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 Most of the 20,000 former players involved in the class action
lawsuit back the deal, which provides payments of up to $5 million
to those with the most serious neurological impairments, while
others think the NFL should pay more.
U.S. District Judge Anita Brody, who granted preliminary approval to
the deal in June after the NFL agreed to remove a $675 million cap
on payments, will conduct the hearing and ultimately decide if the
settlement is fair. She is expected to make her final decision at a
later date.
 "Over the last several months, we have heard from countless retired
players who are in dire need of these benefits, as well as those who
take comfort in the long-term protections the settlement provides,"
said lead plaintiff's attorney Chris Seeger.
But the deal has its critics, in part, over how it treats players
with Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy, or CTE, one of the most
common neurological disorders suffered by football players.
The proposed settlement calls for the NFL to pay $4 million to the
families of those who died from CTE before July 7, 2014, while those
diagnosed afterward would receive nothing.
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NFL Hall of Famer Joe DeLamielleure has opted out of the settlement
and will continue with his own lawsuit against the league. "It's
wrong, it's insane," he said of the settlement. "(NFL Commissioner)
Roger Goodell, you win again."
(Reporting by Steve Ginsburg; Editing by Will Dunham)
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