NFL demands New York Times retract front-page report on concussions

NEW YORK — The NFL has demanded The New York Times retract a story that called the league’s concussion research flawed and likened the NFL’s handling of head trauma to the tobacco industry’s response to the dangers of cigarettes.

In a letter from its law firm to the general counsels of the newspaper and obtained by The Associated Press, the league says it was defamed by the Times. The NFL adds the story published Thursday did not “present a shred of evidence to support its thesis that the NFL intentionally concealed concussion research data.”

The NFL also says it will “more broadly reserve all of the league’s rights and remedies,” a veiled threat of legal action.

In response, Times sports editor Jason Stallman says, “We see no reason to retract anything.”