What once started as a minor arthroscopic knee surgery has turned into the worst possible nightmare for all parties. Sharrif Floyd can no longer play football, and now he will sue one the most famous sports doctors and surgeons in the country for a massive amount of money because of it.
In September 2016, after playing just one game for the Minnesota Vikings that season, the 6-foot-3, 300-pound Floyd underwent a procedure that was supposed to sideline him for a few weeks. Turns out, it ended his career, and now the former first-round pick is filing a $180 million lawsuit against surgeon Dr. James Andrews and the Andrews Institute for Orthopedics & Sports Medicine.
The lawsuit alleges the now-27-year-old Floyd suffered permanent nerve damage and muscle damage following the procedure. It also alleges the damage in his right leg is believed to be the result of a negligently administered pain blocker by the Andrews Institute, according to NFL.com.
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This is not how the career of Floyd was supposed to end, and his lawyer, Brad Sohn, is ready to fight for the former Florida Gators All-American defensive lineman.
"If you break something, you pay for it. And this lawsuit seeks to hold the parties' responsible who we allege have done so. This guy went in for a routine knee scope and left without his incredibly lucrative career." — Brad Sohn
The No. 23 overall pick by the Vikings in the 2013 NFL Draft, Floyd registered 95 total tackles, including 9.5 tackles for loss, in 44 career games with 24 starts. He played only one game in 2016, missed the entire 2017 season, and was not re-signed by the team ahead of the 2018 season.
How much money will former Vikings defensive tackle Sharrif Floyd receive when it's all said and done? Well, they at least hope it's about the same he would have made as a strong NFL player in his prime.
