Mealey's (February 23, 2021, 1:18 PM EST) -- SAN FRANCISCO — A federal judge in California on Feb. 19 denied the National Football League’s (NFL) motion to dismiss a third amended complaint by retired players who allege that they were supplied strong prescription pain medications to allow them to return to play, resulting in injuries to players that affected them even after retirement, noting that the case has been to the appeals court twice where earlier dismissals were not affirmed and that the NFL’s arguments regarding preemption may be again raised on summary judgment or at trial....