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Jurors in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California Monday awarded more than 2,000 former professional football players a $28.1 million verdict against the NFL Players Association and its licensing and marketing division, after determining that the union and its subsidiary, Players Inc., failed to market retired players’ marketing rights under a group licensing authorization contract.

The contract was supposed to cover licensing of electronic games, collectables, and other merchandise. The jury award included more than $7 million in actual damages and $21 million in punitive damages for the claim, which was originally filed by Herb Adderley.

Adderley wept following the announcement and told the Associated Press “I won three Super Bowls and this feels better than all of them combined.” NFLPA Acting Executive Director Richard Berthelsen told the AP the union planned to ask U.S. District Court Judge William Alsup to toss out the verdict. If that fails, the union intends to appeal.

According to the Los Angeles Times, the class action lawsuit cited, among other products, EA (Electronic Arts Inc.) Sports’ Madden NFL, a game series that features more than 100 “vintage” teams with nameless players resembling stars of old. Only active players received a cut of the licensing deal, “which surpassed $35 million for 2008,” the paper announced.

The players were represented by McKool Smith P.C. and Manatt, Phelps & Phillips LLP. McKool Smith attorney Lew LeClair called the verdict “a great victory for the men who devoted their lives to building professional football,” according to a firm statement.

At least one retired NFL player, Dave Pear, posted an excited reaction on his Web site. “And we’re all still wondering just exactly how much the NFLPA and Players inc. wasted of the Union’s money (YOUR money) to fight this lawsuit over the past two years,” Pear wrote. “And how much more they’re probably considering to appeal the award?”

An exchange in the comments section written by Sharon Hawkins, wife of former Oakland Raider Wayne Hawkins, asks if former players could now create a class action about the NFLPA’s disability plan – another issue many retired football players are contesting.

Pear replies: “Hopefully this trial will go a long way to establish a consistent pattern of greed and fraud by those who were supposed to represent us!” He then adds that he plans to continue petitioning for justice for all retired players. That issue remains contentious as well.