NFL settlement will aid retirees and today's players

After my husband, Steve Smith, was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) in 2002, our lives changed in ways I could not have imagined. But I'm grateful for the many ways Steve has stayed the same. Throughout his experience, Steve has remained the same caring father and exemplary role model to our children. On and off the football field, Steve is still willing to fight for those he cares for.

Steve joined the concussion lawsuit against the NFL because, in addition to securing help in dealing with his own condition, he wanted to help the many other men who were suffering from devastating conditions like ALS, dementia, Alzheimer's, and Parkinson's. As the parents of two children, Steve and I also hoped to protect the next generation. Steve, who played with the Los Angeles Raiders and Seattle Seahawks, was never told that playing NFL football would increase his risk of developing ALS; he hoped the lawsuit would educate today's players about the dangers he never knew about.

It has taken years, but now that the court has granted final approval of the settlement between retired players and the NFL, we are finally on the cusp of achieving all these goals. This agreement will give those who are suffering the compensation they need, and fast. Medical testing will be available to all former players, allowing them to keep tabs on their neurocognitive health and receive care if symptoms start to emerge. Meanwhile, athletes will be safer and better-informed because of the settlement's contributions toward brain-injury research and player-safety programs.

And the settlement's compensation program is guaranteed to last for the next 65 years. It's clear that many who are healthy today may face a condition like ALS or dementia in the future. Steve and I take comfort in the knowledge that, thanks to this settlement, help will be there for any retired player who develops something serious.

With so much commentary about the settlement swirling in the media, it can be easy to lose sight of how much it truly means to retired players and their families. For Steve, me, and our children, the settlement is indispensable. In addition to helping cover Steve's day-to-day medical costs, it will help us afford new treatments that could one day point the way to a cure for ALS and similar diseases. Meanwhile, after years of expensive medical bills, we'll be able to put something away for our children's future and help them grow to become successful, giving members of the community.

Steve and I are optimistic that the agreement's many benefits will soon start reaching families like our own. However, we are also anxious because this struggle is not over yet. A few retired players have objected to the settlement, and there is a chance they may appeal it to a higher court. I cannot stress enough how harmful this would be: Any appeal would both delay benefits and indeed endanger this settlement that Steve and thousands of others have fought so long to achieve.

This victory was only possible because we all stood together. That's why I'm confident that the few who would have preferred a different outcome will put aside their disagreements for the sake of the many thousands more who support this settlement - especially for those, like my husband, who are sick and in need of help today.

The harsh reality is that no lawsuit could ever take back the injuries that so many in the retired player community have had to endure. What matters now is how retired players - and we who stand behind them - move forward as a community. This settlement will give us the support we need to rest a little easier and focus on living the best, most fulfilling lives we possibly can.