20 May 2014
Last updated at 16:21 ET
Richard Dent, one of the lawsuit's plaintiffs, is a member of the league's Hall of Fame
The players named in the suit say they were given narcotics
and other drugs without a prescription, and had health issues and
addictions as a result.
A NFL spokesman said their lawyers had not yet reviewed the lawsuit.
The league previously settled a case that accused it of concealing it knew the risks of multiple concussions.
It settled that lawsuit for $765m (£454m), without admitting wrongdoing.
In a complaint filed on Tuesday in a US court, lawyers for the eight named players said the NFL had "intentionally, recklessly and negligently created and maintained a culture of drug misuse, substituting players' health for profit".
The retired players include three members of the NFL champions 1985 Chicago Bears - Richard Dent, Keith Van Horne and Jim McMahon.
In addition to unspecified financial damages, the players are seeking to require the NFL to create a testing and monitoring programme to help prevent addiction and health issues from the use of painkillers.
"The NFL knew of the debilitating effects of these drugs on all of its players and callously ignored the players' long-term health in its obsession to return them to play," Steven Silverman, a lawyer for the players said in a statement.
Mr McMahon alleges said he suffered a broken neck and ankle during his time in the NFL, but was never told about those injuries by team doctors. Instead he received medications and returned to play.
The complaint also alleges Mr Van Horne played an entire season on a broken leg, and was not told about the injury for five years "during which time he was fed a constant diet of pills to deal with the pain".
And former player JD Hill allegedly "received hundreds, if not thousands, of pills from trainers and doctors, including but not limited to NSAIDs [anti-inflammatory drugs], codeine, Valium and Librium", without a prescription or warning of potential side effects.
Mr Hill said he left the NFL - after a career in the 1970s - addicted to painkillers, and became homeless as a result.
In a statement to the Associated Press news agency, NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy said: "We have not seen the lawsuit, and our attorneys have not had an opportunity to review it."
NFL players sue league over painkillers
Richard Dent, one of the lawsuit's plaintiffs, is a member of the league's Hall of Fame
A
group of retired American football players have sued the National
Football League, claiming it illegally gave them painkillers to keep
them playing.
A NFL spokesman said their lawyers had not yet reviewed the lawsuit.
The league previously settled a case that accused it of concealing it knew the risks of multiple concussions.
It settled that lawsuit for $765m (£454m), without admitting wrongdoing.
In a complaint filed on Tuesday in a US court, lawyers for the eight named players said the NFL had "intentionally, recklessly and negligently created and maintained a culture of drug misuse, substituting players' health for profit".
The retired players include three members of the NFL champions 1985 Chicago Bears - Richard Dent, Keith Van Horne and Jim McMahon.
Former NFL quarterback Jim McMahon (centre) was also a plaintiff on the NFL concussions lawsuit
The suit seeks class-action status, and says more than 500 other former NFL players have signed up.In addition to unspecified financial damages, the players are seeking to require the NFL to create a testing and monitoring programme to help prevent addiction and health issues from the use of painkillers.
"The NFL knew of the debilitating effects of these drugs on all of its players and callously ignored the players' long-term health in its obsession to return them to play," Steven Silverman, a lawyer for the players said in a statement.
Mr McMahon alleges said he suffered a broken neck and ankle during his time in the NFL, but was never told about those injuries by team doctors. Instead he received medications and returned to play.
The complaint also alleges Mr Van Horne played an entire season on a broken leg, and was not told about the injury for five years "during which time he was fed a constant diet of pills to deal with the pain".
And former player JD Hill allegedly "received hundreds, if not thousands, of pills from trainers and doctors, including but not limited to NSAIDs [anti-inflammatory drugs], codeine, Valium and Librium", without a prescription or warning of potential side effects.
Mr Hill said he left the NFL - after a career in the 1970s - addicted to painkillers, and became homeless as a result.
In a statement to the Associated Press news agency, NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy said: "We have not seen the lawsuit, and our attorneys have not had an opportunity to review it."
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From other news sites
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Reuters UK UPDATE 1-Ex-football players sue NFL, claiming 'culture of drug misuse' 1 hr ago
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Cape Times American football players sue NFL 4 hrs ago
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Huffington Post Canada Ex-players say in lawsuit that NFL illegally used painkillers to mask injuries 5 hrs ago
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Dallas Morning News* Ex-players' lawsuit: NFL illegally used risky drugs on athletes that led to medical issues 5 hrs ago
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ESPN.com NFL illegally supplied risky painkilling drugs, former players allege in suit 6 hrs ago
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