A group of retired NFL players who opposed the $1 billion concussion settlement between the league and thousands of former players will not appeal the case to the Supreme Court, with former All-Pro?offensive lineman Alan Faneca calling the decision for the greater good of everybody.Its been a long road, and I guess there comes a point in time when you see the end of the road, Faneca, one of the players who challenged the deal, told the New York Post.A federal appeals court upheld the settlement in April, and the deadline for filing an appeal to the Supreme Court was Monday.?Former players already diagnosed with brain injuries linked to repeated concussions can begin receiving benefits within three months, Tom Girardi, who represented the players in the settlement, told the Post. He estimates that between 1,000 and 1,500 players would be eligible for payments now.?Players could receive up to $5 million individually if they were diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrigs disease. The next-highest award is $4 million for families of a player with a post-mortem finding of chronic traumatic encephalopathy, or CTE, and $3.5 million for players with Parkinsons or Alzheimers.?I think the settlement provides a small window for a large group of guys, Faneca told the Post.The settlement covers more than 20,000 NFL retirees for the next 65 years. The league estimates that 6,000 former players, or nearly three in 10, could develop Alzheimers disease or moderate dementia.Fewer than 200 of those retirees opted out of the settlement, while 99 percent approved.As part of the settlement, the NFL admitted no fault. A league official speaking to Congress in March acknowledged for the first time a definite link between football and CTE. But the appeals court said that admission was not grounds to overturn the settlement.The league has been dogged for years by complaints that it hid the risks of repeated concussions in order to return players to the field. The deal avoids the need for a trial and means the NFL might never have to disclose what it knew, and when, about the risks and treatment of repeated concussions.Some players who challenged the deal argued that it does not cover mood and behavioral disorders that some researchers link to CTE.?Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.? Wholesale Mens Shoes China . - Derek Wolfe says hes finally healthy after suffering a seizure in November that doctors now believe was related to the spinal cord injury he suffered in the preseason. Cheap China Shoes Wholesale . PETERSBURG, Fla. http://www.wholesaleshoesfashion.com/ .S. -- Nikolaj Ehlers registered a hat trick for the third straight game and Jonathan Drouin had a goal and five assists as the Halifax Mooseheads hammered the host Cape Breton Screaming Eagles 10-1 on Tuesday in Quebec Major Junior Hockey League action. Cheap Fashion Shoes Wholesale . The All-Pro lineman got the leg bent under him while trying to make a tackle during the first half of a 22-20 overtime loss at Miami on Thursday night. The medical staff initially thought hed torn the ligament, and the test a day later in Cincinnati confirmed it. Wholesale Shoes Cheap . The CFLs leading rusher kept adding to his gaudy numbers this season and scored the winning touchdown with just over two minutes to play. The New Westminster, B.C., native plowed three yards into the end zone for the last score of a heated, see-saw battle between the two teams with the best records in the CFL. PITTSBURGH -- Ben Roethlisberger understands the irony in suggesting the Pittsburgh Steeler practices might be too rough. The $20 million franchise quarterback, after all, is off limits.Still, a quick scan down his teams crowded injury list left him wondering if its time for the coaching staff to ease up just a little bit.I will stand up for the guys up front and running backs, guys who take a pounding every day during a long season, Roethlisberger said. The season is super long as it is and very physical. And when youre doing it over and over and the guys shoulders are getting sore, knees start getting sore, and hips and hamstrings and quads and things, and then, they re-occur, you have to take a look at maybe what youre doing.Five weeks into the season, the Steelers already have seen a series of bold-faced names miss time, including right tackle Marcus Gilbert and guard Ramon Foster, the guys who are in charge of keeping Roethlisbergers jersey clean when it counts. Defensive end Cameron Heyward will miss the first game in his career on Sunday when Pittsburgh (4-1) visits Miami (1-4). Linebacker Ryan Shazier and his sprained MCL are out for a third straight week, and Markus Wheatons shoulder continues to bother him.While Roethlisberger allows that coach Mike Tomlin has to walk a fine line about the tenor of practice, hes also wary of the possible toll it could take over the long term.You see those pads on top of lockers being worn all year long, he said. Like I said, for me, I cant complain too much because Im not the one getting hit. But, I will stand up for the big boys.Its a gesture center Maurkice Pouncey appreciates, even if hes not completely sure where he stands. Pouncey stressed, Im following Ben, baby, but also understands he gets paid a lot of money to do what the coaching staff asks.Im a lineman, he said. I go get it every day and I eat afterward. But nah, its cool. Weve got a physical camp man and its paying off now.In reality, practices are as gentle as theyve ever been. The collective bargaining agreement signed in 2011 outlawed two-a-days during training camp and limits teams to one fully padded practice over the seasons first 11 weeks and three over the final six. Thats in contrast to early in Tomlins tenure.Our first year we were hitting every day, said cornerback William Gay, a rookie when Tomlin took over in 20007.ddddddddddddYou cant get no more than that.The Steelers like to thud up on Wednesdays, meaning defenders will wrap up ball carriers but dont take the hit all the way to the ground. On Fridays, the first-team offense faces the first-team defense in the seven shots drill from the 2, whichever side getting to four stops or four conversions first claiming bragging rights for the week. And it gets pretty heated. Thats kind of the point.Its a very competitive thing, defensive coordinator Keith Butler said. We talk a lot of mess.What they dont talk about, at least not in public, is easing up. Tomlins training camps can be a six-week battle of attrition, particularly this summer when he tried to help toughen up a defense that finished 30th in yards allowed. The early returns are mixed. Pittsburgh is 25th in yards but ninth in points in large part because of better play in the red zone. Tackling is a vital part of that equation, one that needs to be practiced to be perfected.You cant get in shape hitting until you hit, Butler said. When you stress muscles for the first time in trying to hit early in games and preseason, early in the season sometimes and you havent hit then, sometimes youll have injuries.Heywards tweaked hamstring had nothing to do with getting overworked in practice and everything with landing awkwardly in the second quarter last Sunday against the New York Jets. He understands Roethlisbergers role as a captain speaking up for the benefit of the team. He also understands that hitting is a necessary part of the game and with that comes inherent risk.We dont even get that much in as it is, Heyward said. You want that hardening so when you get down the road, you want to use that as an asset.Roethlisbergers words might not have fallen on deaf ears. On Thursday, the Steelers wrapped up practice five minutes early, a rarity.Game notes WR Sammie Coates (finger), Gilbert, Heyward, Shazier, Wheaton, C Cody Wallace (knee) and S Shamarko Thomas (groin) did not practice on Thursday. ... Shazier was limited while CB Justin Gilbert (knee), S Robert Golden (hamstring), RB Roosevelt Nix (back) and WR Eli Rogers (toe) were full participants.---Online:AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP-NFL ' ' '