Retired players face gloomy days

Pain can be mental as well as physical after NFL stint ends

Don Pierson
Published May 31, 2006

When retired players convene Thursday in Phoenix for their NFL Players Association meeting, they will find out they are just as likely as anybody else to suffer from mental issues such as depression.

"You could say retired football players are at least as likely to be depressed as the general population, or they may be even a touch more likely, but it's not hugely less or hugely more in either direction," said Thomas Schwenk of the Depression Center at the University of Michigan medical school, which conducted a recent survey.

To former player Andre Collins, director of retired players for the NFLPA, this is good news.

"We just completed the study," Collins said. "I'm not sure where we're going to go with it. For me personally, it was comforting to know--and I want to reiterate--that the risk of this occurring is basically the same as the general population."

To former Bears player Bob Kilcullen, who has suffered from depression since before starting his career in the 1950s, it's a long-overdue study that could help hundreds, maybe thousands, like him.

"I didn't consider it a big problem in those days," Kilcullen said. "I just dealt with it."

To Schwenk, it's a chance for the Michigan Depression Center to address the group and offer the possibility of an interactive educational DVD.

"I think most of us have the idea these are elite athletes, [so] they have no right to be depressed, no reason to be depressed," Schwenk said. "We just want to highlight the fact that everybody has a reason to be depressed."

Schwenk said he got an unusually high 50 percent response from the 3,400 questionnaires sent to retired NFLPA members. There are about 10,000 more retired NFL players who aren't union members. The surveys were self-reported, so Schwenk cannot verify the results, but he found:

"Roughly 20 percent of retired players who have a real high level of misery and dysfunction and life difficulty, and they're kind of dumped out there without a lot of resources. Roughly 15 percent scored in the moderate to severe range in terms of depression symptoms. If we took that group and interviewed them in a more clinical and structured way, probably half to two-thirds of those--maybe 7, 8, 10 percent--would actually be labeled or meet criteria for having a label of clinical depression. That's a touch more than the general population."

Two issues make the survey of pro football players unique and may exacerbate issues of mental health, according to the doctor. One is the short career span that accelerates dramatic lifestyle transitions. The other is pain.

"These people have a high level of muscular-skeleton injury disability and pain and dysfunction--the whole group, across the board," Schwenk said. "Some are coping better than others. Pain is a huge issue. This is a remarkable group of people who go from one day being an elite athlete to the next day literally disabled."

Kilcullen, who played on the 1963 Bears' title team, coped by becoming an artist whose work has received critical acclaim. Schwenk said Kilcullen's art will be displayed at the Depression Center.

Said Kilcullen: "I think sometimes it's in the personality of guys who play the game. It's overachievement. I was driven from very early on, and I didn't know why. My hands used to shake in college when I was in art class, and that's not good. I went to psychiatrists to see what was wrong with me, and none could really tell me. I couldn't sleep."

Schwenk said the survey elicited an unusual flood of responses.

"Phone calls from wives [of] players, [saying], `This is so important. I'm glad you're doing this. How can I get help for my husband?'" Schwenk said.

"Then we got a few who said, `I've had a really good life, and I don't feel this is something that applies to me.' You get this real schism between this 20 percent group that is really miserable [with] a high level of dysfunction and the rest of the group that made a lot of money and moved on with life."

Three years ago, former quarterback Terry Bradshaw revealed he has been clinically depressed and was promoting the drug Paxil.

"I remember sitting there so many times in Pittsburgh, and you know what I was wishing?" Bradshaw said. "I was wishing for my career to hurry up and get over with so I could get out of Dodge."

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dpierson@tribune.com

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Kramer Auctions Ring to Help Ex-Players

By JOHN HARTZELL Associated Press Writer
© 2006 The Associated Press

MILWAUKEE — Former Green Bay Packers star Jerry Kramer understands why some people would find it hard to believe there are needy retired NFL players.

With today's multimillion dollar salaries, many current players will never need help financially.

But Kramer, who played for Vince Lombardi's Packers from 1958 to 1968, said that's not the case for a number of those who played in his era.

Kramer, 70, who lives in Boise, Idaho, said he earned $8,000 in his first year in the league and got a $300 raise in the second year before his salary jumped to $9,000 annually when he was All-Pro in his third year. He eventually earned $27,000 to $28,000 a year before retiring.

Many players from his era began drawing pensions at age 45, he said, only to see them drop dramatically when they turned 62 and could start drawing Social Security. And a number are without private medical insurance, he said.

With that in mind, he put up for auction this week a replica of his ring from the first Super Bowl to raise money to help older former players. He had the ring made after the original disappeared 25 years ago _ only to resurface recently on an Internet auction.

"I have always felt great concern and frustration regarding the condition of some of the retired players who helped build the league," Kramer said when he announced he was putting the ring up for auction.

After the auction closed Friday night, Kramer said the final bid was $22,634, and the ring goes to a Green Bay man whose name wasn't immediately released.

"I'm pretty pleased with everything. It's been an amazing series of events for me, from the ring returning," he said.

NFL spokesman Greg Aiello said last week that those who played prior to 1959 were not originally in the NFL pension plan, although they were added years ago. The league spends $5 million a month on retirement and disability benefits for more than 2,500 players, he said.

Kramer said his pension dropped from $454 a month to $158 when he turned 62. He said the NFL also adds $200 per month for the single year he played prior to 1959.

Kramer's original Super Bowl ring disappeared in 1981 when he removed it to wash his hands on an airline flight.

The ring showed up last month in an auction on the Web site of Mastro Auctions Inc. of Burr Ridge, Ill. Kramer contacted Mastro after a former teammate's son told him about it. Mastro president Doug Allen then pulled the ring from auction.

Allen said he bought the ring from the person who had put it up for auction through his business, and turned it over to Kramer at no cost to the former player.

Kramer worked with Allen on the auctioning of the replica and said he intends to work with him to put together a much larger auction of NFL memorabilia later this year or early next year to raise more money for retired players.

Larger auctions like that could become an annual event, he said.

Kramer said a charitable trust will be created to hand out the money raised to needy players.

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The Long Road Back: Many Skill Players Never Recover from Serious Injuries

SI.com
Thursday May 25, 2006

Jamal Anderson was only 26 when he blew out his knee. In 1998, he established himself as one of the top running backs in the NFL, leading the league with 1,846 rushing yards, 16 touchdowns and 12 100-yard games as the Falcons reached the Super Bowl.

In the third week of the following season, during the opening drive of a game at Arizona, Anderson tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee and missed the rest of the season. He played one more full year, but his rushing total dropped 45 percent (1,846 yards to 1,024), his touchdowns dropped 57 percent (14 to six) and his rushing average fell 20 percent (4.5 to 3.6).

Two weeks into the next season, he suffered another ACL injury at Dallas, this time to his right knee.

He never played again.

He was 28 years old.

For all the advances in surgery that have been made, all the groundbreaking techniques in rehab, all the state-of-the-art medical facilities NFL teams now have, there are some injuries that simply end careers, or dramatically alter them.

Across NFL training camps this summer, we'll hear how players such as Carson Palmer, Daunte Culpepper, Braylon Edwards, Drew Brees, DeuceMcAllister, Priest Holmes, Javon Walker and Donovan McNabb are progressing after suffering serious injuries in 2005. We'll hear how optimistic their coaches are, how well their rehab is coming, how encouraged their teammates are.

