House to Examine NFL Disability

The disability system for NFL players will receive additional scrutiny now that a House committee with "serious questions" about it has commissioned a Congressional Research Service study, the Baltimore Sun reports. The committee wants to find "why only a small percentage of former players receive disability benefits in such a dangerous sport," according a letter released today.

The letter, sent to NFL commissioner Roger Goodell and NFL players union chief Gene Upshaw, requests the handover of disability and pension records within two weeks. The congressional inquiry stems from testimony on the disability system heard by the committee earlier in the year from retired players, including former lineman Brent Boyd and Hall of Famer Mike Ditka. (More NFL stories.)