NEW YORK -- Five former NFL players, including six-time Pro Bowl defensive end Neil Smith, are suing the union for not providing accurate information about the risk of head injuries. Ian Kinsler Jersey . The lawsuit on behalf of Smith, Ladell Betts, Anthony Davis, Christian Ballard and Gregory Westbrooks was filed Thursday in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri, with the plaintiffs claiming the NFL Players Association "withheld information from the players about the risks of head injuries." The former players are seeking medical monitoring and financial compensation for long-term chronic injuries, financial losses, expenses and intangible losses. It refers to the "pathological and debilitating effects of traumatic brain injuries (TBI) caused by concussive and sub-concussive impacts." The players named former union presidents Trace Armstrong, Troy Vincent and Kevin Mawae in the suit. "This lawsuit has no merit and we will defend our union and our past presidents," the NFLPA said in a statement. "It erroneously alleges that the NFLPA knowingly and fraudulently concealed from players the risks of head injuries players faced by playing in NFL games and practices over the last several decades. "The NFLPA has made the health and safety of its members a priority and the advancements in professional football on concussion education, prevention and treatment are a result of our efforts." The lawsuit notes that the players paid dues to the union, which assured them their best interests would be protected. But, the plaintiffs say, that did not happen. "We believe that the most important resource in the NFL is the players, and the most essential part of a players body is the brain," said attorney Kevin Regan, who is representing the players in the lawsuit. "Considering the millions of dollars received as dues from NFLPA members, the NFLPA did not do enough to protect its members from traumatic brain injury." The union also is accused of "engaging in a campaign of disinformation designed to dispute accepted and valid research regarding the connection between repetitive head injuries or concussions and degenerative brain disease; and to create a falsified body of research that the NFLPA could cite as proof that truthful and accepted neuroscience on the subject was inconclusive and subject to doubt." Smith spent 13 seasons in the NFL, nine with Kansas City, and was one of the games top defensive players. He retired in 2000. Betts was a running back for nine seasons, the first eight with Washington. He retired in 2010. Davis played eight seasons with four teams and won a Super Bowl with Baltimore after the 2000 season, his last year in the league. Ballard, a defensive end in 2011 and 2012, left the Vikings last September. Coincidentally, he is being represented by the union in a grievance concerning about $240,000 in 2013 salary that he collected but the team is trying to recoup. Westbrooks, now 61, played parts of seven seasons from 1975-81 as a linebacker and special teamer with four clubs. Trevor Hoffman Padres Jersey . There will be no Down Under four-peat for Djokovic, as the eighth-seeded Swiss slugger Wawrinka outlasted the second seed 2-6, 6-4, 6-2, 3-6, 9-7 at Melbourne Parks Rod Laver Arena in yet another five-set thriller in their burgeoning rivalry. Hunter Renfroe Jersey .ca. Kerry, In the first period of Saturdays Montreal-Ottawa game, Brendan Gallagher is called for goaltender interference. Craig Anderson is outside the blue paint trying to make the save. http://www.padressale.com/padres-greg-garcia-jersey/ . Marcus Olsson, 23, joins Blackburn on a free transfer from Swedens Halmstads. He made 139 appearances and scored 17 goals in his four years with the club. He earned his first caps for Sweden this month, featuring against Bahrain and Qatar.BRIDGEVIEW, Ill. - Matt Watson scored in the 78th minute to give the Chicago Fire a 3-3 draw with D.C. United on Saturday night. Chicago (5-7-16) tied the MLS record, set in 2011, with its 16th draw of the season. Quincy Amarikwa gave Chicago the lead in the 16th minute. He settled a cross with his chest, took two touches to elude the defence and bent in a shot. Amarikwa was clipped inside the box in the 30th minute and Jeff Larenntowicz converted the penalty kick for a 2-0 lead. Ian Kinsler Padres Jersey. Luis Silvas penalty kick put D.C. (14-9-6) on the board in the 39th minute to snap Uniteds two-game scoreless streak. Silva evened the match at 2 in the 54th minute when he sent a free kick from distance. D.C. took its first lead at 3-2 in the 68th minute. Watsons game-tying shot from distance ricocheted off a defender and landed in the back of the net. ' ' '