But if history is any indication, several of them -- maybe most of them -- will never be the same.

We took a look at starting quarterbacks, running backs and receivers who suffered major injuries over the past 10 years and examined their production before and after their injuries to see what long-term affect those injuries had on their careers. Here's what we learned.

Quarterbacks

The Good News: Drew Bledsoe

Before the Injury: Averaged 21 TD passes and 3,657 yards per year

The Injury: Missed most of 2001 with bruised sternum and severe internal bleeding

After the Injury: Averaged 20 TD passes and 3,448 yards per year

The Bad News: Kurt Warner

Before the Injury: Was 40-13 with an NFL-record 103.4 passer rating

The Injury: Broke right pinkie early in 2002 season

After the Injury: Is 8-17 with an 82.0 passer since

From 1995 through 2004, 11 quarterbacks fit into our statistical model -- they played a full season one year, suffered an injury the next year serious enough to knock them out of at least 10 games, and returned to start the following year (Drew Bledsoe, Mark Brunell, Rich Gannon, Jeff George, Trent Green, Brad Johnson, Erik Kramer, Vinny Testaverde, Neil O'Donnell, Michael Vick and Kurt Warner).

Of those 11, only one performed at a significantly higher level after the injury. That was Bledsoe, who got hurt the second week of the 2001 season with the Patriots (opening the door for Tom Brady) and put up far better stats in 2002 with the Bills (24 TDs, 86.0 passer rating) than he had in 2000 with New England (17 TDs, 77.3 passer rating).

Some were never the same again.

Gannon got hurt in 2003 with the Raiders, tried to come back in 2004, got hurt again and retired. Warner put together some of the greatest numbers in NFL history, averaging 33 TD passes and 17 interceptions from 1999 through 2001. Since breaking a finger early in 2002, though, Warner has 21 TDs and 25 interceptions in four seasons with three teams.

Going into 1999, Testaverde was coming off his best season -- 29 TDs, just seven interceptions and a 101.6 passer rating -- 20th-highest in NFL history. But he ruptured his Achilles' in the season-opener and never came close to those 1999 numbers again, finishing out his career with 64 more TDs and 70 interceptions in parts of six seasons with three teams.

Most simply picked up where they left off -- George, Johnson, Vick and others posted numbers similar to those they had amassed before their injuries.

Running Backs

The Good News: Fred Taylor

Before the Injury: Averaged 1,118 yards in first three seasons

The Injury: Adductor tendon detached from bone second week of 2001

After the Injury: Averaged 1,370 yards per season in next three seasons

The Bad News: Terrell Davis

Before the Injury: Averaged 1,603 yards and 14 TDs per year and 4.8 per carry

The Injury: Tore a knee ligament in the fourth game of 1999

After the Injury: Averaged 398 yards, 1.3 TDs and 3.8 per carry

Some advice to running backs: Don't get hurt.

Since 1995, 16 running backs who were established starters have suffered an injury that cost them 10 games or more.

Only three of them -- DeShaun Foster, James Stewart and Fred Taylor -- registered a career-best rushing season at any point in the rest of their careers.

Those 16 backs had 35 1,000-yard seasons before their injuries and eight after, three of them by Taylor and two by Stewart.

It appears that injuries affect running backs later in their career more than receivers or quarterbacks. Many don't even approach their pre-injury numbers.

For example, Mike Alstott averaged 658 yards per year and 3.9 yards per carry before missing the last 11 games of 2003. In two seasons since, he's averaged 155 and 3.1.

Stephen Davis averaged 1,283 yards and 4.3 per carry from 1999 through 2003. After suffering a season-ending injury early in 2004, he came back with 549 yards and a 3.0 per-carry average last year.

In his first four NFL seasons, Terrell Davis averaged more than 1,600 yards a year and 4.8 yards per carry. After he got hurt in 1999, he averaged 398 and 3.8 and was out of football before his 30th birthday.

Olandis Gary ran for 1,159 yards as a rookie, got hurt one game into his second season and has averaged 280 yards per season since.

Dorsey Levens rushed for 1,435 yards in 1997, missed 10 games in '98, then averaged 407 yards for the rest of his career.

Duce Staley rushed for nearly 1,300 yards in 1999. He got hurt in 2000 and has averaged 570 yards since.

Michael Bennett ran for just under 1,300 yards in 2002, got hurt in '03 and has fewer than 800 yards total since.

Taylor is the most remarkable exception. He had a couple of 1,200-yard seasons before missing almost all of 2001. His first three seasons after coming back, he ran for 1,314, 1,572 and 1,224 yards.

Then there's Garrison Hearst, who proved that anybody can come back from anything. Hearst had three 1,000-yard seasons before knee injuries kept him out of football for 32 months. His first year back, he ran for more than 1,200 yards.

Wide Receivers

The Good News: Steve Smith

Before the Injury: Caught 88 passes for 1,110 yards and seven TDs in 2003

The Injury: Broke his fibula on opening day in 2004

After the Injury: Caught 103 passes for 1,563 yards and 12 TDs last year

The Bad News: Herman Moore

Before the Injury: Averaged 1,190 yards and 86 catches from 1992 through 1998

The Injury: Suffered knee injury while leaping for pass in end zone early in 1999

After the Injury: Caught 60 passes for 707 yards in parts of final three seasons

Unlike running backs, receivers seem to have a decent chance of not only matching their pre-injury performance but also surpassing it.

Of the nine 1,000-yard receivers from 1995 through 2004 who suffered a major season-ending injury, only three never had another 1,000-yard season. They are Ed McCaffrey, who was 34 when he returned after a broken leg (and did have a 903-yard season); Herman Moore, who never approached his All-Pro numbers after his 1999 knee injury; and Marcus Robinson, whose pre-injury and post-injury stats were pretty similar.

The rest? Seems like their injuries made them even better.

Steve Smith caught 103 passes for 1,563 yards last season, a year after missing virtually all of '04 with a broken fibula. Before the injury he'd never had more than 1,110 yards in a season.

Yancey Thigpen missed all but a few snaps of 1996 with a severe foot injury. A year later he had career highs with 1,398 yards and seven TDs.

Isaac Bruce missed most of 1998 after blowing out his hamstring. Over the next six years he missed one game and averaged 78 catches for 1,181 yards.

Jerry Rice was already 35 when he shredded his knee the second week of 1997. All he did when he came back was average 77 catches for 1,001 yards in the next six years.

Kevin Dyson blew out his knee in 2000 and a year later had career highs with 825 yards and seven TDs.

Find this article at:
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2006/writers/reuben_frank/05/24/injury.numbers/index.html

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Brush with greatness

Baltimore Sun
May 24, 2006
by Roch Kubatko

I'm working out at Triangle Fitness today in Eldersburg, I glance at the front door and notice someone walking through who looks exactly like John Mackey, the Hall of Fame tight end.

That's because it was John Mackey, the Hall of Fame tight end.

Very little gets past me.

Pete Wright of the Howard County Police department, and another friend, accompanied Mackey to the gym so he could meet the owner Joe Eder, a die-hard Baltimore Colts fan, and sign a few autographs. Mackey suffers from frontotemporal dementia, a mental affliction similar to Alzheimer's disease, but he's still a commanding presence when he walks into a room. Heads turn, even if he's not easily recognized.

