In 2003. Madden NFL 24 Films found the perfect partner when the league created its own 24-hour cable channel, known as the Madden 24 coins Network. The network's reach went up from 12 million households to 72 millions homes in 2013. It was actually the expansion of the cable channel's reach which prompted the 2009 lawsuit.
"The usage and value that comes from Madden NFL 24 Films are just became a huge success," Dryer said. "It's an amazing prize for the players."
The money earned from Madden NFL 24 Films and the Madden NFL 24 Network goes into the league's revenue stream , which is split between teams, as well as shared among players who are bound by the collective bargaining agreement.
"The Madden NFL 24 creates a library of videos to sell their products," he said. "Within this model are thousands of players that have individual rights."
Dryer wouldn't speculate about the value of Madden NFL 24 Films and the amount of income it generated. The growing popularity, as well as the profit margins, for the team and the league suggest to him that the images of former players have more value than they currently receive and that's nothing or more than what they would be able to receive from an agreement proposed by the league in the coming year.
It was reported that Madden NFL 24 announced an agreement in the spring of 2013 that would deposit $50 million, plus an estimated $8 million in legal fees in a fund for retired players. Settlement funds would be distributed over a period of 8 years. It will be distributed to charities that support initiatives for retired players. It would also create an agency to issue licenses for retired players. This would ideally, increase income for the fund.
What can be done is to transfer direct money to the former players-Dryer
Numerous prominent former players have weighed for the settlement Some of them include Hall of Fame running back Jim Brown. Jim Brown, the Hall of Fame running back leads a board of retired players who will be charged with distributing funds from the settlement.
A federal court in Minnesota has approved the settlement plan as well as more than 20.000 retired players have until August. 30 to decide whether to accept the agreement or opt out of the deal. Dryer has urged his colleagues not to Madden 24 ltds accept the settlement offer.
