SPORTS DIGEST || NCAA, Riddell named in class-action lawsuit

NCAA, Riddell named in class-action lawsuit

The NCAA and helmet maker Riddell are defendants in separate class-action lawsuits alleging they failed to protect football players from long-term head injuries and didn’t educate them about the risks.

The lawsuits were filed Monday in federal courts in Indianapolis and San Francisco and seek damages for health care costs, lost wages and other personal injury damages. Riddell called the called the claims “meritless” and “sensationalized allegations.”

The Big 12 Conference was listed as co-defendant with the NCAA. Named plaintiffs are former players Cory Brandon (Oklahoma), Kelvin Chaisson (Oklahoma), Derrick Cherry (Texas Tech), Jarrod Blake Roberts (TCU) and Joe Walker (Texas).

The suits were filed by the firm Circelli, Walter & Young of Fort Worth, Texas. The firm said it plans to file additional suits naming other college conferences as defendants.

The Riddell lawsuit alleges the helmet maker misrepresented the safety of its helmets. The firm said all plaintiffs in the cases suffer from some degree of traumatic brain injuries from multiple concussions or serious jolts to the head that don’t meet the diagnosis of concussion and all were incurred while playing football.

49ers hire Peters for personnel VP

SANTA CLARA, Calif.

The San Francisco 49ers have hired Denver director of college scouting Adam Peters to become the team’s vice president of player personnel under new general manager John Lynch.

Lynch announced the move Tuesday, two days after being hired by San Francisco for his first front-office job. Lynch called Peters a star who is one of the “most respected talent evaluators” in the NFL.

Peters worked for the New England Patriots from 2003-08 before joining Denver. He has been part of three Super Bowls championships, five conference titles and 10 division crowns.

Cards exec accuses Astros in hacking case

new york

A statement on a Twitter account attributed to a former Cardinals scouting executive convicted of hacking into the Astros’ computer system said Houston had earlier “unauthorized access” into the St. Louis computer system.

Christopher Correa, the Cardinals former director of baseball development, is serving a 46-month prison sentence after pleading guilty last year to five counts of unauthorized access of a protected computer. He was banned from baseball for life on Monday by Commissioner Rob Manfred, who ordered St. Louis to give Houston $2 million and its top two picks in this year’s amateur draft.

Federal prosecutors said Correa had access to the Astros’ system from January 2012 until June 2014 and entered the team’s Ground Control database of confidential scouting reports, statistics and contract information 48 times.

$300K worth of jewelry stolen from Fisher

los angeles

Los Angeles police say burglars got away with more than $300,000 worth of jewelry from the home of former Lakers guard Derek Fisher.

Officer Drake Madison says the burglary happened Monday morning at the house in the Tarzana neighborhood.

Madison says he doesn’t know if the suspects got away with any of Fisher’s NBA championship rings.

Champions Leicester drop third straight

burnley, england

Defending champion Leicester is just two points above the relegation zone after a third straight Premier League defeat.

Center forward Sam Vokes scored from close range in the 87th minute to secure Burnley’s seventh successive win at Turf Moor in all competitions.

While Leicester is in freefall, Burnely is collecting valuable points to stave off the threat of relegation and rose to ninth.

Associated Press