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The lawsuit between retired NFL players and the EA franchise game, Madden NFL, reached an agreement in the contentious licensing lawsuit resulting in an NFLPA payout of $26 million to over 2,000 retired NFL players. This lawsuit stemmed from the union failing to actively pursue marketing deals on the retired players behalf including video game, trading card and others sports product deals.

NFLPA executive director DeMaurice Smith looks to improve upon the relationship between retiree’s and the NFL. “This is a step forward in our effort to become one team.”

This being said after the unions reversal of the federal jury’s $28.1 million dollar award in November with Smith but the NFLPA threatening to take the case to United States Supreme Court if necessary. During which the union attorneys predicted an appeal would prevail.

“I know that we have some healing to do,” Smith said, rapping the podium for emphasis. “I know that there are some things from the past that need to be done better. From today, we will make that step. We will lead. We will move forward.”

Already tension had formed as many retired NFL players were upset over the lack of disability and pension benefits they receive from the NFLPA. Since then DeMaurice Smith has changed the direction he wants to take the players association so that it may cater to teh interests of both retired and current NFL players.

“One certainty is that everyone who plays this game today will one day be a former player,” Smith said. “If we can sit together and come together as men, as brothers, to address those issues, I think it makes it much more likely that we’ll get the answer right.”