Good evening and tonight americas biggest game is generating the biggest headline, a massive settlement between the National Football league and thousands of former players. Some of them the best players in the game who say theyre now living with devastation from all those concussions in the sport they loved. These are the numbers tonight. The nfl promising 765 million in more than 4,500 lawsuits from retired players. Is this enough money and is money alone enough . Dan harris right here and hes been covering the story all day. Reporter this is a story that has provoked so many visceral emotions. You have a league thats a profitgenerating machine, fans that really love the hard hits and the former players who took those blows to the head for our entertainment now paying a very high price. Reporter todays settlement removes for now an issue that could have threatened the very existence of pro football and will bring immediate medical and Financial Relief for former players dealing with injuries they believe are the result of onfield concussions. Former players like running back kevin turner, a 44yearold hobbled by als. You can get on with trading your problems and not worried about having the money. Reporter according to espn sports science, big blows like this can be the equivalent of taking a sledge hammer to the head. More than 4,500 former players sued the nfl, as well as the families of players like junior seau who committed suicide and was later found to have a brain disease called cte. Which has been linked to concussions. There were allegations that the nfl deliberately covered up the risk, from players like jim mcmahon whose girlfriend now has to program his home address into the gps in his car so he doesnt get lost. They knew about it and they didnt tell us. Thats just like flat out lying to you, looking in your face and lying to you. Not having to open up its files, not having to open up its books, the nfl gets a chance to not be examined in a way that could have been very embarrassing. Reporter in your Court Filings you wrote,the nfl glorified the hyperviolent collisions most likely to lead to head trauma and orchestrated a Disinformation Campaign to conceal the resulting brain injuries. By settling have you let them off the hook . No. Unless somebody thinks paying 760 million is letting them off the hook. Then by that definition, yeah, but we didnt. Reporter critics say the settlement is too small but the money will bring immediate relief for the leagues 19,000 former players, every one of whom will be eligible for a medical exam. Those with Cognitive Impairment will get further testing and treatment and those with serious illnesses will get up to 5 million. The settlement does not require the nfl to make any safety le changes to reduce concussions so when the season kicks off next week it will be business as issue. Nonetheless, the settlement raises awareness on an issue that does not go away. The players keep getting bigger and the hits keep getting harder. And the questions keep getting bigger, too. Thank you, dan. Minutes ago i had a chance to talk to Espns Chris Mortensen who has been covering the nfl for decades. How is everybody supposed to feel about that tonight . Without question people believe this is a win for the nfl owners, the 32 owners, that its a win. I spoke to the former Nfl Players Association president , former player, now retired who is part of this group, and he said in essence, the nfl didnt have to admit they had wrongdoing. We had no discovery. He said what i call this is hush money. Thats the thing, when we look back five or ten years from now, did anything change for the game today . I think the only thing that changed is for the people who were impacted many years ago who are suffering today and rather than be in the grave and have gotten nothing, getting the type of medical care that they need now, whether through dementia or alzheimers or whatever problems theyre suffering, they now get some financial means to take care of those issues. For the players going forward, thats what a guy like kevin mawae was saying. He said when im more informed, better educated, i can make better decisions. By having no discovery, paying this hush money and by us taking this hush money in the settlement, we dont know what the repercussions are going to be. There are a lot of players that have risk and i think they do feel they are addressing the culture of football and theyre starting at a younger level and going forward. Its probably going to take 10, 15, 20 years to solve all the problems. This was a big headline today, a lot of people arguing about it tonight. Thats for sure. Thank you so much, chris. Great to talk to you. Thank you, diane. Now we turn to the other big news tonight, the u. S. Military strike on syria tonight. The White House Briefing congress on the chemical weapons there. And what a u. S. Strike could accomplish. Our Team Coverage begins with abcs