Painkillers lawsuit against NFL dismissed

NEW YORK - A lawsuit brought by retired NFL players against the league for routinely mishandling painkillers has been dismissed.

Judge William Alsup of the U.S. Northern District in California cited a section of the Labor Management Relations Act in dismissing the claim. Alsup noted that the league has addressed the ''serious and inevitable evil'' of player injuries in a ''serious way'' through collective bargaining with the players' union.

He also wrote that the NFL has placed ''a long line of health-and-safety duties on team owners themselves.''

Nine players were named as plaintiffs, including Hall of Fame defensive end Richard Dent. The judge gave them until Dec. 30 to file an amended complaint.