strength and conditioning coach; Houston Texans
Brant Boyer; assistant special teams coach, Indianapolis Colts
Tom Myslinski; strength and conditioning coach, Jacksonville Jaguars
Bruce Matthews; offensive line coach, Tennessee Titans
Lenny McGill; assistant director of college scouting, Denver Broncos
Eric Bieniemy; running backs coach, Kansas City Chiefs
Al Harris; assistant defensive backs coach, Kansas City Chiefs
Joey Clinkscales; director of players personnel, Oakland Raiders
Justin Griffith; offensive quality control, Oakland Raiders
Gary Brown; running backs coach, Dallas Cowboys
Jerome Henderson; defensive secondary coach, Dallas Cowboys
Leon Lett; defensive assistant/defensive line coach, Dallas Cowboys
David Merritt; defensive secondary/safeties coach, New York Giants
Larry Izzo; assistant special teams coach, New York Giants
Todd Lyght, assistant defensive backs coach, Philadelphia Eagles
Kris Kocurek; defensive line coach; Detroit Lions
Bradford Banta; assistant linebackers coach, Detroit Lions
Marcus Robertson; defensive secondary coach, Detroit Lions
Tim Terry; assistant director of pro personnel; Green Bay Packers
Alonzo Highsmith; senior personnel executive, Green Bay Packers
Winston Moss; assistant head coach, Green Bay Packers
Darren Perry; safeties coach, Green Bay Packers
Jimmie Johnson; tight ends coach, Minnesota Vikings
Jeff Davidson; offensive line coach, Minnesota Vikings
Ricky Proehl; wide receivers coach; Carolina Panthers
Ray Brown; assistant offensive line coach; Carolina Panthers
Earnest Byner; running backs coach; Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Bryan ? ; defensive front seven coach; Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Billy Miller; coaching assistant; Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Quentin Harris; director of pro scouting, Arizona Cardinals
Stump Mitchell; running backs coach; Arizona Cardinals
Brentson Buckner; defensive line coach, Arizona Cardinals
Ran Carthon; director of pro personnel; St. Louis Rams
Joe Bowden; assistant linebackers coach; St. Louis Rams
Marquand Manuel; defensive assistant; Seattle Seahawks -