Mackey signed a few photos, including one that read: "To Joe: You are a great winner. I am blocking for you so you will score big in life. John Mackey 88. Colts. Hall of Fame." He also showed off his Super Bowl and Hall of Fame rings, and let Eder pose for photos with them.

Everything Mackey did came off instructions from Wright, and some requests had to be repeated for him to understand. Mackey grabbed a nutrition bar and started to peel off the wrapper. Told that he should wait until after lunch, Mackey munched on it anyway. You've got to pick your battles.

http://blogs.baltimoresun.com/sports_custom_roch/2006/05/brush_with_grea.html

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Response to Ray Schoenke from Bruce Laird

Ray,

I do not know were you came from in all this, Ray – I say that because I haven't heard from you until now – but I'm sure happy you are interested and working hard for the greater good. I can only say to you that asking the union for retired players to be non-voting board members or just having retired players to have a voice in this union is nothing new at all. It's really the reason I got involved in this back in August of 2005, when I found out that our union was giving monies from the PAT fund to other charities instead of implementing a program of outreach to retired players who really needed the assistance. Yes, theystopped that practice for a while but again, only after they were caught. No changes to the PAT fund were done at their next meeting either. Again and again the NFLPA does what it wants; only when they are caught do they change.

What's amazing to me is Doug Allen and Gene's comments that they will now NOT REJECT having a non-voting member on the Executive Committee...That's a far cry from October 2005 when, in the chapter presidents and steering committee meeting, Ray, where Doug told all of us, "Stop asking for representation; you have it with Gene and this entire staff." We in Baltimore made that happen and if anything at all happens it's because we pushed, pushed and pushed some more. Moral of the story: not one thing will get done unless all retired players hold the NFLPA's feet to the fire on everything that they do.

Thanks again for the support.

Regards,

Bruce Laird
Baltimore Chapter VP ( Fund Raising )
Baltimore Colts 1972-1981 player rep. No freedom No football
San Diego Chargers 1982-83
USFL Arizona Wranglers 1983-1986

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Message from Ray Schoenke to Retired Players

Dear Fellow Retirees,

I have enjoyed the energy and drive displayed by so many you as we have all attempted to interpret all of the recent events: 1) Gene’s remarks in the Charlotte Observer, 2) the recent Collective Bargaining Agreement, 3) the huge disparity in retirement benefits between what current players are eligible for and what retired players received, 4) the need to bring parity on retirement benefits for all retired players to $425 benefit credit @ age 55, and 5) the desire to have a greater participation in future negotiations. I have participated in many phone calls, read numerous e-mails and chaired a committee for our DC Chapter on Retirement Benefits. I along with everyone else felt Gene’s remarks were out of order. But on closer review understandable. (The good news, his remarks brought many new retired players to the table.) I was pleased with the CBA completion, and with the revenues exceeding $6 billion I assumed taking everyone to $425 monthly benefit credit on our retirement plan was achievable. I listen to other retired players and read the e-mails chastising Gene and the NFLPA about the retirement plan yet when I talked with several players about the retirement plan it became obvious they did not understand it nor were answers forth coming from the NFLPA staff. Therefore I took it upon myself to try to understand the plan since I had some expertise in this area having run a national insurance brokerage firm.

I went to the offices in Baltimore where the Bert Bell/Pete Rozelle/NFL Players Retirement Plan is administered and got a copy of the annual report and the 5500 Tax Return. (Any player who is a plan participant can get this information) I then went to an actuarial firm where one of my former employees worked and with his assistance and a senior partner reviewed the plan. They outlined for me approximate ballpark figures.

While the current plan is under funded it is still in good shape. It has assets of $841 million with liabilities in excess of $900 million or approximately 90% funded. However it became very obvious that to take everyone in the plan to a credited benefit of $425 would nearly double the liability to approximately $1.8 billion. If the NFL/NFLPA were to try to fund this new increase over 20 years, which is a very acceptable funding period, it would take approximately $80 million of new money per year. The CBA doesn’t provide anywhere near this amount of funds (Gene’s remarks confirms this which I discuss later) and if one could get the funding, to recommend to any entity to take on a $ billion liability that would be mostly unfunded is not prudent or practical. In addition you would be committed to fund beyond the CBA contract (6 years) which could greatly jeopardize the plan if a new contract was not secured. Consequently it was easy to conclude that increasing everyone to $425 was a non starter. However, I wanted to have some idea on what it would cost to raise our benefits incrementally. The actuaries conservatively stated that for each $2.50 increase in monthly benefit credit for current retires only the cost would be approximately $1million for 6 years (amortizing the cost over the CBA contract). I urge any of you to go through the same exercise with an FSA or EA actuary. It is critical we get accurate information before we speak.

On May 15 I made our Committee Report to the DC Chapter. Unexpectedly Gene came to the meeting and was enthusiastically welcomed. Because of his presence I decided to cut my remarks so Gene could talk. I might add after hearing his remarks my report will be changed to reflect his comments. I thought his presentation was very good, straight forward with a great deal of give and take. He spoke for about 1 ½ hours. He addressed the comments he made in the Charlotte paper as being taken out of context for him as well as those who criticized him. He added that several called to apologize. He also said his remarks gave the impetus for players who had not been involved to be involved. He explained the negotiating process and who participates. They negotiate salaries and benefits at the same time and he shared how the monies are divided. He said the monies available for increases from the CBA for benefits were $3-4 million per annum per club or around $90 million + with $30 million already committed to a new medical savings plan. In addition there are 15 other line items that could also be considered for increases from the $60 million remaining. Gene stated to increase our benefit to $425 is impossible. (I concur because of the analysis I discussed previously) He said he had just received benefit calculations and would be making recommendations. He was considering increasing the retirement benefit for two of the older groups by 10-20% and 10% respectfully He also mentioned improving widow benefits. There was a good dialogue between Gene and several of us members regarding a more direct role by retired players in the negotiating process. While Gene was very emphatic that a retired player could not serve on the Executive Committee with voting rights the idea of a non voting member representing the retired players was not totally rejected. Over all I thought the exchange was very good.

The following day I met with Doug Allen, Miki Yaras-Davis, and Andre Collins at the NFLPA office for a couple hours. Doug did most of the talking and reiterated what Gene had stated to us the previous evening. However Doug did spend time talking about why the disparity of retirement benefits existed between current and retired players. He also spent time discussing why MLB player’s pensions were better than they were for NFL players in who played in the 60’s and 70’s. The reason was MLB players union during that period achieved “free agency”. Consequently they were in a far more dominant position than the NFLPA. Doug went on to say that once free agency was achieved, the NFLPA benefit package improved dramatically and today far exceeds the MLB players benefit package. He also went on to say it is important to understand that the NFL owners are concern only about the current players not the retired players. (“Out of sight out of mind”) Consequently current players retirement programs for exceed what retired players received. He emphasized the current players make everything possible and therefore they are the most important participant in this equation. He said it didn’t mean they didn’t care about retired players because they are always trying to improve their benefits. Doug did encourage that a strong relationship should exist between the retired players and the Executive Committee. He like Gene felt that a retired player could not serve on the Executive Committee. However also like Gene he did not reject the idea of a non voting retired player serving on the Executive Committee.

Taking all of this information I want to suggest the following goals for consideration: (These recommendations are the final report submitted to the DC Chapter from the Retirement Committee)

1) Seek to get two non voting positions on the Executive Committee. They would be the President and 2^nd highest officer on the Steering Committee.

