U.S. District Judge Anita B. Brody asked for more financial information from the parties, a week after players' lawyers filed a detailed payout plan for her review.

"I am primarily concerned that not all retired NFL football players who ultimately receive a qualifying diagnosis or their (families) ... will be paid," Brody wrote in a 12-page opinion filed Tuesday morning.

The proposed settlement, negotiated over several months, is designed to last at least 65 years.

The awards would vary based on an ex-player's age and diagnosis. A younger retiree with Lou Gehrig's disease would get $5 million, those with serious dementia cases would get $3 million and an 80-year-old with early dementia would get $25,000.

Some critics have argued that the NFL, with more than $9 billion in annual revenues, was getting away lightly. But the players' lawyers said they will face huge challenges just to get the case to trial. They would have to prove the injuries were linked to the players' NFL service and should not be handled through league arbitration.

Layn R. Phillips, a former federal judge from California hired by Brody to lead settlement negotiations, had called the deal fair.

The NFL would also pay an additional $112 million to the players' lawyers for their fees and expenses, for a total payout of nearly $900 million.

More than 4,500 former players have filed suit, some accusing the league of fraud for its handling of concussions. They include former Dallas Cowboys running back Tony Dorsett and Super Bowl-winning quarterback Jim McMahon, who suffers from dementia.

WHISENHUNT’S ‘CHEMISTRY’

New Tennessee coach Ken Whisenhunt says one thing he's learned about the NFL is the importance of chemistry, and he decided the Titans were the best fit for his second chance to run a team.

The Titans introduced Whisenhunt on Tuesday as their 17th head coach and only their third different coach since moving to Tennessee.

Whisenhunt said he hit it off quickly with general manager Ruston Webster. The coach also had interest from Detroit and Cleveland but said feeling comfortable with an organization is important to him at this point in his career.

"I felt great about Ruston, about that working relationship. "And I have tremendous confidence in Mr. (Tommy) Smith and he wants to win," Whisenhunt said of the Titans' president and chief executive officer. "And I'm excited about that."

Webster said it was a fast and furious process picking a new coach after parting with Mike Munchak on Jan. 4.

The general manager believes Whisenhunt is an excellent fit for the Titans and to create a new culture around the organization. Tennessee is coming off a 7-9 record and are 36-44 over the past five seasons since the Titans' last playoff appearance.

ESPN.com reported the Titans offered Whisenhunt $1 million more a year than the Detroit Lions. Neither Whisenhunt, Webster nor Smith would comment when asked how long the new coach's contract is.

"A recruiting pitch wasn't necessarily needed there," Webster said of landing Whisenhunt. "It was just more about ... talking football and philosophy and direction, and I do think we bring a lot to the table with this team and this city. There is a lot to sell here."

YOUNGSTERS IN DRAFT

The NFL draft is getting younger and younger — this year is the youngest ever.

With a day remaining before the Jan. 15 deadline ends, a record 88 underclassmen have declared for the 2014 NFL draft. Last year, there were 73 who left school with eligibility remaining. The two previous classes were 65 and 56.

Are players getting that much better? Or are they just more eager for an opportunity, so much so that they are unwilling to wait another year?

Last year, of the 73 who declared early, 21 went undrafted.

Based on the latest Mock Draft by Sporting News, 18 underclassmen are projected to go in the first round.

Setting the pace for the group are defensive end Jadeveon Clowney, quarterback Johnny Manziel and quarterback Teddy Bridgewater. Manziel would have been a fourth-year junior had he stayed in school.

Contributors: Rana L. Cash, The Associated Press