NFL, union to aid retired players.

[skinsfan_nn]

I hope the NFL/UNION steps up to the plate on this one and helps these older retired guys out that made this league what it is.

Alot of these guys can either barley make it, are crippled, or are on the street, you talk about fleecing of America, help the guys out that desperately need it! Espically with NFL revenues at ALL time highs!



The NFL announced that it would be coordinating efforts with the NFL Players Association, the NFL Retired Players Association and other agencies with ties to the league to aid retired players in need of medical assistance.
"All of us in the NFL want to help former players that now find themselves in need of medical care through no fault of their own," Goodell said.
During the week leading up to the Super Bowl, numerous former players, including Mike Ditka, were critical of the NFL and NFLPA for not helping players in dire need of care.
Goodell said the alliance was not in response to those complaints but is an attempt to make sure all efforts are coordinated.

[Redskin Rich]

I saw something on 60 minutes or another such news program... they now have Plan 88 (named for John Mackey) where they get 88 grand for long term care in a facility and something like half of that to pay for home care.

[skinsfan_nn]

Read closely as this is how this plan 88 follows:

http://www.nflpa.org/cba/cba_pdf/ART...88_Benefit.pdf

[Redskin Rich]

Originally Posted by skinsfan_nn

Read closely as this is how this plan 88 follows:

http://www.nflpa.org/cba/cba_pdf/ART...88_Benefit.pdf

It is actually a better benefit that most people have on their jobs. It should be able to cover the cost of most Long Term Care.... I just hope they make sure to adjust the numbers for inflation as time goes on.

[sportscurmudgeon]

Certainlythe old time NFL players in need should be taken care of by the league; it's hard to come up with a solid argument against that. So why hasn't it happened?

Obviously, the owners would prefer not to spend any extra money on players who aren't on the field and helping to generate revenues. Even the "old-time owners" who nominally aren't in the football business as a way to make boatloads of cash would prefer not to do that. So how come they spend even the first dime on these players?

Well, the NFLPA negotiates this kind of thing into the collective bargaining agreement. But the NFLPA is made up of CURRENT players and the CURRENT players are far more concerned with getting money for themselves than they are in putting some coins into the pockets of the "old school guys". So this is not an issue that the NFLPA is going to "go to the mattresses" over.

The result is that the retired players really have no leverage in the negotiations and no real advocate for their cause. And that's why they have been largely ignored over the years.

Give credit to a bunch of the retired players who have done well for themselves (Ditka, Staubach, Elway come to mind) for speaking out and becoming advocates for some of the other retired players who are living in refrigerator boxes under bridges in cities. And give credit to Roger Goodell for maneuvering to get this item near the top of an agenda to deal with issues that affect the image of the league. The NFL has a charitable foundation that spends about $20M a year on various projects; maybe they should spend a similar amount on top of what they spend now on their former players - and coaches - who are in need?

[skinsfan_nn]

Originally Posted by sportscurmudgeon

Certainlythe old time NFL players in need should be taken care of by the league; it's hard to come up with a solid argument against that. So why hasn't it happened?

Obviously, the owners would prefer not to spend any extra money on players who aren't on the field and helping to generate revenues. Even the "old-time owners" who nominally aren't in the football business as a way to make boatloads of cash would prefer not to do that. So how come they spend even the first dime on these players?

Well, the NFLPA negotiates this kind of thing into the collective bargaining agreement. But the NFLPA is made up of CURRENT players and the CURRENT players are far more concerned with getting money for themselves than they are in putting some coins into the pockets of the "old school guys". So this is not an issue that the NFLPA is going to "go to the mattresses" over.

The result is that the retired players really have no leverage in the negotiations and no real advocate for their cause. And that's why they have been largely ignored over the years.

Give credit to a bunch of the retired players who have done well for themselves (Ditka, Staubach, Elway come to mind) for speaking out and becoming advocates for some of the other retired players who are living in refrigerator boxes under bridges in cities. And give credit to Roger Goodell for maneuvering to get this item near the top of an agenda to deal with issues that affect the image of the league. The NFL has a charitable foundation that spends about $20M a year on various projects; maybe they should spend a similar amount on top of what they spend now on their former players - and coaches - who are in need?

You are correct! And it's a good thing for the guys that have done so much on there own....THE DITKA'S & Co., that have sold there own stuff to help these guys out.

Gene Upshaw sure hasen't done SHIT! He outta be ashamed, but he's not he's to busy counting the couple mil a year he's knockin down to make time to do the RIGHT THING!

[sportscurmudgeon]

skinsfan:

Don't be quite so harsh on Gene Upshaw. He is hired by the CURRENT players - and their agents to be sure - with the mandate to get as much of the revenue of the league directed toward present salaries as he possibly can. At the moment, the salary cap is at 59.5% of the national revenues that are shared.

Gene Upshaw does NOT represent the old time players - the retirees - even though he is one of them. His job is to get the best deal possible for his clients - the CURRENT players.

Now you can debate whether or not he has gotten the best deal possible for the CURRENT players, but don't hang him for not being a huge advocat for the former players. They are not his "employer".