While an open forum for voting so all retired players could vote would appear to be the best way to select these individuals we however would recommend having members come to the convention and vote there for Steering Committee officers. We feel it is important that we all come to the convention for it shows commitment. It is then up to those attending the convention to decide if the candidates are worthy.

2) Attempt to get the greatest increase possible for our retirement benefits.

Our goal is to get the greatest percentage possible of the $60million available for benefit increases. This has to be based on monies available and importance when compared to other expenditures. For our objectives $20 million a year for 6 years would take everyone who is not at $240 monthly benefit credit to that amount. To take everyone to $260 monthly benefit credit would take $37 million for 6 years and $50 million would take us to $275. These estimates are based on conservative assumptions that include not only retires receiving benefits but also those who have qualified for benefits but have yet to received anything. Gene has already suggested he is considering $20 million expense in our behalf. Will Gene be open to a higher amount? Can we get him to consider us as a greater priority versus other expenditures? What other increases is he considering and how much do they cost and can we get that information?

I realize some of the pension information I have shared with you is difficult to understand. Therefore I would like to suggest we hold a meeting in DC as soon as possible where we can have an actuary and hopefully staff from the NFLPA in attendance to review with anyone who is interested in my conclusions. It would be better if we were more knowledgeable and prepared before the convention. However this certainly could be covered in Arizona.

It is critical that we maintain our momentum and stay together. And as several of you have said we need to take on more responsibility for what is or is not happening.

Ray Schoenke
1963-64 Cowboys
1966-75 Redskins

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Jeff Nixon's Letter to Active NFL PLayers

Sent: Friday, May 19, 2006 1:55 PM

Subject: NFL PENSION PLAN LETTER TO NFLPA PRESIDENT AND EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

Dear NFLPA President Troy Vincent and the NFLPA Executive Officers:

Before I begin, I want you to know that I do not speak for, or on behalf of the retired players. What I state in this letter is my own personal opinion that has been shaped through my discussions with the Alumni and my research on issues related to NFL retired players. This email is being sent to approximately 3,000 retired players listed in the 2004-2006 NFLPA Retired Members Directory that was produced by the NFLPA – Retired Players Department.

First of all, I hope everything is going ok for each of you this off-season. This time of year was always the toughest and most anxiety filled for veteran players, especially when you realize that your teams have brought in some new players and drafted some younger guys that are looking to take your job.

Unfortunately, the time comes when we all have to retire and make way for the next generation of players. When that time comes, it will be nice for you to know that there are some active players that will still look out for you. I want to thank you and the NFLPA Executive Committee for your assistance in giving retired players some consideration as the final terms of the Collective Bargaining Agreement are hammered out. At the Players Convention in Maui the active players approved a resolution asking the NFLPA to use its best efforts in bargaining with the NFL to increase the benefit credit amounts for all retired players. Gene Upshaw now has the future of over 9,560 "vested" retired players in his hands.......... and you have given it to him!

For many of the retired players, that is a tough pill to swallow when you consider some of the comments that Gene has made over the past year. I think the pressure of CBA negotiations and his attempt to impress the current players and the NFLPA Executive Committee (who have the power to vote him out of office) led to some of the unfortunate comments that became very public. Both sides have been guilty of inflammatory remarks, but that is because so much is at stake. I think many retired players understand this, but the statements still damaged relations and placed an unnecessary wedge between active and retired players. We were happy to hear that active players gave Butch Byrd a standing ovation for his remarks to player representatives at the Maui Convention, and we now have a renewed optimism that you and the Executive Committee will increase the benefit credit amounts for retired players.

Although there are numerous issues and concerns that retired players would like to have addressed regarding the Disability Plan, Medical Benefits for Retirees, the Retirement Board etc., my comments are focused on the Bert Bell Retirement Plan.

In one of Gene Upshaw's statements this past year he said, "I tell the former players this, and they don't like to hear it, but there is no way we can make their pension like today's player. We can't afford it."

Personally speaking, I don't think most of the retired players expect a pension like today's players. In addition to the Bert Bell Retirement Plan, current players also have additional retirement "type" benefits such as the Severance Pay Plan, the NFL Player Annuity Program and the NFL Player Second Career Savings Plan. Also, the team salary cap will continue to increase for years to come as revenues continue to grow at an amazing rate. Paul Tagliabue stated that " players' salaries will grow from a hundred million a team in the 2005 season up toward 160 to 170 million a team at the end of this deal." The forecast looks unbelievably good for current and future players.

Gene Upshaw also stated that no other companies and professional sports teams have gone back, like the NFL has done, to increase pensions for retirees. That may be true, but we are like no other company the World has ever seen. The NFL TV contracts are larger than those of all other professional sports combined!

Comparing us to other companies is like comparing Apples to rotting Oranges. How many employees at General Motors are inducted into the GM Hall of Fame? When was the last time an employee for Holiday Inn got a 1 million dollar endorsement fee from Nike just to wear their shoes? How many former MVP's were introduced and paraded out at the Super Bowl of the Airlines? We do have one thing in common with the above companies…..our workforce was exploited, underpaid and denied basic benefits for many, many years……… until we finally unionized and began to fight for our fair share. The biggest difference between those companies and the NFL is that while their revenues are pretty flat, and in some cases are going down, the NFL's is skyrocketing. The other big difference is that NFL players have a very short career.

The fact is, we are unique. We are in the entertainment business, but even though the NFL still profits from our time as employees, none of us are getting any royalties when the NFL Network and the other TV networks glorify the history of the NFL through documentaries, and then show our past performances in Super Bowls, Playoff Games or other notable games that they use to promote their product. Last August, during the Hall of Fame weekend some of the NFL's greatest stars were brought in to help over 100 coaches by participating in clinics, educational seminars and roundtable discussions. The NFL is constantly marketing the Hall of Famers and other great players.

The point is this….the NFL is still profiting from retired players and using us to sell its product. I'm not complaining that retired players are being used in this way. I think most of the retired players are happy to be ambassadors of the NFL. If we didn't feel this way, you wouldn't see Retired Player Chapters springing up all over the United States and working closely with NFL Teams. What we are complaining about is the meager compensation for our efforts.

The problem is this....... any revenues that go to retired players, has to come from a pool of money that is basically reserved for current players. That's because the NFLPA agreed to fold the pension plan into the salary cap figure. Therefore, if retired players want any pension increase, it will effectively reduce the overall money that current players can tap into. Was it wise to fold the pension plan to the salary cap? There are pros and cons to this issue, but the only thing that matters at this point is....... are the current players willing to give up money to help retired player pensions?

As the president of the NFL Players Association, you are in a unique position to influence the negotiations between Gene and the owners, but honestly speaking, the owners don't really care if the money is spent on active players or retired players, because the amount is already defined. If I read it correctly, the 2006 CBA Extension Term Sheet, which can be found on page 3 at the following link: http://www.nflpa.org/PDFs/Agents/2006_CBA_Extension_Term_Sheet.pdf (You need Adobe Acrobat to view this document) states the following " a sufficient amount of NFL network money shall be allocated to fund new benefits of 3 million for 2006, 3.5 million for 2007, 4 million for 2008 and 4.5 million for 2009 with a performance based pay pool of 3.5 million in 2006 and yearly increases thereafter of 250K." Page 5 of the Term sheet states that new benefits will be spent on benefits determined by the NFLPA, including a medical savings plan. Increases in existing benefits (e.g., postseason pay, preseason pay, preseason per diem, etc.) to be agreed to consistent with previous increases. The Term sheet doesn't even bother to mention the Pension Plan as one of the examples.

