Former Detroit Lions running back Aveion Cason is one of two lead plaintiffs in a lawsuit filed against both the NFL and the NFLPA in reaction to the new collective bargaining agreement between the league and the player union.
Cason is joined by retired quarterback Don Majkowski in filing the lawsuit in federal court in the District of Columbia. Majkowski is best known for being the Packers quarterback before Brett Favre, but he did finish his 10-year NFL career in Detroit in 1996.
The lawsuit stems from provisions in the new CBA that slash the total and permanent disability benefits to retired players. The ex-Lions are two of 400 players who had their eligibility for benefits canceled in the new CBA. Previously, players who were eligible for Social Security disability benefits would automatically receive disability benefits from the NFL. That guarantee was written out in the new CBA negotiations.
The full suit filing is available for public review.
Cason played two different stints with the Lions between 2001 and 2008, the final year of his NFL career. He saw little action on offense, registering just 76 carries for the Lions in five seasons. Cason was the team’s primary return man in 2007-2008 and finished in the top 10 in the league in kick return yardage both seasons. Majkowski started two games in 1996 for the Lions in the final year of his journeyman career.
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