Senior National correspondent jim avila at the white house for us. Reporter just as the Obama Administration begins to brief the congress Via Teleconference tonight, a huge and stemming blow from britain. The British Parliament has decided that it will not support any military action in syria, leaving president obama to act alone. The president behind a closed door meeting with members of his National Security team and already labeled the unhappy warrior by time magazine, promising any military action will be limited and tailored. Today his spokesman emphasizing to a warweary American People the u. S. Is not planning an allout attack of syria or military attempt to topple bashar assad. What were talking about here is something thats very discrete and limited. Reporter the white house making the case Syrian Chemical Weapons threaten our allies, turkey, jordan, israel, our military bases, and embassies in the middle east and to the world in gchb because allowing their use by syria only encourages other dictators and terrorists. The chairman of the House Intelligence Committee says he agrees, but wants more consultation with congress before the president acts. This is as serious as it gets. Youre going to engage the u. S. Military. There are consequences for doing that and there are also consequences for not doing it. Reporter as part of that effort to connect with congress, the president did call Speaker Boehner himself today and as far as that Late Development involving britain, obama aides tell abc news the president is willing to act with or without britain and the United States will, in fact, respond. Even if that means using the military, the president is willing to use it alone. Diane . It is a big and complicated vote from the british tonight. Thank you so much, jim. Now, what about the man who has placed his country right in the bulls eye. Tonight we have more about the leader of syria, educated in the west, who once told me he didnt believe in violence. So what changed . Abcs terry moran covering the region from beirut tonight. Reporter today in damascus, while u. N. Inspectors made another of their grisly rounds wearing gas masks, collecting samples just a few miles away, president bashar assad was shown on syrian Tv Addressing his troops still defiant, still looking very president ial. He was once a man who just wanted to be an eye doctor and who told diane sawyer in 2007 he was a man of peace. We are against violence in general and we denounce violence in general. We dont believe in violence. Reporter assads an accidental dictator. He was a young doctor in london when his older brother died in a car crash, making bashar next in line to rule syria after his father died in 2000. He met his chic wife asma in london she of the chanel suits and Christian Louboutin shoes even featured in vogue magazine as a desert rose. They seemed so modern. People talked of a damascus spring when he came to power. And they even have an instagram account, recently posting pictures of asma at a soup kitchen. He likes to drive his own car, but now he and his family are mostly hunkered down. Even his own mother has left the country as he wages his merciless war. Last year, a hacked email from assad to his wife surfaced. Hed sent her country star Blake Sheltons song, god gave me you, which includes the lines ive made a mess of me the person that ive been lately aint who i wanna be reporter hes a changed man, for sure. And some who know bashar assad say one reason is the past two years of grinding, desperate civil war. Hes fighting for power, for survival. And they say, hes become the ruthless dictator he wasnt meant to be like his father. Diane . Terry moran, great to have you reporting from beirut tonight. And the question of jobs next across america tonight. A lot of people at the drivethrough window at your favorite Fast Food Restaurant are asking the question what is a fair living wage . People on minimum wage went on strike today. They now earn 7. 25 an hour and theyre asking for twice that. 15. Abcs chief business and economics correspondent rebecca jarvis. Reporter outrage in chicago, indianapolis and los angeles today. Employees at 1,000 Fast Food Restaurants in 50 cities walking out of work and onto picket lines, even forcing some to shut down. My whole household of seven people are surviving on 8 an hour. Were barely holding our head over water. You pay one bill or try to put food in the house, thats the end of it. Reporter demanding the minimum wage more than double from 7. 25 an hour to 15. Is it possible . For a burger off the dollar menu, mcdonalds pays about 34 cents for the cost of food, 23 cents in rent. 25 cents goes to hourly workers leaving 18 cents of profit. Analysts say even if mcdonalds wanted to, it couldnt afford to pay employees double without raising prices. How much higher would prices go . About 25 percent. So that dollar menu item would go up to 1. 