A negotiated settlement can include language that admits no wrongdoing whatsoever by the league, which could essentially reset the understanding between owners and players over the assumption of risk. Fewer gray areas would exist after this, with some rights to sue now being waived upon signing a standard contract, along with a specified commitment for an increased and streamlined disability-fund procedure.

There are elite lawyers working for both parties in this case, many of whom must understand the value of an intelligently-crafted settlement for their respective clients.

The case has been ordered to mediation by US District Court Judge Anita Brody

I bet she misses Showtime's hit series, Homeland.

Hopefully we can get back to less serious radio. Doesn't sound likely with that article.

On second thought I wouldn't mind serious radio if there was some back and forth on the Cubs' long term plans and prognostications. I'm still pretty upset with the Jackson signing which was rubber stamped by these two, as well as the prospects (or lack thereof) for cubs.tv

I could do without them ever being serious again

In fact, if they went goofy, Id listen a lot

I heard Beerstain reminiscing about his days covering the Bears and having access to video that showed the all-22. Sounded like a hipster football viewer.

I was watching all-22 before it was so carelessly released to the plebeians by the NFL!

Bernstein was at it again with the crass "I take great pleasure in watching the children of 'other people' incur irreversible brain damage so they can amuse me" opinion. Aside from the sucky to nonexistent ethics of the preposition, I also disagree with his oft-stated premise that high-speed collisions and bone-jarring tackles are the primary reasons that explain football's popularity. The analogies to premodern gladiator battles are tenuous, at best, and completely unpersuasive to me. There's nothing gladiator-like about plays designed to create open space for receivers/runners so they can run unimpeded toward the end zone. Personally speaking, I am no more moved by a crushing hit than I am by a shoe-string "tackle." Both events are simply ways of moving on to the next down. There's so much more to the game than the tackling, violent or otherwise, and I resent the misguided and unfounded assertion that we're all drawn to football due to its occasionally violent play.