Braylon Edwards among former Michigan stars filing $50 million lawsuit against NCAA, Big Ten Network

Four former Michigan football players, including Denard Robinson and Braylon Edwards, filed a $50 million class-action lawsuit against the NCAA and Big Ten Network, the Detroit News reports. The suit argues former Wolverines were “unlawfully denied” NIL earnings during their collegiate careers and are entitled to “a present and future share of any revenue generated from the use of their publicity rights.”

Attorney Jim Acho filed the 73-page suit Tuesday morning on behalf of Michigan athletes who concluded their playing careers before June 15, 2016. Acho was quick to note that this lawsuit does not target the Michigan football program or the university but aims to “right a wrong perpetuated on college athletes for decades” by the NCAA.

“This not a suit against the University of Michigan,” Acho told The Detroit News. “None of the many former players wanted to sue UM and neither did I. It is the NCAA that perpetuated this wrong for decades. They knew it was wrong to prevent players from capitalizing on the most valuable thing they have — their name and image. That has been rectified for current players, but the NCAA needs to correct the wrongs of the past. Today is the day for recompense.”

The NCAA first approved interim name, image and likeness policies in 2021. 

Former All-Big Ten defenders Mike Martin and Shawn Crable are listed alongside Robinson and Edwards on the lawsuit. Edwards played at Michigan from 2001-04, Crable from 2003-07, Martin from 2008-11 and Robinson from 2009-12. 

Acho expects this is the first of many player-led lawsuits to hit the NCAA in the near future.

“Numerous former players over the past five decades asked me to file this, and after a lot of research we felt it was absolutely the right thing to do,”…

Source link : https://www.cbssports.com/college-football/news/braylon-edwards-among-former-michigan-stars-filing-50-million-lawsuit-against-ncaa-big-ten-network/

Author : Grant Hughes

Publish date : 2024-09-10 16:08:48

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