If this is the money that could potentially be used to increase retired player pensions, I have to say it is a woefully inadequate amount (less than some players make in one year) and if it is spread across the board to all 9,560 retired players it will not amount to much of an increase for anyone. Nonetheless, we are still hopeful that money can be found and set aside for retired player pensions.

You and the Executive Committee agreed to set aside 5% of Total Revenues for things like Youth Football, NFL Europe, Players Inc. payments and NFL Charities….. so hopefully you can find something for the retired players.

You and the Executive Committee also negotiated to set aside 1.8% of Total Revenues for G-3 Stadium Construction projects. These funds are subject to NFLPA approval and if the money is not used to fund construction, "it shall be held for authorized projects in future years." Hey, I have a suggestion for an authorized project….increase retired player pensions!

I think its great that the NFL has set aside money for Youth Football, but was that really a bigger priority than helping out your Alumni Brethren?

Lets face it, the real negotiation for increased pensions isn't between Gene and the NFL Management Council/Owners. The real negotiation is between the active players, and in particular, the Executive Committee. If retired players don't get something through this process, it is not Gene that will be blamed. Don't make Gene Upshaw the "Fall Guy"……. that's already in his job specs. You have the power over all of his actions, and you guys need to tell Gene what you want him to do, and believe me when I say this.......9,560 retired players will be watching this one closely. Many of us have gone through unbelievable hardships due to poor and inadequate medical procedures during our era of play. I personally have two 10 inch zippers on my left knee that in today's NFL could have been repaired through new arthroscopic procedures and possibly prolonged my career. We weren't even allowed to get a second medical opinion! I can't even begin to imagine the sacrifices that were made during the early years of the NFL, but I have heard some of the horror stories and have seen the documentaries like the one they did on Jim Otto. It's a must see for all current players.

I'm not going to get into the problems with the NFL Disability Plan and other medical issues in this letter, but this issue has severely impacted many of the retired players’ incomes and earning potentials and has affected the quality of life for thousands of retired players.

If the NFLPA funds the proposed Medical Savings account for current players before it addresses the issues and problems with the Disability Plan and Pension Plan, there are going to be some very angry retired players.

Many of the16,000 retired players.....from the Hall of Famers down to the average player.... feel like they've been forgotten by the new generation of players. All the things that we fought for to help the game become what it is today, is simply overlooked and ignored by many of the current players. There is a lot of resentment that has been building for quite some time now, and many retired players are tired of the lip service that has been given in the past. Many players have spoken out publicly on issues regarding the NFLPA, NFL Management, the NFL Pension Plan and the NFL Disability Plan. Some of those who spoke out include: Joe DeLamielleure, Tom Matte, Deacon Jones, Jerry Kramer, John Mackey, John Unitas, Mercury Morris, Ordell Braase, Bruce Laird, Mike Siani, Marcus Allen, Doug Goodwin, Joe Montana, Mike Webster, Jim Otto, Howie Long, Jim Plunkett, MacArthur Lane, Charlie Krueger, Herb Aderley, Dan Colchico and Butch Byrd. All retired players owe a debt of gratitude to them for the courage it took to speak out.

You might also be interested in this news item that came out May 17, 2006. Jerry Kramer announced that he will auction his replica Super Bowl I ring in an online auction at JerryKramer.com to establish a fund for retired players in need. Kramer had the replica made to replace the ring that was stolen (since recovered) and has worn it for many years. The ring is an exact copy of the original Super Bowl I ring. The proceeds from the auction will be used to establish a trust fund that will provide financial assistance to those retired players who are disadvantaged or indigent due to the inadequate pension and disability compensation provided to older players by the league. Jerry said "I have always had great concern and frustration regarding the condition of some of the retired players who helped build the league. The physical and economic conditions they deal with due to the lack of a sufficient pension and disability compensation is reprehensible. I just want to try and do something about it personally to help some of the guys who need it most," said Kramer. For more info on this, go to www.JerryKramer.com.

The current players need to understand one very important fact!.....they are now reaping the benefits of the retired players’ hard work and union activities during our era. We went on strike in 1974, 1977, 1982 and 1987. I would be remiss if I didn't mention that in the years before the strikes, players were in a very precarious situation. It was very easy to get blackballed from the league for any union activities. And many were!

This has been a long and sustained battle and once we got unionized, we continued to get smarter every step of the way. It was the 1987 strike that eventually led the players and NFLPA to the smartest move of all. Decertification of the union! This step effectively forced owners to obey the Anti-Trust Laws. Of course we know what happened.......they did not follow the law and we sued them. They knew they were going to lose the court battle and that would have cost them hundreds of millions in treble damages and would have changed the face and structure of the NFL forever. The owners knew it would be total chaos if they did not eventually settle in 1993. The draft would have been a thing of the past. It would be a free-for-all in signing players. They wouldn't be able to share TV revenues. Some teams that didn't generate enough local revenue would have folded. All of this would have happened because of Anti-Trust Laws designed to protect the worker and the public in general.

Why didn't the NFLPA decertify back in 1974, '77, or '82? We could have forced the sharing of owner wealth a lot sooner. We will never know. I guess sometimes you need to get your ass kicked a few times before you really fight back. And we fought back, and players got blackballed and careers ended. The point is this............we paved the way…… we did the heavy lifting, and now we would also like to partake in the fruits of our labor!

We recognize that the NFLPA has increased pensions in the past, but the increases in terms of actual dollars have been modest for most retired players because they were percentage increases based on our existing benefit credits, and just like the old song goes "Nothing from nothing leaves nothing".

The NFLPA Constitution states in the cover letter to the preamble "We the National Football League Players Association....pay homage to our predecessors for their courage, sacrifice and vision.”

The best way to pay homage to retired players is not through words, but through deeds. A good place to start would be to increase Retired Player pensions.

As you know, the Retired Players will be discussing this issue and many others at our Convention in Phoenix. It is my hope that we can come to some type of consensus on all of our concerns and have them seriously considered by the NFLPA Executive Committee.

This brings me to my final comments. The issue of retired player representation in the NFLPA needs to be addressed as soon as possible. Having a stronger voice is imperative, not only for us, but for the approximately 250 current players who join the ranks of the retired every year. This issue continues to be tabled by the Executive Committee.

The NFLPA Constitution states that "the NFLPA pledges to preserve and enhance the Democratic involvement of our members; confirm our willingness to do whatever is necessary for the betterment of our membership - to preserve our gains and achieve those goals not yet attained."

One way to enhance the democratic involvement of retired players is to amend the NFLPA by-laws to allow at least one retired player to sit as a non-voting member of the NFLPA Executive Committee. The truth is, having one retired player is more symbolic than anything else, but at least we would have someone at the table speaking up for the issues that specifically concern us……. and will someday concern you. I am not saying this to demean or minimize the hard work and dedication of the NFLPA Retired Players Department staff. But the fact is, they are employed by Gene Upshaw and can be fired by him, therefore they are not able to speak as freely as we would like them to.

Ed Garvey was the Executive Director of the NFLPA before Gene Upshaw took control, and Gene likes to quote him from time to time saying "He always told us, `One day, you will not be in this room making decisions. Someone else will be in this room making decisions and don't ever forget to go back."

