NEW YORK -- NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell is disputing assertions that the league's $765 million settlement with former players is a paltry sum compared to the sport's revenues.
In his first public comments since the settlement to the lawsuits was announced last week, Goodell said Wednesday that "this is a significant amount of money."
He says: "The plaintiffs also agreed it was an appropriate amount; the mediator felt it was an appropriate amount."
The settlement was announced last Thursday after two months of court-ordered mediation and is subject to approval by a federal judge. More than 4,500 former players, some of them suffering from Alzheimer's disease or depression, accused the NFL of concealing the long-term dangers of concussions and rushing injured players back onto the field.
Goodell says: "We were able to find common ground to be able to get relief to the players and their families now rather than spending years litigating."
