NFL concussions settlement upheld by appeals court

A federal appeals court in Philadelphia has upheld an estimated $1 billion plan by the NFL to settle thousands of concussion lawsuits filed by former players, potentially ending a troubled chapter in league history.

The decision released Monday comes nearly a year after a district judge approved the revised settlement and weeks after an NFL official, speaking to Congress, acknowledged for the first time a definite link between football and chronic traumatic encephalopathy, the brain decay found in dozens of former players after their deaths.

Kansas City will forfeit its third-round pick in next week’s draft and its sixth-round pick next year, though its $250,000 fine was reduced to $200,000 and head coach Andy Reid’s fine was reduced from $75,000 to $60,000.

Hunt said in a statement, “We continue to believe that the facts of this case combined with the league’s inconsistent enforcement of its tampering policies do not warrant the most severe penalty for player-related tampering in league history.”

Buffalo backup defensive tackle Corbin Bryant signed his qualifying offer.

Minnesota re-signed fullback Zach Line, a restricted free agent. ...Arizona released defensive tackle Cory Redding, a 14-year NFL veteran. ...