BY BOB GLAUBER
Newsday Staff Correspondent
February 2, 2007
MIAMI --
Retired players struggling with life after football got some much-needed assistance yesterday when several prominent former players joined forces to organize an Internet auction that will benefit those with chronic disabilities.
Former Packers guard Jerry Kramer and former Bears tight end Mike Ditka criticized the NFL's current pension system as inadequate and said their on-line auction of NFL memorabilia underscores the need for more to be done to address the plight of players falling on hard times.
"There is enough money to go around," Ditka said. "Not to take anything away from the guys who play today, but they are not the makers of the game. They are the keepers of the game. They are doing what was laid down by a lot of other guys before them, guys who played hurt all the time and didn't make a lot of money."
Former Bills offensive lineman Joe DeLamielleure ripped the league and the NFLPA for not addressing the issue.
"Our pensions suck, plain and simple," he said. "And I think [NFLPA executive director] Gene Upshaw and [former NFL commissioner] Paul Tagliabue are responsible for this. They've been in power for 20 years and they've done nothing. Guys need help yesterday. When you can help somebody who's in need, you're as guilty as the other people who have been screwing them for years."
The criticism might be having an effect. League sources have told Newsday that there will be an increased effort to make further enhancements to the pension system, which was beefed up last year, but not by enough, according to many former players.
Ditka pointed to the death of former Steelers All-Pro center Mike Webster - who was addicted to painkillers and alcohol and became homeless after his career ended - as well as the struggles of such former NFL stars as Doug Atkins, Joe Perry, Jim Ringo, John Mackey and Willie Wood as evidence that many former players remain in need.
Players Association officials defended the league's pension plan yesterday.
"What we're hearing is: 'It's not enough. We should give more. It should be the same for the active players and the retired players,'" union chief Gene Upshaw said. "That's never going to happen ... We do what we can do. We will continue to do what we must do, and we have not turned our back on anyone."
Kramer organized the group of former players to help launch the online auction, which began yesterday on JerryKramer.com and will end on Feb. 13. The memorabilia includes Ditka's 1975 NFC championship ring, DeLamielleure's gold bracelet given to him by O.J. Simpson, a hand-drawn play by former Packers coach Vince Lombardi and several autographed helmets and footballs.
Contributing memorabilia are Archie Manning, former Giants Harry Carson and Sam Huff, and Dolphins coach Don Shula.
"The thing that's making my heart ache is that some of my teammates and the warriors I played against are having some difficult times," Kramer said. "We need to help them."
The Washington Post contributed to this story.
Copyright 2007 Newsday Inc.
Newsday Staff Correspondent
February 2, 2007
MIAMI --
Retired players struggling with life after football got some much-needed assistance yesterday when several prominent former players joined forces to organize an Internet auction that will benefit those with chronic disabilities.
Former Packers guard Jerry Kramer and former Bears tight end Mike Ditka criticized the NFL's current pension system as inadequate and said their on-line auction of NFL memorabilia underscores the need for more to be done to address the plight of players falling on hard times.
"There is enough money to go around," Ditka said. "Not to take anything away from the guys who play today, but they are not the makers of the game. They are the keepers of the game. They are doing what was laid down by a lot of other guys before them, guys who played hurt all the time and didn't make a lot of money."
Former Bills offensive lineman Joe DeLamielleure ripped the league and the NFLPA for not addressing the issue.
"Our pensions suck, plain and simple," he said. "And I think [NFLPA executive director] Gene Upshaw and [former NFL commissioner] Paul Tagliabue are responsible for this. They've been in power for 20 years and they've done nothing. Guys need help yesterday. When you can help somebody who's in need, you're as guilty as the other people who have been screwing them for years."
The criticism might be having an effect. League sources have told Newsday that there will be an increased effort to make further enhancements to the pension system, which was beefed up last year, but not by enough, according to many former players.
Ditka pointed to the death of former Steelers All-Pro center Mike Webster - who was addicted to painkillers and alcohol and became homeless after his career ended - as well as the struggles of such former NFL stars as Doug Atkins, Joe Perry, Jim Ringo, John Mackey and Willie Wood as evidence that many former players remain in need.
Players Association officials defended the league's pension plan yesterday.
"What we're hearing is: 'It's not enough. We should give more. It should be the same for the active players and the retired players,'" union chief Gene Upshaw said. "That's never going to happen ... We do what we can do. We will continue to do what we must do, and we have not turned our back on anyone."
Kramer organized the group of former players to help launch the online auction, which began yesterday on JerryKramer.com and will end on Feb. 13. The memorabilia includes Ditka's 1975 NFC championship ring, DeLamielleure's gold bracelet given to him by O.J. Simpson, a hand-drawn play by former Packers coach Vince Lombardi and several autographed helmets and footballs.
Contributing memorabilia are Archie Manning, former Giants Harry Carson and Sam Huff, and Dolphins coach Don Shula.
"The thing that's making my heart ache is that some of my teammates and the warriors I played against are having some difficult times," Kramer said. "We need to help them."
The Washington Post contributed to this story.
Copyright 2007 Newsday Inc.
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