[Hammock Parties]

http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2013/...a-replacement/

NEW ORLEANS — The NFL Players Association wants the Chargers' team doctor replaced, and it wants it now.

The union has formally requested the league find a "suitable replacement" for Dr. David Chao, said George Attalah, the NFLPA's assistant executive director of external affairs. He could not specify the timing of the request.

His comments came following the player union's annual Super Bowl press conference, held Thursday inside the Morial Convention Center. Player health was the primary topic, and during and after the hour-long event, sentiment for Chao's removal was expressed among the NFLPA's leaders.

"He has a clear track record of misconduct," NFLPA President Domonique Foxworth said. "It's unfortunate for the guys who play there. It's something that we can't control, but we can definitely put pressure to improve. We're trying now. I don't know that it's appropriate to talk about all the steps we're taking, but the first step is that we're making people aware."

NFLPA Executive Director DeMaurice Smith singled out Chao during the press conference.

The presentation included a slideshow detailing the results of a recent internal survey. NFL players were asked to characterize how much they trust their team doctor.

Of those sampled, 78 percent responded a five on a five-point scale, an indication of "not at all."

"There is a team doctor named Dr. Chao who is currently the San Diego team doctor," Smith said, "who has been found liable of medical malpractice twice — twice. The same doctor was the subject of a DEA investigation. He's still the San Diego Chargers team doctor.

"Now, I'm not a doctor. I don't even play one on TV. But it seems to me that the players of the National Football League deserve to have a doctor who's not been found liable of malpractice, and that's within the last year."

A team spokesman was asked to respond to the NFLPA's comments.

He said the Chargers are still gathering information about what was said.