25. Mcdonalds says it aims to offer competitive pay and benefits to our employees, but thats hard for this working mom to swallow. Come down and try to live my life for a day and see what i go through, see my reality and see if you can handle it. Reporter rebecca jarvis, abc news, new york. Today legalized marijuana got a break from the u. S. Government which decided not to challenge the states which have laws permitting Recreational Use of the drug, specifically washington and colorado. The Department Said prosecution would not be a good use of federal funds and that decision could make it easier for other states to legalize marijuana, too. Now, it is considered a secret of a lot of american lives, how many people get into bed every night and take a sleeping pill. Abcs linsey davis has our story. Reporter it appears we are a nation of insomniacs with a tendency to pop pills, desperate for some shuteye. A new cdc report indicates about 9 million americans admit to taking a sleep drug in the past 30 days. Are sleeping pills overprescribed in this country . I think they are. A lot of times people dont try other methods first. Reporter in fact, america filled 60 million prescriptions for sleeping pills last year alone. We are among the most sleep medicated countries in the world. We are 24houraday country. Were always on demand. Reporter evidence of the widespread use is prevalent on facebook where people post comments like, cant fall asleep, taking my ambien, lights out, yall. And, ambien, i got to agree that i have a lovehate thing with you. Im talking to a doctor about getting off of you. You have people who want to get off of it . All the time. Thats the majority of patients i see. Reporter not being able to sleep can be a real curse, affecting a persons ability to function. Research shows sleep aides do work, allowing us to catch some much needed zs. But is a druginduced sleep as good as falling asleep the Old Fashioned way . There are a lot of people who feel like it is real sleep, but a lot of people who dont feel like the sleep quality they get is really good. Reporter dr. Shelby harris points out that only a limited number of studies have looked at the longterm effects of chronic use. Thats something people dont seem to loose sleep over as they pop another pill. Linsey davis, abc news, new york. Still ahead right here on world news, an abc news exclusive, behind the headlines, the wife of George Zimmerman, what she says happened the night before Trayvon Martin was shot. And the man who created his own field of dreams, the team he put together is america strong. A body at rest tends to stay at rest. While a body in motion tends to stay in motion. Staying active can actually ease arthritis symptoms. But if you have arthritis, staying active can be difficult. Prescription celebrex can help relieve arthritis pain so your body can stay in motion. Because just one 200mg celebrex a day can provide 24 hour relief for many with arthritis pain and inflammation. Plus, in clinical studies, celebrex is proven to improve daily physical function so moving is easier. Celebrex can be taken with or without food. And its not a narcotic. You and your doctor should balance the benefits with the risks. All prescription nsaids, like celebrex, ibuprofen, naproxen and meloxicam have the same cardiovascular warning. They all may increase the chance of heart attack or stroke, which can lead to death. This chance increases if you have Heart Disease or risk factors such as high Blood Pressure or when nsaids are taken for long periods. Nsaids, like celebrex, increase the chance of serious skin or allergic reactions, or stomach and intestine problems, such as bleeding and ulcers, which can occur without warning and may cause death. Patients also taking aspirin and the elderly are at increased risk for stomach bleeding and ulcers. Dont take celebrex if you have bleeding in the stomach or intestine, or had an asthma attack, hives, other allergies to aspirin, nsaids or sulfonamides. Get help right away if you have swelling of the face or throat, or trouble breathing. Tell your doctor your medical history. And find an Arthritis Treatment for you. Visit celebrex. Com and ask your doctor about celebrex. For a body in motion. Thats why theres a new duracell battery. Duracell quantum. With its high density core, its a quantum leap in battery power. Power. In the hands of the most powerful. Duracell. Trusted everywhere. Next tonight an abc news exclusive, the wife of George Zimmerman talking about the shooting of Trayvon Martin, the event that divided america. Abcs gio benitez takes us behind those headlines. Reporter George Zimmermans wife shellie remembers enduring one of the most explosive trials ever. We lived in a 20foot trailer in the woods, scared every night that someone was going to find us and that it would be horrific. Reporter in an exclusive interview with Investigative ReporterChristie Oconnor who is writing a book on the trial, she