Dan Marino, one of the most prolific quarterbacks in league history, became the biggest name of the more than 5,000 former players who have sued the NFL over concussions. Marino joined 14 other players last week in suing the league. The papers were filed in Philadelphia.
The other players joining Marino were less well known. One recognizable name is Bruce Clark, a defensive lineman from Penn State where he played for coach Joe Paterno’s Penn State Nittany Lions footballl team from 1976 to 1979. As a junior in 1978, Clark became the first junior to win the Lombardi Award as the best college defensive linemen. He was the fourth pick overall in the1980 NFL draft, but chose to play for the CFL’s Toronto Argonauts before joining the NFL’s New Orlean’s Saints and the Kansas City Chiefs.
The complaint, claims “the Plaintiff sustained repetitive, traumatic, sub-concussive and/or concussive head impacts during NFL games and/or practices. On information and belief, Plaintiff suffers from symptoms of brain injury causes by the repetitive traumatic, sub-concussive and/or concussive head impacts the Plaintiff sustained during NFL games and/or practices. On information and belief, the Plaintiff’s symptoms arise from injuries that are latent and developed and continue to develop over time.” “The 18-page complaint alleges the NFL concealed information about football-related brain injuries and misled players, claims that are similar to those made in more than 300 related lawsuits. The NFL has repeatedly denied such claims.”
In a 1992 game in Seattle, Marino threw the winning touchdown pass in a 19-17 victory with 2:15 remaining. Earlier in the fourth quarter he suffered a concussion. “When he came out of the game in the fourth quarter he wasn’t sure where he was,” Dolphins coach Don Shula said after the game.