Former NFL players have been charged with defrauding health care programs according to a new report. The Washington Post is reporting that 10 former NFL players including former Washington Redskins Running back Clinton Portis defrauded the program out of $4 million.
The other players named in the charges are Carlos Rogers, Robert McCune, John Eubanks, Ceandris Brown, James Butler, Tamarick Vanover, Fredrick Bennett, Correll Buckhalter and Eric Pruitt.
Two other players, Joe Horn and Reche Caldwell are expected to be charged with conspiracy to commit health care fraud according to a Department of Justice news release.
The NFL has been criticized in the past for mishandling of retired players’ health issues, mainly Chronic traumatic encephalopathy or CTE that came from players who suffered concussions during their NFL career. The NFL settled with the retired players for more than half a billion dollars for not addressing CTE properly. Since the settlement, the league has been stricter on protecting players including fines for helmet to helmet contact, safer equipment, and concussion protocol during games.
The story is breaking and will be updated.