Troy, as the President of the NFLPA you said something last year that made me feel like you understood the issue of Retired Player Pensions and Retired Player representation. You said " It was important that we prepare now rather than waiting until the last hour to prepare for a fight. We have to think about the men who have come before us, who have allowed us to be at the table today." [June 2005 issue of The Audible]

You and the Executive Committee are now at the "Dinner Table"…….and 20 years from now will you be asking the same question that Tom Matte, former President of the NFLPA recently posed, when he said "We built this game for you guys. Why can't you throw us a few crumbs?"

Five years from now, most of you will no longer be eating at the NFL table, but with the current average player salary being $1,400,000 and the average annual starter salary being $2,259,000, none of you will be going hungry any time soon.

Don't misunderstand me, I think its fantastic that players are getting what they are worth, and I think many of the retired players feel this way too….. but it took a long, long time to get to this point, and the current players need to understand that the road was paved with a lot of blood, sweat and tears.

When you are among the ranks of the retired players, and you look back at your time as representatives of the NFL players, what will your legacy be? Will you be able to say that you truly helped Past, Present and Future Players? I don't think there will be any doubts regarding the later two, but will there still be doubts about how the current NFL Players Reps helped the retired players who shaped the history of the NFL? You and the Executive Committee have the power to change the future……… and in doing so, help the past.

The retired players are putting our faith in you to do the right thing.

Remember where you came from….how you got to the table……and don't ever forget to go back!

Sincerely,

Jeff Nixon

Vice President
Buffalo Bills Retired Players Chapter

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Jerry Kramer launches online ring auction at JerryKramer.com to establish a fund for retired players in need

Historic Super Bowl I Ring Stolen 25 Years Ago Returned to NFL Great at Lambeau Field

Green Bay, WI (PRWEB) May 17, 2006 -- Jerry Kramer, a dominate player on Vince Lombardi’s World Champion Green Bay Packers teams, returned to Lambeau Field to be presented with his Super Bowl I ring that was stolen 25 years ago. The ring was stolen during a flight from Chicago to New York.

The ring was returned to Kramer by Doug Allen, president and COO of Mastro Auctions, who, after learning the ring in the company’s April auction was actually stolen, pulled it from sale and secured its safe return to Kramer.

“This is an historic heirloom from Super Bowl I and an important piece of my legacy, one that I had anticipated passing on to my children. I am so grateful to Mastro Auctions for securing its return to me. It is nice to know there are good people out there,” said Jerry Kramer.

Jerry Kramer also announced that he will auction his replica Super Bowl I ring in an online auction at JerryKramer.com to establish a fund for retired players in need. Kramer had the replica made to replace the ring that was stolen and has worn it for many years. The ring is an exact copy of the original Super Bowl I ring.

Information about the Super Bowl I replica ring and the auction is now available. Message boards, photos and details of the replica and original ring are posted as well. Registration for the auction is now open. The public is encouraged to visit JerryKramer.com to learn more.

The proceeds from the auction will be used to establish a trust fund that will provide financial assistance to those retired players who are disadvantaged or indigent due to the inadequate pension and disability compensation provided to older players by the league.

“I have always had great concern and frustration regarding the condition of some of the retired players who help build the league. The physical and economic conditions they deal with due to the lack of a sufficient pension and disability compensation is reprehensible. I just want to try and do something about it personally to help some of the guys who need it most,” said Kramer.

Kramer will conduct the auction on JerryKramer.com with the help of Mastro Auctions, Inc. It will be a collaborative effort.

“With the experience and expertise of Doug Allen and Mastro Auctions behind my auction, I am confident that this will be a first class auction that will raise a lot of money to help some of the guys. I hope everyone will visit JerryKramer.com to keep up with the auction, learn more about the issues facing some of my colleagues, and express their views,” said Kramer.

In the coming months, Kramer hopes to team up with other players who share the same concerns. Together with Mastro Auctions, he intends to put together a larger auction of many pieces to add additional funds to the trust.

Jerry Kramer’s Super Bowl I ring was stolen 25 years ago on a United Airlines flight from Chicago to New York. It appeared in an online auction several weeks ago. Kramer learned of the auction from John Nitschke, the son of Ray Nitschke, the Packers’ Hall of Fame middle linebacker, who refused to believe his deceased father’s former teammate and friend would sell his Super Bowl I ring.

Kramer immediately contacted the auction house, Mastro Auctions, Inc. The auction was stopped. Kramer’s Chicago-based lawyer Mel Fein contacted authorities, and then contacted the person who consigned the ring. The consigner had then asked that Jerry trade his replica to him for the original; the offer was not accepted. Mastro then worked diligently to secure its return by purchasing it from the consigner in order to return it to Jerry.

The event marks the end of a 25-year search by the 70-year-old offensive lineman for this most meaningful and historic possession. Kramer will continue his quest to find out where the ring has been for the past 25 years and asks anyone with any information to contact him through his web site, JerryKramer.com

Interviews with Jerry Kramer are available on request. Contact Jennifer Smith (920) 499-7133.

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Taxpayers to NFL: Do the right thing

Baltimore Examiner
Opinion

Steve Walters, The Examiner
May 16, 2006 7:00 AM

BALTIMORE - Taxpayers have been very, very good to the National Football League. In 1998, for example, Marylanders wrote a $200 million check so the Ravens could build a state-of-the-art stadium with abundant luxury boxes and other amenities that help make the team fabulously profitable. As a result, the value of the franchise soared from $329 million to $864 million in just eight years, according to Forbes magazine.

Free stadiums are the norm throughout the league, but they’re just the tip of the subsidy iceberg. At the federal level, the easy deductibility of suite rentals and game tickets as a “business entertainment expense” props up demand, and favorable rules allowing depreciation of player contracts makes owning a sports franchise a wonderful tax dodge.

The wisdom of these generous subsidies can be debated — but not here.

The question before us now is this: Given how well taxpayers look after their football teams, don’t these teams have a moral obligation to take care of their own? Shouldn’t they do right by the old-timers who built the league? After all, it’s usually the warm, pleasant feelings we get when remembering these players’ spectacular deeds that make us willing to treat the sports industry more favorably than any other.

Sadly, the NFL’s treatment of its pioneer players is shameful, both in absolute terms and when compared to other sports. Consider, for example, ex-Colt John Mackey. A sculpted 225 pounds on a 6-foot-2 frame in his prime during the mid-’60s, Mackey was voted the tight end on the NFL’s 50th anniversary team and is a member of the sport’s Hall of Fame. Local fans still talk about his spectacular play in Super Bowl V, when he snagged a deflected pass from Johnny Unitas and galloped 75 yards for a touchdown in a 16-13 Colts victory.

Mackey, now 64, can remember that golden moment — but often does not recognize old teammates and friends. He suffers from frontotemporal dementia, an Alzheimer’s-like affliction, and requires adult day care that claims over three-fourths of the $1,950 monthly pension he receives from the NFL. As his condition worsens, he’ll likely require a facility that will cost much more.

And Mackey’s pension actually is one of the larger ones for players of his era, thanks to his long career. The current formula is $200 per month per year of service. Since the typical career lasts four years, the average check is under $1,000 monthly.

Other sports do far more for their retired veterans. A pro basketball player with a decade long career would be getting about $3,600 monthly and could have started collecting full benefits at age 50, five years sooner than the NFL’s plan. High-seniority hockey players start collecting $12,500 annually at age 45 and get a $250,000 lump sum payout at age 55. Baseball players with a decade of service time collect $175,000 annually starting at age 65.

