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Current, Former NFL Players In Tallahassee Seeking Justice For Darling Family

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TALLAHASSEE (CBSMiami) – Current and former NFL players will be in Tallahassee on Tuesday seeking justice for one of their own.

Fifteen years ago an 18 year old freshman football player at Florida State University named Devaughn Darling collapsed and died while doing a series of intense conditioning drills.

It happened on February 26th of 2001.

Darling's family, including his twin brother Devard who played in the NFL, is still waiting for Florida Legislature to sign off on a settlement deal that was reached in a wrongful death lawsuit which was filed three years after Devaughn's death.

The family is still awaiting hearings on the claim bill necessary to pay the settlement, SB 16, and the House measure, HB 3513.

SB 16 is sponsored by Senate Democratic Leader Arthenia Joyner and HB 3513 is sponsored by Rep. Mia Jones.

In order to spur legislative action, several current and former NFL players will join the Darling family, Leader Joyner, Rep. Jones and attorney Willie E. Gary  in a press conference seeking answers for the long delay.

The event is being held on Tuesday at 1 p.m. in front of Senate Chambers on the fourth floor of the Florida Capitol building in Tallahassee.

Some of the current and former NFL players attending the press conference are Corey Simon, Nick Maddox, Greg Jones, Myron Rolle, Jesse Solomon, Atrews Bell, Peter Boulware and Leroy Butler.

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