PHILADELPHIA -- A federal judge is slowing down the proposed US$765 million settlement of NFL concussion claims, questioning if theres enough money to cover 20,000 retired players. U.S. District Judge Anita B. Brody denied preliminary approval of the plan on Tuesday because shes worried the money could run out sooner than expected. She also raised concerns that anyone who gets concussion damages from the NFL would be barred from suing the NCAA or other amateur football leagues. "I am primarily concerned that not all retired NFL football players who ultimately receive a qualifying diagnosis or their (families) ... will be paid," the judge wrote. The proposed settlement, negotiated over several months, is designed to last at least 65 years. The awards would vary based on an ex-players age and diagnosis. A younger retiree with Lou Gehrigs disease would get $5 million, those with serious dementia cases would get $3 million and an 80-year-old with early dementia would get $25,000. Retirees without symptoms would get baseline screening and follow-up care if needed. "Even if only 10 per cent of retired NFL football players eventually receive a qualifying diagnosis," the judge wrote, "it is difficult to see how the Monetary Award Fund would have the funds available over its lifespan to pay all claimants at these significant award levels." She asked for more raw financial data before scheduling a fairness hearing this year, when objectors can question the plan. The objectors could later decide to opt out of it. Law professor Gabe Feldman, who directs the sports law program at the Tulane University Law School, called the ruling a setback but said "theres no reason to panic." "The question remains whether this gives pause to some of the retired players and makes them question whether this is a settlement they want to be a part of," he said. Some critics said the NFL, with more than $9 billion in annual revenue, was getting away lightly. But the players lawyers said they would face huge challenges just to get the case to trial. They would have to prove the injuries were linked to the players NFL service and should not be handled through league arbitration. They could end up with nothing. Sol Weiss, a lead lawyer for the ex-players, remained confident the class action settlement will ultimately be approved. He said he was confident "that there will be enough money to cover these claims for 65 years." NFL spokesman Greg Aiello said league officials were "confident that the settlement is fair and adequate and look forward to demonstrating that to the court." More than 4,500 former players have filed suit, some accusing the league of fraud for its handling of concussions. They include former Dallas Cowboys running back Tony Dorsett and Super Bowl-winning Chicago Bears quarterback Jim McMahon, who suffers from dementia. The judges hand-picked mediator, former federal judge Layn R. Phillips, led several months of negotiations last year and has called the deal fair to both sides. The settlement would include $675 million for compensatory claims for players with neurological symptoms, $75 million for baseline testing for asymptomatic men and $10 million for medical research and education. The NFL also would pay an additional $112 million to the players lawyers for their fees and expenses, for a total payout of nearly $900 million. The NCAA clause is apparently designed to prevent plaintiffs from double dipping. Feldman said he was unsure why the NFL would insist on that. Given the judges ruling, the two sides could offer more evidence the fund would be stable, change the payout formula or perhaps have the NFL add more money to the pot. Otherwise, they may be left to start over. "I think its a pretty efficient way of doing things, rather than bring it up for the first time at the fairness hearing," Matt Mitten, who directs the National Sports Law Institute at the Marquette University Law School, said of the judges opinion. "Some of these guys need the money right now." Willie Calhoun Rangers Jersey . The game marks the rare occasion when two homegrown running backs, Jon Cornish of the Calgary Stampeders and Andrew Harris of the B.C. Lions, will start in the West Divisions battle for a Grey Cup berth. Wei-Chieh Huang Jersey . Duhamel, from Lively, Ont., and Radford, from Balmertown, Ont., were second with 77.01 points, just behind Olympic bronze medallists Aliona Savchenko and Robin Szolkowy of Germany. The four-time world champs lead at 79. https://www.cheaprangersbaseball.com/207...-rangers.html.m. ET, CBSOPENING LINE — Colts by 5RECORD VS. SPREAD — Cincinnati 8-8, Indianapolis 11-5SERIES RECORD — Colts lead 18-10LAST MEETING — Colts beat Bengals 27-0, Oct. Ariel Jurado Jersey . -- Augusta James of Bath, Ont. Texas Rangers Gear . Each day, TSN.ca provides the latest rumours, reports and speculation from around the NHL beat. The latest from Bob As tweeted by TSN Hockey Insider Bob McKenzie on Monday, the Columbus Blue Jackets need to resolve their offseason plans with forward R.As Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment spends the coming week interviewing prospective candidates to replace chief executive Tim Leiweke, buzz is building within the companys executive ranks and sports business industry that the CEO of a public Canadian media company may be the best fit for the high-pressure job. John Cassaday, CEO of Toronto based radio and television broadcaster Corus Entertainment, has been approached by MLSE and discussed the position with company officials, a person familiar with the matter confirmed to TSN. Cassaday, who once worked for former MLSE CEO Richard Peddie, is well known and highly regarded in the Toronto media industry. Besides being CEO of Corus, whose assets include YTV, HBO Canada and Treehouse, Cassaday sits on the boards of Sysco Corp. and Manulife Financial Corp. Cassaday is a proven leader, said a person close to the MLSE board. He has handled a publicly traded company in Corus, its board and family ownership issues flawlessly. He is stable. A sure hand on the tiller. And hes mature and knows how to manage divisions and factions within a company. And hes Canadian and probably is looking for a change before he retires. Cassaday is 60 and once worked for Richard Peddie at General Foods, now known as Kraft Foods. Now, Peddies brother Thomas Peddie works for Cassaday at Corus. MLSE plans to bring finalists for the Leiweke job into Toronto this week for interviews. The company would like to decide on his successor within the next week or so, a source told TSN. Neiither Cassaday nor his media relations staff responded to phone messages or emails seeking comment.dddddddddddd While Cassaday is an experienced Toronto broadcast executive, its also worth asking whether his skill set lends itself to MLSE, which is shrinking its broadcast business and turning it over to the companys owners, Bell and Rogers. As previously reported by TSN, other executives approached by MLSE to succeed Leiweke include former Madison Square Garden executive Hank Ratner, NHL executive John Collins and CFL Commissioner Mark Cohon. Neither Collins nor Cohon are seen as favourites for the job. Collins has helped to build the NHLs business through savvy marketing and a host of outdoor hockey games, but also was instrumental in awarding the NHLs Canadian TV rights to Rogers Communications. That might complicate his hiring, since Rogers jointly owns MLSE with its competitor Bell Media, which also sought those rights. Bell is TSNs parent company. Cohon, meantime, has led the CFL through a period of relative peace, negotiating a larger TV contract with TSN in 2013, but has also been the leagues chief executive during a time when the Toronto Argonauts, the countrys largest media market, have struggled to grow interest from fans and sponsors alike. According to Canadian Business magazine, Cassadays compensation during 2013 was about $4.7 million. Before helping to found Corus, Cassaday was president of CTV Television and the Campbell Soup Co.s top executive in Canada and the U.K. ' ' '