To: Ron Mix, Executive Board of the HOFPA, Joe Horrigan, Pro Football HOF Board, and Gene Upshaw
The article that appeared in the Charlotte Observer basically airs out what most former N.F.L. players have felt and feel about the role of the N.F.L., and N.F.L.P.A. and the H.O.F., but have never before gone public with their sentiments.
There comes a time in all important issues when there is a tipping point that cascades over the top, I think we are at the tipping point.
I am shocked at Gene Upshaw’s comments. Yes, it may be true that legally he doesn’t owe the retired players any representation -- but I thought Gene played in the N.F.L. with the now retired players, and I thought that Gene was initially elected Executive Director of the N.F.L.P.A. by the now retired players, and I thought he was elected to the Hall of Fame with other retired players. I guess Gene has a short memory for he now shrugs his shoulders, smiling with his 3 million dollar a year salary while some of his fellow N.F.L. retirees look day to day for a way to just survive.
I know that legally Upshaw doesn’t work for us and yes we can’t hire him or fire him and yes we can complain all day, but in the final analysis Gene Upshaw has turned a deaf ear to his comrades and has become an elitist while his teammates fight an uphill battle to live a life of dignity.
I would hope that Gene would retract his hard ass position and offer the retirees a platform to take up the issues that were expressed in the article.
The H.O.F. Players have taken a more active role in putting forth the issue of paying the expenses for any Hall of Famer who wants to attend the Induction Ceremony. It is my intention to push this issue and to resolve it by June.
What we the former players, including the H.O.F. Players, are asking for is to be treated with respect and not as a footnote.
I am dedicated to working with the Hall of Fame, the N.F.L. and the N.F.L.P.A. to achieve our stated goals and I hope the players quoted in the article will stand tall for those who can’t.
Sincerely,
Nick Buoniconti
The Buoniconti Fund to Cure Paralysis
The article that appeared in the Charlotte Observer basically airs out what most former N.F.L. players have felt and feel about the role of the N.F.L., and N.F.L.P.A. and the H.O.F., but have never before gone public with their sentiments.
There comes a time in all important issues when there is a tipping point that cascades over the top, I think we are at the tipping point.
I am shocked at Gene Upshaw’s comments. Yes, it may be true that legally he doesn’t owe the retired players any representation -- but I thought Gene played in the N.F.L. with the now retired players, and I thought that Gene was initially elected Executive Director of the N.F.L.P.A. by the now retired players, and I thought he was elected to the Hall of Fame with other retired players. I guess Gene has a short memory for he now shrugs his shoulders, smiling with his 3 million dollar a year salary while some of his fellow N.F.L. retirees look day to day for a way to just survive.
I know that legally Upshaw doesn’t work for us and yes we can’t hire him or fire him and yes we can complain all day, but in the final analysis Gene Upshaw has turned a deaf ear to his comrades and has become an elitist while his teammates fight an uphill battle to live a life of dignity.
I would hope that Gene would retract his hard ass position and offer the retirees a platform to take up the issues that were expressed in the article.
The H.O.F. Players have taken a more active role in putting forth the issue of paying the expenses for any Hall of Famer who wants to attend the Induction Ceremony. It is my intention to push this issue and to resolve it by June.
What we the former players, including the H.O.F. Players, are asking for is to be treated with respect and not as a footnote.
I am dedicated to working with the Hall of Fame, the N.F.L. and the N.F.L.P.A. to achieve our stated goals and I hope the players quoted in the article will stand tall for those who can’t.
Sincerely,
Nick Buoniconti
The Buoniconti Fund to Cure Paralysis
0 comments:
Post a Comment