says she wasnt home the night george shot 17yearold Trayvon Martin. I was staying at my fathers house. We had gotten into an argument the night before and i left. Reporter then in july when zimmerman was acquitted not guilty. The deputies were so afraid of people shooting into the windows of the courthouse that they were pushing us up against the wall so we couldnt be seen by the people outside, thinking that at any second my life could be over. Reporter earlier this week shellie was back in that same courtroom where she stood by her husband, pleading guilty to perjury. Noticeably absent, George Zimmerman. Whats your future with george . I dont know. Of course i want to have children and stay married. With george . Thats something im going to have to think about. Is he a very changed man from the guy you fell in love with and married . Yes. In what ways . Im not going to answer that right now. Reporter gio benitez, abc news, new york. And when we come back here, one of the tiniest hands ever to grip a doctors finger in a surgical glove. Well see what baby faith looks like now. If youre looking for help relieving heartburn, caused by acid reflux disease, relief is at hand. For many, nexium provides 24hour heartburn relief and may be available for just 18 a month. There is risk of bone fracture and low magnesium levels. Side effects may include headache, abdominal pain, and diarrhea. If you have persistent diarrhea, contact your doctor right away. Other serious stomach conditions may exist. Dont take nexium if you take clopidogrel. Relief is at hand for just 18 a month. Talk to your doctor about nexium. You feel. Squeezed. Congested. Beat down. Crushed. As if the weight of the world is resting on your face. But sudafed gives you maximum strength sinus pressure and pain relief. So you feel free. Liberated. Released. Decongested. Open for business. [ inhales, exhales ] [ male announcer ] powerful sinus relief from the 1 pharmacist recommended brand. Sudafed. Open up. Hands, for holding. Feet, kicking. Better things than the joint pain and swelling of moderate to severe rheumatoid arthritis. If youre trying to manage your ra, now may be the time to ask about xeljanz. Xeljanz tofacitinib is a small pill for adults with moderate to severe ra for whom methotrexate did not work well. Xeljanz is an ra medicine that can enter cells and disrupt jak pathways, thought to play a role in the inflammation that comes with ra. Xeljanz can lower your ability to fight infections, including tuberculosis. Serious, sometimes fatal infections and cancers have happened in patients taking xeljanz. Dont start taking xeljanz if you have any kind of infection, unless ok with your doctor. Tears in the stomach or intestines, low blood cell counts and higher liver tests and cholesterol levels have happened. Your doctor should perform blood tests, including certain liver tests before you start, and while you are taking xeljanz. Tell your doctor if you have been to a region where certain fungal infections are common, and if you have had tb, hepatitis b or c, or are prone to infections. Tell your doctor about all the medicines you take, and if you are pregnant, or plan to be. Taken twice daily, xeljanz can reduce the joint pain and swelling of moderate to severe ra, even without methotrexate. Ask if xeljanz is right for you. Our instant index begins with a tiny hand holding on for dear life to a doctors finger in a green surgical glove. Do you remember back in march when a baby was born four months premature weighing 15 ounces, less than a pound of bread . Are you ready . There she is five months later, a Perfect Little girl, one of the tiniest ever to survive. Doctors had little hope, but her mother had a dream that god would take care of her and named the baby faith. Also tonight are you ready for the new survey of the people we just love to hate . The Reputation Institution says once again right at the bottom of our list, congress has the worst reputation. Five years after the financial crises, banks are a close second. And we dont like our cell phone and Cable Companies much either. A full disclosure, by the way, journalists dont exactly get a valentine. We have proof tonight that this is still a large planet with some very strange traditions. Yesterday a little spanish town did what theyve done every year for 68 straight years. They choose a day in which neighbors pelt neighbors with tomatoes. Its the peak of the harvest and a tradition that draws tens of thousands. They even set up portable showers all over town when its over. When we come back next a man who really believes if he built it, they would come. Its america strong. [ female announcer ] love. Its the most powerful thing on the planet. Love holds us in the beginning. Comforts us as we grow old. Love is the reason you care. For all the things in your life. That make life worth living. Sweet love of mine the coffee you drink adds up over the years. Causing