Goodell: Settlement ‘Significant Amount Of Money’

NEW YORK (AP) — NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell is disputing assertions that the league's $765 million settlement with former players is a paltry sum compared to the sport's revenues.

In his first public comments since the settlement to the lawsuits was announced last week, Goodell said Wednesday that "this is a significant amount of money."

He says: "The plaintiffs also agreed it was an appropriate amount; the mediator felt it was an appropriate amount."

The settlement was announced last Thursday after two months of court-ordered mediation and is subject to approval by a federal judge. More than 4,500 former players, some of them suffering from Alzheimer's disease or depression, accused the NFL of concealing the long-term dangers of concussions and rushing injured players back onto the field.

Goodell says: "We were able to find common ground to be able to get relief to the players and their families now rather than spending years litigating."

Copyright 2013 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.