Former Titan Frank Wycheck criticizes concussion settlement terms

Former Tennessee Titans tight end Frank Wycheck is not happy with the terms of the settlement between the NFL and plaintiffs in the concussion lawsuit.

A Pennsylvania judge gave preliminary approval Monday to the terms of the settlement in the class action concussion lawsuit between the NFL and former players. The preliminary terms of the settlement allow only former players who have been diagnosed with certain conditions to receive benefits. Per ProFootballTalk, those conditions are: early dementia, moderate dementia, Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, ALS, and/or death with Chronic Traumatic Encephelopathy (CTE). Since CTE can only be diagnosed after a person has died, living players who may suffer from CTE symptoms (such as depression) may not receive any benefits. If, after their death, they are found to have suffered from CTE, benefits may be paid to their family. 

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Wycheck, who estimates he had 15-25 concussions during his 11-year NFL career, says he suffers from migraines, memory loss and depression, but is not eligible to receive any benefits under the current terms of the settlement.

“Let’s keep the window dressing off of it as far as having a parade and a standing ovation for it,” Wycheck said, via The Tennessean. “I know how bad I have been suffering, and I am not eligible to receive a dime. … I find it hard to believe there will be a lot of guys eligible for it because there’s not a lot of guys worse than me.”

- Dan Gartland