EX- CFL ALL- STAR ROB WOODWARD DEAD AT 72

Rod Woodward, a retired CFL East all-star defensive back and former head football coach at Simon Fraser University, died Tuesday in White Rock, B.C., of complications from a fall. Woodward, who turned 72 last Thursday, had been diagnosed with dementia and was part of a classaction lawsuit against the Canadian Football League. He was represented in the suit by his wife, Kay, who had power of attorney. The suit, which involves 200 ex-players, contends that the CFL and other defendants, including former commissioner Mark Cohon, withheld information about brain trauma that can lead to long-term cognitive problems. A native of Burnaby, B.C., Woodward, pictured, suited up for 138 games in the CFL from 1967-78, with the Montreal Alouettes, Ottawa Rough Riders, Calgary Stampeders and Hamilton Tiger- Cats.