Stringer’s widow settles lawsuit with NFL

Published 10:54 pm Monday, January 26, 2009

COLUMBUS, Ohio — The widow of Minnesota Vikings lineman Korey Stringer reached a settlement with the NFL over his heatstroke death during training camp in 2001.

Under an agreement with Kelci Stringer, the NFL will support her efforts to create a heat illness prevention program.

No other terms of the settlement announced Monday by a family spokesman were released.

Kelci Stringer had filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the league, claiming the NFL hadn’t done enough to ensure that equipment used by players protected them from injuries or deaths caused by heat-related illnesses.

“We were able to find what we feel is a very fair settlement that helped us move to the next step,” said James Gould, a spokesman for the family who also was Korey Stringer’s agent.

NFL spokesman Greg Aiello said the heat illness prevention program will be for children and older athletes.

A separate lawsuit against equipment maker Riddell Inc. remains pending in federal court in Columbus, Gould said. The lawsuit alleges Riddell fails to warn players and coaches that wearing its helmets and shoulder pads in hot temperatures can be dangerous. It seeks a jury trial.

Korey Stringer was a 27-year-old, 335-pound lineman. He died from heatstroke July 31, 2001, during the second day of training camp in preparation for the 2001 season. He practiced in the sweltering heat and humidity, which pushed his body temperature to 108.8 degrees.

Stringer and his wife both attended college at Ohio State, where Stringer left for the NFL in 1995 after his junior season.

Notes

Advisor to Browns owner quits

BEREA, Ohio — Bob Kain, who held the title “vice chairman” and served as an advisor to Cleveland Browns owner Randy Lerner, has left the team. Kain, the former CEO and president of IMG, had been with the NFL franchise since 2007. Kain was instrumental in Lerner’s 2006 purchase of soccer team Aston Villa in the English Premier League.

Browns introduce new GM Kokinis

BEREA, Ohio — The Cleveland Browns welcomed a new general manager George Kokinis on Monday. Baltimore’s pro personnel director for the past six seasons who began his professional career in Cleveland’s operations department nearly 20 years ago, Kokinis was introduced by the perpetually rebuilding Browns.

The 41-year-old Kokinis was given an enthusiastic recommendation to Browns owner Randy Lerner by new coach Eric Mangini, who has been friends with Kokinis since their early days working for the Browns. At one time, Mangini, a former ballboy and public relations intern for Cleveland, and Kokinis, who joined the Browns in 1991, lived together in an apartment not far from the team’s headquarters.

Ex-Viking guilty of assault on police

MINNEAPOLIS — Former Vikings great Carl Eller was convicted Monday of assaulting a police officer who tried to arrest him after he swerved and nearly struck a squad car last April. Eller was ruled guilty of fourth-degree assault of an officer and second-degree refusing to submit to a field sobriety test. The 67-year-old Eller faces up to a year in a workhouse, not prison, on each count when he is sentenced Feb. 23.

Eller was one of the Vikings’ celebrated “Purple People Eaters” in his 15 years with Minnesota from 1964-78. He played in six Pro Bowls and all four of the Vikings’ Super Bowl appearances. He finished his career in 1979 with Seattle. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2004.

Former lineman Fowler dies

BATON ROUGE, La. — Former NFL lineman Jerry Fowler died Monday of complications from surgery. He was 68. Fowler played in four games for the Houston Oilers in 1964 before moving on to politics. A former Louisiana elections commissioner, Fowler served four years in prison earlier this decade for taking kickbacks on voting machine contracts.

Panthers hire defensive coordinator

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Rams hire three assistant coaches

ST. LOUIS — New St. Louis Rams coach Steve Spagnuolo hired three coaches for his staff, including Dick Curl as his assistant head coach/quarterbacks coach. Spagnuolo also hired Paul Ferraro as a defensive assistant and Frank Leonard as an offensive assistant.

Curl comes to St. Louis from Kansas City, where he served three seasons as assistant head coach and quarterbacks coach under Herm Edwards. He is a 46-year coaching veteran. Ferraro, Minnesota’s special teams coordinator since 2006, has 27 years of coaching experience, the past four in the NFL. Leonard spent the past two seasons coaching tight ends at Kansas State, and was a special assignment scout for New England from 2003-06.

Ravens promote Mattison

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Redskins lay off more employees

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Vick sues former financial adviser

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According to the complaint, Wong persuaded Vick to give her power of attorney, putting her in control of his finances, but did not disclose that she had been sanctioned by the New York Stock Exchange for depositing a customer’s money into her personal bank account.

NFL says Super Bowl will be safe

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