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NEW YORK -- Five former NFL players, including six-time Pro Bowl defensive end Neil Smith, are suing the union for not providing accurate information about the risk of head injuries. The lawsuit on behalf of Smith, Ladell Betts, Anthony Davis, Christian Ballard and Gregory Westbrooks was filed Thursday in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri, with the plaintiffs claiming the NFL Players Association "withheld information from the players about the risks of head injuries." The former players are seeking medical monitoring and financial compensation for long-term chronic injuries, financial losses, expenses and intangible losses. It refers to the "pathological and debilitating effects of traumatic brain injuries (TBI) caused by concussive and sub-concussive impacts." The players named former union presidents Trace Armstrong, Troy Vincent and Kevin Mawae in the suit. "This lawsuit has no merit and we will defend our union and our past presidents," the NFLPA said in a statement. "It erroneously alleges that the NFLPA knowingly and fraudulently concealed from players the risks of head injuries players faced by playing in NFL games and practices over the last several decades. "The NFLPA has made the health and safety of its members a priority and the advancements in professional football on concussion education, prevention and treatment are a result of our efforts." The lawsuit notes that the players paid dues to the union, which assured them their best interests would be protected. But, the plaintiffs say, that did not happen. "We believe that the most important resource in the NFL is the players, and the most essential part of a players body is the brain," said attorney Kevin Regan, who is representing the players in the lawsuit. "Considering the millions of dollars received as dues from NFLPA members, the NFLPA did not do enough to protect its members from traumatic brain injury." The union also is accused of "engaging in a campaign of disinformation designed to dispute accepted and valid research regarding the connection between repetitive head injuries or concussions and degenerative brain disease; and to create a falsified body of research that the NFLPA could cite as proof that truthful and accepted neuroscience on the subject was inconclusive and subject to doubt." Smith spent 13 seasons in the NFL, nine with Kansas City, and was one of the games top defensive players. He retired in 2000. Betts was a running back for nine seasons, the first eight with Washington. He retired in 2010. Davis played eight seasons with four teams and won a Super Bowl with Baltimore after the 2000 season, his last year in the league. Ballard, a defensive end in 2011 and 2012, left the Vikings last September. Coincidentally, he is being represented by the union in a grievance concerning about $240,000 in 2013 salary that he collected but the team is trying to recoup. Westbrooks, now 61, played parts of seven seasons from 1975-81 as a linebacker and special teamer with four clubs. Air Jordan 1 Retro Cheap . Mesoraco hurt his hamstring while scoring from second in Friday nights 5-4 loss at Atlanta. Chapman was hit by a line drive during an exhibition game on March 19, breaking his nose and a bone above his left eye. The left-hander looked strong while throwing 43 pitches in batting practice before Saturday nights game against the Braves. Cheap Authentic Air Jordan 1 . Brooks replaces right-hander Yordano Ventura, who left his last outing with a sore elbow. Ventura is expected to miss one start. Brooks has made one relief appearance for the Royals this season, allowing six runs in two innings in a May 3 loss to Detroit. http://www.cheapairjordan1china.com/ .com) - Stanley Johnson had 18 points and No. Discount Air Jordan 1 . First-half goals by Will Bruin and Oscar Boniek Garcia sucked the life out of the Impact as the Houston Dynamo bounced them from Major League Soccers post-season with a 3-0 victory on Thursday. Cheap Air Jordan 1 Free Shipping . The right-hander said he threw about 30 pitches in a routine bullpen session Sunday at Yankee Stadium, his final hurdle before starting Tuesday night at Tampa Bay.ENGLEWOOD, Colo. -- Denver Broncos coach John Fox underwent heart surgery Monday in North Carolina, team Executive Vice-President John Elway said. Elway said he hasnt received an update yet. Fox underwent aortic valve replacement surgery while defensive co-ordinator Jack Del Rio was running practice after being named interim head coach. Elway said he knew Fox needed a heart operation, which had been scheduled for after the season. Del Rio was named interim head coach Monday when the Broncos returned from their bye. He will remain Denvers defensive co-ordinator while running the team for several weeks while Fox recovers. Like Fox, Del Rios roots are on the defensive side of the ball. This is his 17th season coaching in the NFL following an 11-year playing career with the Saints, Chiefs, Cowboys and Vikings. That includes eight-plus seasons as head coach in Jacksonville, where he was 69-73, including 1-2 in the playoffs from 2003-11. The Jaguars havent been anywhere near competitive since his dismissal in 2011. Del Rio joined Foxs staff last season -- he also served as Foxs defensive co-ordinator in Carolina in 2002 -- and the Broncos ranked second in the league in yards allowed a year after ranking dead last in the league. The Broncos are ranked 24th in defence this season, but they were missing star linebacker Von Miller and cornerback Champ Bailey for much of the first half of the season and are comiing off their best performance of the year in a 45-21 win over Washington last month.dddddddddddd Fox was hoping to put off his operation until the off-season but after meeting with his cardiologist in North Carolina late last week, he began feeling dizzy while playing golf near his off-season home in Charlotte on Saturday and was hospitalized. The Broncos (7-1) play at San Diego on Sunday as they seek their 19th win in their last 20 regular-season games. While pulling double duty, Del Rio will rely on other members of the coaching staff to pitch in, men such as linebackers coach Richard Smith, a former defensive co-ordinator, and running backs coach Eric Studesville, who served as Denvers interim head coach following Josh McDaniels firing late in 2010. Hell also rely on his captains, particularly Peyton Manning and Wesley Woodyard. Del Rio has long commanded the respect of his players, who appreciate his resume as a star NFL linebacker. Hes a lot like Fox in that hes considered a players coach, one who understands things from their perspective. Although they have similar philosophies, backgrounds and approaches, Del Rios sideline demeanour can differ from the easygoing Foxs. At Indianapolis, he dressed down Bailey for his abysmal coverage on a touchdown pass just as vehemently as he castigated rookie linebacker Danny Trevathan for fumbling a pick-6 at the goal line in the season opener. ' ' '