The NHL’s motion to dismiss a class-action concussion lawsuit was denied Wednesday by a federal judge in Minnesota.
The lawsuit by six former NHL players claims the league knew the dangers of head injuries and failed to protect players.
The former players — Mike Peluso, Gary Leeman, Bernie Nicholls, Dave Christian and Reed Larson — filed a consolidated suit in October 2014, seeking to represent all past NHL players.
“It is time for the NHL to be held accountable for deliberately ignoring and concealing the risks of repeated head impacts and finally provide security and care to retired players whom the league has depended on for its success,” the former players’ attorneys said in a statement Wednesday.
The NHL had argued that the “applicable statutes of limitations expired long ago” and that the legal clock “began running on the dates on which the head injuries that plaintiffs alleged suffered occurred.”
Still’s daughter’s cancer in remission
Cincinnati Bengals defensive lineman Devon Still received good news on Wednesday.
His 4-year-old daughter Leah’s cancer is in remission, he said in a post on Instagram. She was diagnosed last June and had undergone months of treatment that included chemotherapy while drawing widespread support from around the country and raising awareness for pediatric cancer.
Carl Pelini files defamation suit
Former Florida Atlantic head coach Carl Pelini filed a defamation suit against a former assistant whose claims that Pelini used drugs eventually led to his resignation in 2013.
The lawsuit was entered in Seneca County, Ohio. Pelini is now the defensive line coach at FCS Youngstown State under his brother, head coach Bo Pelini.
In Pelini’s filing on Monday, he contends that Matt Edwards, the former FAU assistant who is now defensive coordinator at NCAA Division II Tiffin (Ohio), signed a false affidavit that resulted in “injury, harm, damage to reputation and other damage to (Pelini) as a result of these false statements.”
Edwards claimed that Pelini used marijuana and cocaine. Pelini, who is seeking more than $25,000 in damages, has denied the accusations.
Pelini has not coached since leaving Florida Atlantic in November 2013 with a 5-15 record in two seasons.
Concussion fears led Miller to quit
Former Michigan center Jack Miller gave up football before starting his senior season because he feared the effects of concussions.
Miller told ESPN on Wednesday that his decision earlier this month to leave the team was based on concerns about the long-term effects of head injuries. He said he had one concussion in high school and maybe two to three in college.
During his career with the Wolverines, Miller played in 22 games and started 16, including all 12 in 2014.
Beverley has torn wrist ligaments
The Houston Rockets hope that starting point guard Patrick Beverley can avoid season-ending wrist surgery and are seeking medical advice on their options.
Beverley suffered torn ligaments in the wrist during Monday night’s victory over the Indiana Pacers. He saw a doctor in Houston on Wednesday and will get a second opinion before deciding on a course of action, coach Kevin McHale said during a shootaround in New Orleans before a game against the Pelicans.
Beverley is averaging 10.1 points and 3.4 assists per game this season.
NCAA files support Carroll, USC
Pete Carroll, who left USC for the Seattle Seahawks amid an NCAA investigation in 2010, said the release of internal NCAA documents in court this week is a positive sign.
“People are still fighting for the truth there and hopefully it will come to light again. I’ll appreciate that,” Carroll said Wednesday from the NFL owners meetings.
After a four-year investigation, the NCAA levied heavy sanctions against USC in 2010, declaring “lack of institutional control” in cases involving Reggie Bush and basketball player O.J. Mayo.
Carroll’s running backs coach, Todd McNair, was found to have engaged in unethical conduct and was sanctioned by the NCAA as well and has not been able to find a coaching job since.