NFL: Bengals to Award Ben Utecht $92K in Concussion Suit

Jan 5, 2013; Houston, TX, USA; Cincinnati Bengals helmet on the field before game against the Houston Texans during the AFC Wild Card playoff game at Reliant Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports /

The NFL Players Association announced today that the Cincinnati Bengals owe former tight end Ben Utecht $925,000. Utecht claims he suffered a concussion during a training camp practice back in 2009 (the year the Cincinnati Bengals were the featured team on HBO’sHard Knocks), and that the team dangerously cleared him to play regardless of the injury.

Utecht, a 32-year-old now pursuing his singer-songwriter passion, says hes had problems with memory loss ever since taking the hit.

Utecht was released from the team in November of that season after being placed on the injured reserve; he was at the time in the second year of a three-year contract worth $9 million.

A statement released by the NFLPA summed up the ruling:

"[Utecht] had not been sufficiently tested, both in his aerobic and strength reconditioning program, nor had he been tested, both in sport specific activities which would be a more accurate means of determining whether the damage caused by the concussion had ‘cleared.’"

Utecht says that he hopes to continue to educate people about concussion issues and player safety.

[Source: Fox Sports]

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