A jury ordered Bill Romanowski to pay former Oakland Raiders teammate Marcus Williams US$340,000 in damages for punching him during a practice.
Williams had been seeking millions of dollars in damages for the Aug. 24, 2003, attack, saying it broke his left eye socket, shortened his memory, gave him double vision and depression, and ended his career after less than two seasons.
"We are very pleased with the verdict because it establishes that there are limits to the violence in football," said Williams' attorney, James Brosnahan.
Williams received US$40,000 in medical expenses and US$300,000 for lost wages -- about one season's salary.
Jurors reached their verdict after deliberating two days. Romanowski showed no visible emotion as the verdict was read; his wife gave him a hug.
Neither side said it plans to appeal.
"If Marcus Williams would have come to us then and said write us a check for US$340,000 this would have been done in a heart beat," said Romanowski's attorney, Jeffrey Springer. "There was never an opportunity in this case to settle this case or resolve it for anything other than millions of dollars."
During the trial, Williams testified that after he blocked Romanowski during a running drill, Romanowski grabbed his helmet and then ripped it off before the crushing blow was delivered. Romanowski told jurors he did punch Williams in the face, but did not remember much more about the fight.
Williams also testified his life has now turned into nightmare, with no real hopes of playing football, and that he sees Romanowski in his dreams.
"He is satisfied that we established what we set out to establish ... that what Romanowski did was wrong," Brosnahan said.
Romanowski was fined more than US$100,000 during his career in the NFL.
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