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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