Detroit, Michigan – Former Cleveland Browns and University of Michigan star wide receiver Braylon Edwards has teamed up with three other former Michigan players to file a joint $50 million class-action lawsuit against the NCAA and Big Ten Network. The lawsuit accuses these organizations of unlawfully denying athletes the right to profit from their own name, image, and likeness during their college careers.
The 73-page lawsuit was submitted to the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan on Tuesday morning. The other players involved include former Michigan quarterback Denard Robinson, linebacker Shawn Crable, and defensive end Mike Martin. The lawsuit was filed by attorney Jim Acho, who emphasized that this action is not against the University of Michigan itself, but rather against the NCAA for a long history of restricting athletes’ rights.
“The NCAA knew it was wrong to prevent players from capitalizing on the most valuable thing they have — their name and image,” Acho said. He added that while recent changes now allow current athletes to make money through endorsements, the past wrongs need to be addressed.
The NCAA changed its rules in 2021, allowing student-athletes to profit from their likenesses. Recently, the NCAA agreed to a settlement worth $2.78 billion that benefits over 400,000 former and current athletes, but this settlement only covers those who played after 2016. This leaves out players like Edwards, who starred at Michigan from 2001 to 2004.
Robinson, who holds the record for the most rushing yards by a quarterback in NCAA history, also highlighted his own experiences, stating he never received any compensation for appearing on the cover of NCAA Football 14. This issue of fairness has been a driving force behind the lawsuit, as Martin expressed, “The $2.8 billion settlement that recently went through got me thinking about all the eras of guys before 2016.”
All four players had successful careers in the NFL after their time at Michigan. Edwards was drafted third overall by the Browns in 2005 and went on to have a standout career with multiple teams. Robinson played for the Jacksonville Jaguars, while Martin played for the Tennessee Titans, and Crable had a short stint with the New England Patriots.
This lawsuit is a significant step towards correcting what these former athletes see as an injustice that has affected many college players for years.
