NHL commissioner Gary Bettman has once again maintained that there is not enough data yet to draw conclusions about the link between sports-related concussions and long-term brain degeneration.This came in a 24-page letter Bettman wrote to U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal that was posted on The New York Times website Tuesday night, answering a series of questions put to him by the Connecticut Democrat on the NHLs stance on concussions and the brain disease chronic traumatic encephelopathy (CTE).[T]he science regarding CTE, including on the asserted link to concussions ... remains nascent, particularly with respect to what causes CTE and whether it can be diagnosed by specific clinical symptoms, Bettman wrote in the letter to Blumenthal.Bettman said the NHL and the players associations medical advisory consultants will continue to closely monitor the ongoing research into brain damage, but he emphatically argued that the research to this point has established no causal link between CTE and concussions in team sports generally, much less in NHL hockey.If that [medical] consensus changes, so, too, will my answers, he added.The NHL is currently facing a class-action lawsuit filed by 105 former NHL players who allege it had the resources to better prevent head trauma, failed to properly warn players of such risks and promoted violent play that led to their injuries.The plaintiffs primary request is medical monitoring for the roughly 4,800 living former players, plus additional unspecified relief. There is no dollar figure on the lawsuit, but the NFLs pending $1 billion concussion settlement with retired players could provide a benchmark.Bettman, who was deposed for testimony last year, has said the lawsuit is without merit. The leagues first attempt to dismiss the claims was denied last year by U.S. District Judge Susan Richard Nelson. There is another pending motion for dismissal, based on an argument that the issues should be addressed through collectively bargained arbitration instead of court.Bettman angered many former players last May with comments following the death of former NHL defenseman Steve Montador at age 35. Montador suffered from CTE. His family filed a lawsuit against the league that was recently consolidated with this case.From a medical and scientific standpoint, Bettman said then of the purported link between concussions and CTE, there is no evidence yet that one leads to the other. Wholesale Nike Shoes . Bryzgalov stopped 25 shots on Saturday in the Oklahoma City Barons 4-1 victory over the Abbotsford Heat. The Oilers signed Bryzgalov to a one-year $2 million contract last Friday after shedding payroll by dealing defenceman Ladislav Smid to the Flames. Cheap Air Max Shoes Store . Detroit and Boston are deadlocked, 1-1, and Tigers manager Jim Leyland could be forgiven if he was caught rationalizing instead of dissecting how his club could blow a 5-1 lead late in Game 2. http://www.wholealeairmaxshoes.com/ . -- About a third of the way through the regular season, the Washington Wizards are at . Discount Air Max Shoes . -- The Bishops Gaiters are showing they belong among the countrys top varsity football teams. Air Max Shoes Sale Online . John Tavares, Thomas Vanek and Kyle Okposo were also being counted on to slow down sizzling Rangers forward Rick Nash. That plan didnt go so well early. LAS VEGAS -- Tom Brady returned from his suspension and led the New England Patriots to an expected 33-13 victory as 10-point favorites over the Cleveland Browns, so they maintain their spot as the No. 1 team in the NFL Vegas Rankings.However, the Minnesota Vikings closed the gap as the leagues lone remaining undefeated team following their 31-13 win over the Houston Texans. The Pittsburgh Steelers, Green Bay Packers and Seattle Seahawks all won on Sunday to complete our top five. The defending Super Bowl champion Denver Broncos dropped to No. 6 after their 23-16 loss to the Atlanta Falcons, who improved to 4-1 and are our No. 8 team.Heres a look at the teams makingg the biggest moves up and down the rankings, and then well look for some Week 6 value plays (11-4 ATS so far this season) using this weeks power ratings:Note: The NFL Vegas Rankings are compiled by taking the average of the power ratings of ESPN Chalk handicappers, including Erin Rynning, yours truly and ESPNs Football Power Index, and are used to compare two teams as if they were to meet on a neutral field (after which most teams get 2.dddddddddddd5 points for home-field advantage) and can be used to compare to the current point spread. ' ' '
