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More than a dozen former NFL players join sex abuse lawsuits against Ohio State University

Nbcwashington · · 709 words · By Corky Siemaszko; NBC News
open_in_new Read the original article: https://www.nbcwashington.com/news/national-international/nfl-players-ohio-state…

fact_checkFact-Check Results

18 claims extracted and verified against multiple sources including cross-references, web search, and Wikipedia.

schedule Pending 8
info Single Source 4
check_circle Corroborated 3
help Insufficient Evidence 2
verified Verified 1
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“Thirty former Ohio State University football players, including more than a dozen who went on to play in the NFL, signed on to the class action lawsuit brought by other ex-OSU students who say they were sexually abused decades ago by campus doctor Richard Strauss.”
CORROBORATED
Multiple independent web search results (WCMH, and two other news-style reports) confirm that 30 former OSU football players, including over a dozen NFL players, joined the lawsuit against Richard Strauss.
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The flag of Ohio, also known as the Ohio Burgee, is a red, white, and blue U.S. state flag with a distinctive triangular swallowtail shape. The flag's elements symbolize the state's natural features a…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flag_of_Ohio
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The Kent State shootings (also known as the Kent State massacre) were the killing of four and wounding of nine unarmed college students by the Ohio National Guard on the Kent State University campus i…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kent_State_shootings
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The Ohio State University abuse scandal centered on allegations of sexual abuse that occurred between 1978 and 1998, while Richard Strauss was employed as a physician by the Ohio State University (OSU…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ohio_State_University_abuse_sc…
+ 3 more evidence sources
info
“this new group includes prominent former members of the Buckeye football team like Al Washington, Ray Ellis and Keith Ferguson, all three of whom went on to play pro football”
SINGLE SOURCE
While the general event of football players joining the lawsuit is corroborated, the specific names (Al Washington, Ray Ellis, Keith Ferguson) are not explicitly listed in the provided evidence snippets as part of this specific group, though the general claim is part of the same narrative.
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The Green Bay Packers are a professional American football team based in Green Bay, Wisconsin. The Packers have competed in the National Football League (NFL) since 1921, two years after their origina…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Green_Bay_Packers_all-time_ros…
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — This is a list of United States national Golden Gloves champions in the middleweight division, along with the state or region they represented. The weight limit for middleweights was first contested a…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_U.S._national_Golden_G…
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Navarro College is a public community college in Texas with its main campus in Corsicana and branches in Mexia, Midlothian, and Waxahachie. The college has an annual student enrollment of more than 9,…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Navarro_College
+ 3 more evidence sources
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“Attorney Rocky Ratliff, who is a former OSU wrestler and one of the Strauss survivors currently suing the school, confirmed Thursday that he is representing the 30 football players”
CORROBORATED
Two separate web search results confirm that Attorney Rocky Ratliff is a former OSU wrestler, a survivor of Strauss, and represents the football players in the lawsuit.
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web search NEUTRAL — Attorney Rocky Ratliff, who is a former OSU wrestler and one of the Strauss survivors currently suing the school, confirmed Thursday that he is representing the 30 football players who have signed eng…
https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/dozen-former-nfl-player…
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web search NEUTRAL — Former UM football player, Chuck Christian, avoided doctors for decades after Anderson’s abuse, was diagnosed with prostrate cancer that “might have been fixed with a relatively routine procedure” had…
https://www.mikecoxlaw.com/university-of-michigan-dr-anderso…
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web search NEUTRAL — Attorney Rocky Ratliff represents 49 alleged victims of Dr. Richard Strauss. He says he also survived the doctor's abuse when he wrestled for The Ohio State University. He remembers sitting in the sau…
https://www.news5cleveland.com/news/local-news/investigation…
info
“The group of men formerly played for NFL teams that include the Chicago Bears, the Dallas Cowboys, the Detroit Lions, the Cleveland Browns and the former San Diego Chargers.”
SINGLE SOURCE
The provided evidence does not explicitly list the specific NFL teams (Bears, Cowboys, Lions, Browns, Chargers) associated with the 30 players; the search results for these teams are generic NFL recaps or unrelated player bios.
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Chris Lacy (born January 28, 1996) is an American former football wide receiver. He played college football at Oklahoma State, and was signed by the New England Patriots as an undrafted free agent aft…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chris_Lacy
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Justin Skyler Fields (born March 5, 1999) is an American professional football quarterback for the Kansas City Chiefs of the National Football League (NFL). Following a stint with the Georgia Bulldogs…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Justin_Fields
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Nahshon Wright ( nə-SHAWN; born September 23, 1998) is an American professional football cornerback for the New York Jets of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Ore…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nahshon_Wright
+ 3 more evidence sources
info
“Washington, 67, told NBC News”
SINGLE SOURCE
The search results for 'Alabama' are irrelevant to Al Washington's age. No evidence provided confirms his age.
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Alabama (/ ˌæləˈbæmə / ⓘ, AL-ə-BAM-ə) [8] is a state in the Southeastern and Deep Southern regions of the United States. It borders Tennessee to the north, Georgia to the east, Florida and the Gulf of…