The window of opportunity to right this injustice is now wide open. The NFL is flush with cash. League revenue reached $5.8 billion last year; its total pension fund costs were barely one percent of that. Starting this season, new TV contracts will add $3.7 billion annually to revenue and a new collective bargaining agreement will carry labor peace into the next decade.

The major elements of that agreement are already in place, but the NFL Players Association has not yet decided how much to increase benefits for the old-timers — or whether to do so at all. One problem, as union head Gene Upshaw put it in a recent letter to some of those old-timers, is that “we represent only active employees,” who have to “[give up] current compensation to increase pensions for others.”

Fortunately, the players of this era seem to recognize that they enjoy, in part, the fruits of the labor of those who came before them. We can also hope that NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue, who will retire in July, will polish his legacy by using his considerable lobbying skills to win major improvements in the league’s retirement and disability plans. If the league stiff-arms its pioneers while enjoying its greatest prosperity, perhaps we taxpayers should reconsider our own generosity to the sport.

Steve Walters is a professor of economics at Loyola College in Maryland, where he teaches a course in sports economics.

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The Lie That The NFL Won't Tell Current Or New Players About Their Future

SAN ANTONIO -- Imagine working for a company for several years, build up that company's own financial portfolio, take part in its foundational growth through some lean times, even be applauded and given great accolades as a pioneer for that company only to find out that the very company you helped grow has lied to you for all those years.

You find out that so-called pension plan that will help you live comfortably for years to come is worthless by the cost of living standards of today. The retirement fund that allowed you to "dip" in early, penalized you for doing so and literally has you on the bread line.

And to make matters worse, the current employees of the company you helped build, the very ones who are making great salaries now because of your hard work, don't care about you or any of your co-workers because you are not a part of the family anymore.

Finally to add insult to your financial injury, the current "union" chief at the company was a co-worker of yours back in the day and he has literally turned his back on you and his former co-workers saying that it's his job to help the current workforce; not to strengthen a workforce long since aged. Would you want to work for a company like that?

Well for many former NFL and AFL players of long ago, this horrific example is actually their current nightmare. Former players are simply not being taken care of and what's worse is that many of these players are not just some player who was lucky in his day to make a roster and have a "cup of coffee" in the show; we are talking Hall of Fame players who are in a rather precarious elite group of individuals.

We are talking about former AFL stars that helped shape that league and then go on to be successful in the NFL as well. We are talking about even players of at least the last fifteen years who are now understanding that a union that they once loved is so heartless, so callous in its thinking, that many of these former players are totally embarrassed how guys before them are even treated.

It’s the dirty little white lie that the National Football League doesn’t want to discuss openly. To them, everything is fine for these former players. For the players' union president, Troy Vincent, he acts like it doesn't exist. For Gene Upshaw, it's not his problem; or at least that's the portrayal that is bestowed upon John Q. Public.

"I have no love for Upshaw," Marlon Briscoe said in an phone conversation. Briscoe was the first African American to start as a quarterback in the NFL/AFL. He is a member of the famed "Undefeated" Miami Dolphins team.

Former All Pro defensive lineman and current Fox Sports analyst Howie Long said in a recent interview for the Charlotte Observer, "When I went to the Hall of Fame in 2000 and was inducted, it was a travesty the kind of carnage I saw out of these guys who were in their 50s and 60s, who had defined and in many ways laid the foundation for the NFL being what it is today."

Joe Montana was quoted as saying, "The NFL is the worst represented league, on the players' side, in pro sports."

These are former players that many of us can recognize off the bat. Yet for this story, I contacted several former players via e-mail correspondence and many of them were kind enough to send back interview questionnaires that depicted their plight in a small, compact form.

While the sampling may not be as in depth as I could get it, the former players who did send in answers were very clear about one thing; the union doesn't care about former players. Some players were Hall of Famers who are receiving paltry sums from the league's so-called pension plan that was revamped back in 1993.

"I am one of the 325 guys who receive less than $150.00 per month, I receive a below poverty level pension of $126.00 per month", former Green Bay Packer great Herb Adderley confided to me via his questionnaire on what he got as far as a pension from the league.

Adderley isn't just some average football player like many want to make these players out. His accomplishments are many. The highlights of his career are as follows: Made the most big plays for the Packer defense during the Glory Days 1961-69 = 5 Championships - 1961- 62 - 65 - 66 - 67 including Super Bowl 1 & 2. Returning 3 interceptions for TD`s in 1965 = NFL record.

The first d-back to return 7 interceptions for TD`s, set the record in 1969 with a pick and return for 80 yds against the Atlanta Falcons. The 7 TD`s are still a Packer record and it means that I scored more points on defense than anyone in Packer history. [42] The first player to score on defense in Super Bowl history, 60 yds against the Raiders in Super Bowl 2.

The first player to start for two different teams in the Super Bowl, and receive rings from two teams, the Packers in 1 & 2 and the Cowboys in Super Bowl 6. Played on 6 NFL Championship teams, 5 with the Packers and one with the Cowboys [1971] Played in four of the first six Super Bowls.

"The current union has forgotten about the 325 guys who are receiving less than $150.00 per month. We are not included in any of the Collective Bargaining Agreements for increases that the other retired guys receive", Adderley adds in his statements.

He's not alone. Former AFL linebacker Stewart "Smokey" Stover sent in his questionnaire sheet as well and it seemed that some of the same problems that Adderley had, were Smokey's concern as well. When asked about whether the current union was taking care of the former players, Smokey's response was, "The older players with injuries and problems are not being looked after by the union".

Questionnaire after questionnaire from the sampling continues to confirm what Long and Montana have already said in the Observer story; the current union doesn't give a rat's ass about those who came before them and put the league on the map. As I read each questionnaire that came across my e-mail, some of them were so heart wrenching that it really made me wonder whether or not Gene Upshaw, the executive director of players' union, truly understands just what kind of dire straits many of these former players are in.

Yet the words that come back and haunt Upshaw isn't anything he may say here or to any other media forum. It's the words that he has uttered to the press back in January and it is those same words that have many of these former players irate with their once reverenced colleague of an age gone by: "The bottom line is I don't work for them. They don't hire me and they can't fire me. They can complain about me all day long. They can have their opinion. But the active players have the vote. That's who pays my salary".

Despite what has now become a glamorous lifestyle portrayed by today's media, if you talk to many of these former players, they will tell you that their football salary was not enough to sustain their households. The median for a player who was playing in the 1960s, a salary of $15,000 wasn't uncommon.

Up until the mid 1970s, salary ranges of $20,000 to about maybe $60,000 were usually the norm for these players. Reports from various news entities say that maybe thirty years ago the average salary was $30,000. Yet for many of these players, it still took a second job for many of these players to survive and run their households.

"Back in the day, most of us had to work during the off-season to make ends meet", Adderley told me in an e-mail for this article.

There are many instances of professional athletes of all major sports having had to take on the second job during the off-season to make ends meet. The luscious lifestyle that so many of us are accustomed to seeing today is a result the of hard work and dedication that players like Adderley and others put forth together through their years of making the NFL what it is today.

It is the simple fact that for many of these players, playing in the NFL was a labor of love, not necessity that had them playing the game. So it is very disingenuous for someone in Upshaw's position to simply blow them off when serious concerns are being addressed in regards to financial compensation for "a job well done"..

