Former Steeler Dermontti Dawson joins concussion lawsuit

Add another name to the ever-growing list of former NFL players suing the league for head injuries sustained while playing professional football.

Former Steelers center Dermontti Dawson, who is about to be inducted to the Hall of Fame, is among the latest to file suit against the NFL, according to the Pittsburgh Post Gazette.

The suit was filed July 3rd in Mississippi, and includes three other former Steelers - RB Stephen Avery, WR Jeff Graham and S Jonathan Staggers. This new filing includes 47 former players in all.  It alleges that the league "was aware of the evidence and the risks associated with repetitive traumatic brain injuries and concussions for decades, but deliberately ignored and actively concealed the information from the Plaintiffs and all others who participated in organized football at all levels".

The suit  makes reference to Mike Webster, another HOF Steelers center, who died of heart failure in 2002. For years, he dealt with mental problems that were tied to his head injuries from his playing in the league.

To this date, the number of former players filing suits is more than 2,600.