Workers’ Comp Case Puts Spotlight on Whether Player Is Team, or League Employee

A Florida state appeals court has reversed the opinion of a trial court, finding that a football player in a workers’ compensation case was not entitled to benefits after he was injured during a tryout with an Arena Football League (AFL) team.   In remanding the case back to the trial court, the panel of judges reasoned that the claimant was not entitled to workers' compensation benefits because the league did not sign the standard player contract, and, thus, the claimant was not an emplo