WASHINGTON (AP) — A House committee that criticized the NFL's retiree benefit system ordered the league and the players' union Friday to turn over information on football injuries, the disability and retirement system and what's being done to help battered and broken retirees. A House committee that criticized the NFL's retiree benefit system ordered the league and the players' union Friday to turn over information on football injuries, the disability and retirement system and what's being done to help battered and broken retirees.

The House Judiciary Committee has arranged for the Congressional Research Service, an investigative and research unit, to conduct an independent study of those questions as well, committee leaders said in letters to the National Football League and the National Football League Players Association (NFLPA).

''Several members of the committee have suggested that Congress should intervene to fix what has been described as a broken system of delivering disability benefits to former NFL players,'' a letter from Reps. John Conyers, D-Mich., and Lamar Smith, R-Texas, said. ''The CRS study will provide the essential facts to help us consider what steps, if any, Congress could take on this issue in the future.'' Conyers is the committee chairman and Smith is the ranking GOP member.

The NFL and the union have until Oct. 26 to turn over the information and answer the committee's questions. The panel has not decided whether to hold additional hearings, a spokeswoman said.

''It is common for former players to suffer lingering injuries from their playing days,'' Conyers said. ''I am greatly concerned that many of those most debilitated by their injuries are finding it difficult to receive disability benefits.''

Added Smith: ''I am hopeful that the NFL and NFLPA will get their own house in order without any help from Congress.''