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alabama
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Get the latest Alabama news, sports, and breaking updates. View daily weather and top stories from Birmingham, Huntsville, Montgomery, and beyond on al.com.
https://www.al.com/
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web search NEUTRAL — 17 hours ago · Geographical and historical treatment of Alabama, including maps and a survey of its people, economy, and government. Admitted to the union in 1819 as the 22nd U.S. state, it was a batt…
https://www.britannica.com/place/Alabama-state
info
“Washington, who later played for the New York Jets.”
SINGLE SOURCE
The search results for 'New York Jets' are generic team links and do not confirm that Al Washington played for the team.
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web search NEUTRAL — Live news, investigations, opinion, photos and video by the journalists of The New York Times from more than 150 countries around the world.
https://www.nytimes.com/
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web search NEUTRAL — Welcome to the official YouTube page of the New York Jets. Subscribe to the New York Jets YouTube channel to watch our original, award-winning documentary series "One Jets Drive", highlights, press co…
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCROj9vBjc4ZW3AL4cd_BjHg
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web search NEUTRAL — Amari Cooper Plays Down Exhibition Debut For Raiders.
https://www.statsperform.com/
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“Washington and the other former OSU football players allege that Strauss sexually abused them under the guise of giving them the physicals they were required to undergo before they were allowed to play for OSU.”
CORROBORATED
Multiple sources (ESPN and other web results) confirm the allegation that Strauss abused athletes during required physical examinations.
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web search NEUTRAL — Dayton attorney Michael Wright said the abuse happened during required physical examinations at the Woody Hayes Athletic Center and during treatment for injuries and ailments at Dr. Richard Strauss' o…
https://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/26774872/os…
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web search NEUTRAL — Thirty former Ohio State University football players, including more than a dozen who went on to play in the NFL, signed on to the class action lawsuit brought by other ex-OSU students who say they we…
https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/dozen-former-nfl-player…
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web search NEUTRAL — (Ohio State University). Jordan, now chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, was OSU’s assistant wrestling coach from 1986 to 1994 during the time when Strauss allegedly abused athletes and other s…
https://www.aol.com/articles/former-osu-official-testified-d…
verified
“Washington, who runs a private insurance company in Columbus, Ohio”
VERIFIED
Three independent business listings (Yelp, Datanyze, and a direct business site) confirm that Al Washington Insurance is an agency based in Columbus, Ohio.
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web search NEUTRAL — Al Washington Insurance provides personal insurance such as home, life and auto, as well as business insurance to Columbus and throughout the state of Ohio.
https://alwashingtoninsurance.com/
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web search NEUTRAL — Al Washington Insurance Profile and History Al Washington Insurance is an independent agency based in Columbus, Ohio, providing a wide range of insurance solutions including personal coverage for home…
https://www.datanyze.com/companies/al-washington-insurance/3…
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web search NEUTRAL — Specialties: The The Al Washington Insurance Agency Ltd. is an independent agency serving clients in Ohio. The agency offers prompt, professional service for auto, home, business and life insurance co…
https://www.yelp.com/biz/al-washington-insurance-agency-colu…
help
“DiSabato went public in 2018 with allegations that Strauss sexually abused him and hundreds of other athletes and that the school knew about it but did nothing to stop him.”
INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE
No evidence was provided in the search results regarding Mike DiSabato's 2018 allegations.
help
“his son, also named Al Washington, who was then a linebackers coach at OSU and is now a linebackers coach for the Miami Dolphins.”
INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE
No evidence was provided in the search results regarding Al Washington Jr.'s coaching career at OSU or with the Miami Dolphins.
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“The university and its former president have previously publicly apologized “to each person who endured” abuse at the hands of Strauss.”
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“Ohio State has been battling Strauss-related lawsuits in the Southern District of Ohio since 2018.”
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“As of April 15, the school has settled with 317 survivors for more than $61 million, according to a spokesperson for OSU.”
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“the university is still facing five active lawsuits in the Southern District of Ohio from 236 men alleging Strauss abused them.”
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“Strauss, who died by suicide in 2005, preyed on hundreds of men from the mid-1970s to the late 1990s, according to an independent investigation sponsored by the university.”
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“The investigation, conducted by the Perkins Coie law firm, concluded in May 2019 that Strauss sexually abused at least 177 male athletes and students and that coaches and administrators knew about it for two decades but failed to stop him.”
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“Rep. Jim Jordan... was an assistant wrestling coach at Ohio State from 1986 to 1994.”
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“Jordan has repeatedly denied any knowledge of what Strauss allegedly did to the athletes and he is not named in the Perkins Coie report.”
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info Disclaimer: This analysis is generated by AI and should be used as a starting point for critical thinking, not as definitive truth. Claims are verified against publicly available sources. Always consult the original article and additional sources for complete context.