deep, setin stains. Crest 3d White Whitestrips go beyond where most toothpastes can reach, safely removing stains below the enamel surface to whiten as well as a 500 treatment. Crest 3d White Whitestrips. I took my son fishing every year. We had a great spot, not easy to find, but worth it. But with copd making it hard to breathe, i thought those days might be over. So my doctor prescribed symbicort. It helps significantly improve my lung function starting within five minutes. Symbicort doesnt replace a rescue inhaler for sudden symptoms. With symbicort, today im breathing better. And that means. Fish on symbicort is for copd including chronic bronchitis and emphysema. It should not be taken more than twice a day. Symbicort may increase your risk of lung infections, osteoporosis, and some eye problems. Tell your doctor if you have a heart condition or high Blood Pressure before taking it. With copd, i thought id miss our family tradition. Now symbicort significantly improves my lung function, starting within 5 minutes. And that makes a difference in my breathing. Today, were ready for whatever swims our way. Ask your doctor about symbicort. I got my first prescription free. Call or click to learn more. [ male announcer ] if you cant afford your medication, astrazeneca may be able to help. [ male announcer ] if you cant afford your medication, fby eating healthier, drinking plenty of water, but still not getting relief . Try dulcolax laxative tablets. Dulcolax is comfortcoated for gentle, overnight relief. Dulcolax. Predictable overnight relief you can count on. Finally tonight a man with his own field of dreams. It began with empty bases and a ball and a unique group of players who came to play. Abcs Clayton Sandell on the team and the man who brought them together. They are america strong. Reporter riding around his Old Neighborhood my father once lived in that house. Reporter Joe Carabello became alarmed at the number of Homeless People in denver, many of them living next to empty baseball parks. That gave carabello, a successful real estate developer, an idea. Would you like a ball . Reporter using his unique calling card, softballs marked with the time and date, carabello hit the street, hoping to recruit enough players for a weekly game. Do you like to play ball . Its fun. We have all the equipment. You want to pitch . Okay. Reporter kind of like the movie field of dreams. If joe built it, would they come . But slowly word spread. To places like the parking garage where Rose Henderson lives alone after losing her job six months ago. I just pray that things will change. Reporter now, every tuesday, she joins dozens of players on joes field. Buy me some peanuts and cracker jacks reporter to play. For each player, the game means something different. Reporter ricky gessick, a former marine finds time out from the struggles of the street. When you feel like the world landed on top of your head, having somebody encourage you for one quick minute can turn that road around. Reporter for third baseman sean thomas the game means getting back on his feet. Joe is helping him find his job. They have a lot of openings. Reporter for rose its about belonging. Im part of a team. Part of society again. I love it. Reporter on Joe Carabellos diamond in the rough. Helping make others america strong. Clayton sandell, abc news, denver. We thank clayton and we thank you for watching. We always have the latest at abcnews. Com. Nightline will be here later and world news will be back tomorrow night. Good night. Were live at the bay bridge tonight youll see what theyve accomplished so far. How much luck bay area drivers are having navigating bridge autos what its been like to cross the bay on bart and remarkable numbers theyve tallied so far during the shut down. Well give you a look at what is going to happen, and when after 76 years. From sky 7 hd, tonight, video of the bay bridge like youve never seen it before. The oakland end of the old bridge now being stripped to its gerters and taken apart. Good evening, im ama daets. Im carolyn johnson. Caltrans says the project is running on time and has been problem free so far. The new bridge on the left side, you can see the s curve on the right. No back up at the toll plaza as you can see from this live camera. Only vehicles here are being used by crews. The bridge will be closed for another four days. And here is a look at San Francisco side of the bridge also void of traffic. That is scheduled to happen by 5 00 a. M. Tuesday. Lets begin our coverage with look at time lapse video you wont see much of a change this in this video. But were now 22 hours into the project with up to four and a half days before the new bridge opens. Were live now with a late update from caltrans. The toll plaza approach here is basically an asphalt Truck Parking lot now for new paving here. This is not a part of the new bridge property. But wont it be nice to have a new approach to the land