Former NFL players from Oklahoma weigh in on concussion settlement and share their experiences

Michael L. Garrett
Athletic Director
Langston University

Former OSU player Rusty Hilger, former Sooners Steve Zabel and Jimbo Elrod, and Langston AD Mike Garrett talk about the settlement and their time in the NFL.

LANGSTON, Oklahoma --  Before the 2013 season, the NFL agreed to pay $765 million to settle a lawsuit in which former players contended league officials knew about the dangers of concussions.

Almost six months later, the case drags on for 4,500 former players, including former Oklahoma State quarterback Rusty Hilger. The Southeast High product got involved in the lawsuit after talking to former OU running back Marcus Dupree's attorney.

One condition to the proposed settlement is this can't be viewed as an admission of guilt by the NFL.

“The cover-up is what bothers me,” said Hilger, who played five NFL seasons. “I was knocked completely out three times. Now we know a real concussion basically is when you see stars. I had 15 or 20 or more of those.”

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