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The National Hockey Leagues years-long investigation into concussions was a whitewash, and the leagues claims that players should have researched themselves the consequences of brain injuries is absurd, according to claims made by a group of former players in newly filed court documents. Adidas NMD Black Sale . Three weeks ago, the NHL claimed in pleadings that the former players who are suing the league over how it handled concussions and head trauma injuries ought to have been able to put two and two together, thanks to newspaper and magazine stories and other news reports. Publicly available information related to concussions and their long-term effects, coupled with the events that had transpired – i.e., the players incurring head injuries – should have allowed (players) to put two and two together, the NHL said in its court documents filed in Minnesota. Now, the players are firing back. In newly filed documents obtained by TSN, lawyers for players including Joe Murphy, Bernie Nichols and Gary Leeman rubbish the NHLs claims, saying players had no knowledge of the medical literature, and no understanding of any need to go find it because they relied on the NHL for information about player health and safety. Whether players could have accessed information in the public sphere is a red herring, the players say in court filings. By representing that the NHL was the caretaker of player safety and was responsible for researching concussions... the NHL was telling players not to look for or believe what the NHL now says the players should have researched and understood. The players, whose claims have not been proven, allege that the NHL did not do enough to protect them from head injuries before it created a committee to study head trauma in 1997. Even after that, the players charge the committees findings were not adequately shared with players. For decades, NHL players who sustained in-game concussions or who lost consciousness were simply propped up, given smelling salts, and quickly returned to game-action, the players allege. While the NHL began its concussion study in 1997 and published its findings in 2011, It was not until July 23, 2013, that the NHL changed its concussion protocols to require a concussed player not return to the same game in which the concussion occurred. The NHL players filed the suit in November 2013 after a group of nearly 4,500 former NFL players reached a settlement with the NFL over similar concussion-related complaints. The NFL players are expected to be paid about $1 billion, a lawyer working on the case told TSN. In its legal filings, the NHL says the court should dismiss the case because its taken too long for players to file their complaints. (The players) are not seeking recovery for acute injuries resulting from the individual hits, blows or instances of trauma inherent in hockey, the players pleadings say, adding that the injuries being sued for are the permanent degenerative brain diseases, or accumulated brain cell damage increasing the risk of such diseases, which arose and of which the plaintiffs became aware only after plaintiffs retired from the NHL. The NHL also has said the claim should be dismissed because health and safety issues fall under the purview of the leagues collective labour agreement with the NHLPA. The NHL said under terms of its CBA, that players have a responsibility to report injuries to their teams and submit themselves for examination. The CBA also addresses the rights of a player to receive his medical records, the NHL said in its legal filings. Players are clearly excluded from the NHLPA bargaining unit, the new court documents say, belying any argument that they are represented by a union who can initiate a grievance on their behalf... plaintiffs, as retired players and unrepresented by the NHLPA, could not initiate a grievance on their own behalf even if they wanted to. The judge overseeing the players lawsuit will hear oral arguments about the NHLs motion on Jan. 8 and will decide whether to dismiss the case by April. About 40 former NHL players have now signed up as named plaintiffs, compared to 4,500 in the NFL case. Adidas NMD Womens Pink .ca has you covered for whos in, whos out and what to expect from all 30 teams. Adidas NMD XR1 For Sale . Halak, 28, split his eighth NHL seasons between the St. Louis Blues, Buffalo Sabres and Washington Capitals, compiling a 29-13-7 record in 52 games. http://www.cheapnmdonline.com/wholesale-adidas-nmd-2019-china.html . Groves signed with Cleveland as an unrestricted free agent last year after a season with Arizona. He was in the linebacker rotation and had a sack in the season opener against Miami.ENGLEWOOD, Colo. - Brett Favre said Wednesday that he couldnt be happier to see Peyton Manning on the brink of breaking his NFL record of 508 touchdown throws.Manning has 503 heading into Denvers road game Sunday against the New York Jets.Favre told The Associated Press hes thrilled for Manning, whos coming off a career-best 479-yard passing performance against Arizona that included four TDs.That made Manning the second QB to reach 500 and moved him within striking distance of Favres record.Im glad its Peyton thats doing it, Favre told the AP in a phone interview from his home in Mississippi. I think a lot of Peyton. I know him well. I know his family well. His dad was one of my idols.Its not unthinkable that Manning might tie or even break Favres mark this weekend when the Broncos (3-1) visit the Jets (1-4).Manning has thrown for five or more TDs five times in his career. He had a six-touchdown game against Detroit in 2004 and set the NFL record with seven TD tosses in the Broncos 2013 opener against Baltimore.The more likely scenario, though, is that hell top it at home. After this weekend, the Broncos play their next two games at Sports Authority Field, against San Francisco and San Diego.Either way, Favre said hes preparing to watch Manning roar right past him and maybe approach 600 touchdown tosses by the time its all over. After all, Manning reached 500 in his 244th game, 49 fewer than it took Favre.Im not surprised, as well as hes been playing for so many years, Favre said. I think as far as wanting to hold onto the record, I mean I have no feelings of, Oh, my gosh. I wish I could hold onto that. None whatsoever.Favre said in todays pass-heavy league he wonders how long itll be before someone like Andrew Luck or Russell Wilson bypasses them both. Manning had a similar sentiment Sunday, saying, its all a matter of time, I think, with some of these young quarterbacks.Not so fast.The next two with a chance at reaching 500 are Drew Brees (372) and Tom Brady (365), but theyre 35, and 37 years old, respectively.Manning, 38, has thrown an average of 2.06 TD passes per game in hiss career, a better rate than either Brees (1. Adidas NMD Pharrell Williams Human Race Yellow. 94) or Brady (1.84).Luck is 25 and Wilson 26 and both have 60 TD passes so far, Luck in 37 games (1.62) and Wilson in 36 (1.67).So, even the brightest young QBs will have to pick up the pace a€” and stay injury-free.Im proud that I threw for 508 touchdowns, but Im most proud of my consecutive games streak, said Favre, who played in a QB-record 297 straight regular season games during his 20-year NFL career.None of those other records are possible unless you play a long time, Favre said. And I know Peyton missed a year. Aside from that year, hes played just like I did. I mean, hes been out there over and over and over again. And thats the only way you amass the numbers that he has.Mannings 208-game starting streak ended when he sat out the 2011 season following neck fusion surgery.Before that, he averaged 1.92 TD throws per game. Since joining the Broncos in 2012, hes averaged 2.88 touchdown throws in 36 games.Its amazing what hes done a€” but then again, its not, Favre said. I mean that with all due respect, because of his vigilance and determination. He just has the drive to excellence that has made him special. Im not surprised by anything he does.I know from the standpoint of going to a different team how tough that can be, said Favre, who played for the Jets and Vikings after 16 seasons in Green Bay. When I first went to Minnesota, I was coming off surgery for a torn biceps. Now, this is a different issue. But my point is I know its difficult on top of just the expectations and learning not just a new offence but the personnel around you.Favre said he loves the receivers Manning has in Denver, too.I think his receivers are outstanding, Favre said. John Elway, Ive got to commend him. Hes done an excellent job not only getting Peyton but in putting that cast around him. Theyve got a tremendous cast along with the best quarterback in football.___AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP_NFL___Follow AP Pro Football Writer Arnie Melendrez Stapleton on Twitter: http://twitter.com/arniestapleton ' ' '