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Bears Legend Gale Sayers Sues NFL, Claims Head Trauma

(STMW) – Hall of Fame running back Gale Sayers is suing the NFL and Rosemont-based helmet maker Riddell for allegedly failing to prevent repeated head injuries he suffered while playing the game, which have since led to brain damage.

The former Chicago Bear claims he suffers headaches, occasional short-term memory loss and other cognitive deficits from Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy, according to a suit filed Friday in U.S. District Court in Chicago.

Sayers, who played for the Bears from 1965 to 1972, claims he suffered multiple documented and undocumented concussions during eight training camps, weekly practices and more than 75 regular season games.

The suit claims Sayers played with concussions because the NFL never warned him doing so could cause brain damage.

The five-count lawsuit also names Riddell as a defendant, claiming the helmet maker did not provide adequate safety instructions or information about which models provide the best protection.

The suit comes a month after the NFL reached a $765 million settlement with a group of former players who also suffer brain damage. Sayers' lawyer could not be reached for comment on how that settlement may affect Friday's lawsuit.

The NFL and Riddell declined to comment Friday night.

News of the lawsuit was first reported by Crain's Chicago Business.

(Source: Sun-Times Media Wire © Chicago Sun-Times 2013. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)

 

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