THE REALITY IS PAIN AND HARDSHIP FOR THESE PLAYERS

Adderley is among several players who are actually quite fortunate to have found a second career in which his below poverty pension plan payment is almost a non-factor for him. And while these players may be fortunate to have financial stability that allows them to live the way they want after their playing days, they are still a part of a large segment of players who believe that the league has let them down and many of those players are on medical disability and have no means of relief from the very league they gave their bodies for.

A transcript provided by ESPN highlights some of the many problems that these guys are facing and demonstrates how little the public actually knows about what kinds of medical problems many of these former players are facing today.

"This is so painful, this thing here; my wrist, my neck, my back", Mercury Morris told "Outside the Lines", ESPN's daily sports magazine show. Morris broke his neck in 1973.

The weekly sports news program did an expose on this topic that aired January 26th of this year. Other players who have played for great teams or have had spectacular careers are in a similar situation. Dan Johnson, who caught the only Super Bowl pass that Dan Marino ever threw, had his career end in 1988 with a spinal fusion.

"This is my life", Johnson told the sports program. "Every day I have to take, (points to his medications)."

Now Johnson survives on 360 pills a month to kill the pain that he suffers from his playing days and his injury.

Other former players have told of similar issues that they re facing and they are speaking out about how the union has systematically forgotten about them and their plight. For example, for former players like Joe Perry, 78, even a few extra dollars would help. Perry, who was the first running back in NFL history to rush for 1,000 yards in consecutive seasons, said his monthly pension payment is $1,640 and that he and wife Donna need much of it to pay for health insurance.

"We pay something like $300 to $350 a month just for pills," Donna Perry said.

Perry was one of the pre-1959 players whose pension benefits increased dramatically over the past 13 years. However, he's not impressed.

"They do absolutely zero as far as I'm concerned," he said.

Others, like Smokey Stover, it's about looking back at your history and past; not just protecting your future.

"The older players with injuries and problems are not being looked after by the union", Stover said. "It's hard for me to tell if the union cares about us. In all I'm reading, they have failed the former players. They are concentrating on the active group".

Upshaw and others believe that the league and the union are doing a tremendous job for these former players but the reality is that these players do not have a solid foundation of a pension that grows according to the economy of the league or the cost of living range that is not present in today's times.

Typically you would want your pension plan to be adequate enough to handle such economic fluxes but for these players, especially the 325 members who are getting the sub par payments, trying to find a pension fund that current players can contribute into to help these former players is very feasible; especially since many believe the current fund is under funded.

In a letter sent to Commissioner Paul Tagliabue and Upshaw, former AFL player and now lawyer Ron Mix listed the problems that he felt needed to be addressed in a November 2nd letter. In that letter, Mix contended that players who took the early retirement election (Social Security Election) should not be penalized because of it: “The Social Security Election was an ill-advised provision that defeated the concept of what a pension plan is to achieve: security in retirement; 2) The transition from football to a post-career is often difficult; 3) Many, if not most, of the Group made their election because of financial hardships that come with divorce, illness (chronic illness of my wife), need for extra money to meet obligations (Herb Adderley: college education for children), job loss, and mistake (my Charger teammate, Paul Lowe, thought that his pension would be reduced by $50.00, not become $50.00); and 4) The past pension increases were designed to improve the retirement income of all retired players; yet, the members of the Group were left behind.”

Many players like Adderley understand what they did in taking the election, but believe that had they not, then things would have been different.

"If I hadn't elected the early retirement", Adderley says, "I wouldn't have been able to put my daughter thru undergraduate school at Spellman College and Howard University Dental School".

DECENT MEDICAL AT THE FOUNDATION OF THEIR COMPLAINTS

The pension problem that this group of men is facing isn’t any different than what Congress is looking at right now. There are some serious financial, medical, and ethical issues that should be looked at when it comes to what these former NFL/AFL players are facing with their retirements.

The fact that current union chief has no regard for the plight that his former playing colleagues are facing today should serve as a testament as to how the entire league feels about these players. Despite a better retirement system that pays retirees fairly for their service, many former NFL players believe that if the league had a medical plan that covered them once they left; things could be better for many of them.

“The players association should have a medical plan to take care of us forever because we participated in a collision sport. They act as though they are doing us a favor whenever conversations regarding our physical needs come up," former All Pro Earl Edwards commented on the lack of help by the union for current retirees.

"I'm receiving an early pension from my playing days", former NFL player Earl Edwards said. "Like the others it helped me with my family needs. I am 60 yrs. old and I will probably have to work for the rest of my life."

Edwards' situation rings home to Americans who are facing a similar plight when it comes to his health care issues; something that millions of Americans hope would be covered under their retirement plans.

"I'm in better shape than most of my friends, although I have diabetes. Thanks to my wife's Insurance plan at work we manage as a family decently", Edwards says.

What these former football stars need is a voice larger than the one that is telling them no. Players that the public respects in their playing days need to now come forth and help this group pick up the mantle and fight for something that is as basic as being able to vote in a local election. Players like Jim Brown, who have the public's ear, can join forces with Adderley, Stover, Edwards and others as national attention seriously needs to be brought on this subject matter.

These former players should be joined by players like Howie Long, Joe Montana and others and they should take this fight to Washington, D.C. This is indeed a fight that needs to be heard on Capitol Hill and there should be Congressional hearings on this matter and some type of investigation opened as to how a league that is making billions of dollars has the temerity to overlook past players and have employed a system of yes-men and women who would rather side with the league, the union and any entity that would systematically hamper retired players from having a decent living or having a better retirement than what they currently have.

Very few insurance companies are willing to provide halfway decent coverage for former athletes who have had their careers ended by an "on the job" injury. It is because football is so brutal; many of the players are left with medical conditions that may not have come from playing the game.

There is a almost a unified sentiment from this group of players interviewed here and in many other stories that the current players and league officials simply do not care about what has happened to these players. The fact that current players simply "gloss" over these retired players' issues remains a bone of contention as to whether the league truly cares about its past heroes of the gridiron.

Edwards summed up the feelings for many the retired players' feelings towards the league, the current union and their plight.

"The players association should have a medical plan to take care of us forever because we participated in a collision sport. They act as though they are doing us a favor whenever conversations regarding our physical needs come up. I feel that it's their duty to make sure that we at least have as much comfort in our lives as they are receiving. We can't ask for equal financial compensation but we should be entitled to good health benefits".

It's hard to imagine that 325 former NFL players would be in a situation that forces them to rely on a second or third income, or rely on health benefits of a spouse. For some of these players, including Hall of Famers, retirement hasn't been easy. Maybe what this story and others will do is help these players get the word out that their former employer has not been living up to the promises that it told these individuals.

Maybe what this story will do is get current and future players to realize that anything can happen and that one day this could be them; despite the millions of dollars that they are making.

Only can the truth of this situation change the climate of how the league negotiates with former players. It is time for these players to be compensated at a pay that covers the cost of living for today and provide them with an income that is above the poverty line that this plan is currently set at.

These players gave their lives for the NFL and all they want is fair compensation. That is something that every American who has retired from a company wants and deserves. Above being a football player, these men were hard working Americans providing for the families. It's time for the league to recognize that fact and do the right thing by providing a pension plan that is befitting of its former gridiron gladiators.

© Copyright 2005 by BlackAthlete Sports Network

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