NFL Players Union Settles Dispute With Retired Players

DeMaurice Smith might be a long way from settling the NFLPA's differences with the league, but he appears to have made good on his pledge to unite the union with its retired players.

According to a report by Chris Mortensen on ESPN.com, the NFLPA will announce at a news conference Friday morning that it has agreed to settle the Herb Adderley lawsuit for nearly the full amount. Mortensen says the union has agreed to drop its planned appeal and pay roughly $26 million of the $28.1 million that a federal jury awarded to 2,056 players in a class action decision in November:

"Adderley, the former Green Bay Packers and Dallas Cowboys cornerback, was the lead plaintiff in a class action suit on behalf of 2,056 retired players who claimed the union had breached licensing and marketing terms for use of their images in video games, sports trading cards and other dealings."

Smith, the newly elected head of the players' union, told reporters at a press briefing in New York in April that things would be different between the NFLPA and the retired players than they had been under past leadership. Friday morning's announcement would seem to constitute a pretty good effort to make good on that promise.

"We hope this is a unifying moment," NFLPA spokesman George Atallah told FanHouse.

According to Mortensen's rpeort, Adderley is expected to attend and speak at the Wednesday morning news conference.