[skinsfan_nn]

Originally Posted by sportscurmudgeon

skinsfan:

Don't be quite so harsh on Gene Upshaw. He is hired by the CURRENT players - and their agents to be sure - with the mandate to get as much of the revenue of the league directed toward present salaries as he possibly can. At the moment, the salary cap is at 59.5% of the national revenues that are shared.

Gene Upshaw does NOT represent the old time players - the retirees - even though he is one of them. His job is to get the best deal possible for his clients - the CURRENT players.

Now you can debate whether or not he has gotten the best deal possible for the CURRENT players, but don't hang him for not being a huge advocat for the former players. They are not his "employer".

Don't be harsh on Upchuck? are you kidding?
You've missed the point. Gene Upshaw has a responsibility to both the RETIRED and the CURRENT players. If it weren't for the retired player's the players that laid the foundation for this league there wouldn't be football as we know it today and futhermore the league is making money hand over fist and CAN afford to do the right thing. YOU HAVE TO TAKE CARE OF THE RETIRED! GENE UPSHAW HAS FAILED THE RETIREES MISERABLE!

As anyone with even a fundamental understanding of professional sports labor issues knows, the NFL has the weakest players union. NFL players have the shortest careers, suffer the harshest long term health effects and rarely have guaranteed contracts. This has caused many -- and not just Bryant Gumbel -- to question the leadership of union head Gene Upshaw, including many of his fellow retired brethren. But such dissent will not be tolerated.

Several retired players and chapter presidents have started blogs to communicate with their brethren about perceived problems with the pension system and other issues that are affecting former NFLers. In a recent memo, the NFLPA said that any retired chapter found guilty of "conduct detrimental to the union's best interests" may be dissolved.

Bruce Laird, president of the chapter of retired Baltimore Colts, says he got the message loud and clear. "I think it's a warning over the bow that if ... other people want to speak out for representation in the NFL, it's looked upon unfavorably."

It makes sense that Upshaw would want to quiet anyone who might point out that no ex-athletes have it worse than NFL players. (Save for boxers, but don't expect them to unionize anytime soon.) And what better way to consolidate power than threatening to shutdown Blogspot sites. Fight the real enemy, Gene. This guy is a disgrace!

[Redskin Rich]

Originally Posted by skinsfan_nn

Don't be harsh on Upchuck? are you kidding?
You've missed the point. Gene Upshaw has a responsibility to both the RETIRED and the CURRENT players. If it weren't for the retired player's the players that laid the foundation for this league there wouldn't be football as we know it today and futhermore the league is making money hand over fist and CAN afford to do the right thing. YOU HAVE TO TAKE CARE OF THE RETIRED! GENE UPSHAW HAS FAILED THE RETIREES MISERABLE!


As anyone with even a fundamental understanding of professional sports labor issues knows, the NFL has the weakest players union. NFL players have the shortest careers, suffer the harshest long term health effects and rarely have guaranteed contracts. This has caused many -- and not just Bryant Gumbel -- to question the leadership of union head Gene Upshaw, including many of his fellow retired brethren. But such dissent will not be tolerated.

Several retired players and chapter presidents have started blogs to communicate with their brethren about perceived problems with the pension system and other issues that are affecting former NFLers. In a recent memo, the NFLPA said that any retired chapter found guilty of "conduct detrimental to the union's best interests" may be dissolved.

Bruce Laird, president of the chapter of retired Baltimore Colts, says he got the message loud and clear. "I think it's a warning over the bow that if ... other people want to speak out for representation in the NFL, it's looked upon unfavorably."

It makes sense that Upshaw would want to quiet anyone who might point out that no ex-athletes have it worse than NFL players. (Save for boxers, but don't expect them to unionize anytime soon.) And what better way to consolidate power than threatening to shutdown Blogspot sites. Fight the real enemy, Gene. This guy is a disgrace!

You have some good points, and you missed some of the points SportsCrum was making.

Morally, Upshaw does have an obligation to the players... but the union is for the current players, and those are who pays Gene's salary (along with directions of what they want)... That is unfortuneately where his obligation lies.

They also have one of the STRONGEST unions in sports as shown by the contracts that they receive.

I think it is more imperative that the UNION as a whole make a conserted effort to support those who laid the ground work for them. If Gene got that directive from his employers, I am sure he would be more active in helping the older guys.

[jsarno]

Unions are only out for their own benefit...keep that in mind.

[skinsfan_nn]

Originally Posted by jsarno

Unions are only out for their own benefit...keep that in mind.

You better believe it. That's the problem, they are a bunch of greedy bastards! How can you possibly turn your back, when there is PLENTY enough cash to take care of both sides. The NFL is raking in RECORD profits.

I couln't sleep at night!

[Redskin Rich]

Originally Posted by skinsfan_nn

You better believe it. That's the problem, they are a bunch of greedy bastards! How can you possibly turn your back, when there is PLENTY enough cash to take care of both sides. The NFL is raking in RECORD profits.

I couln't sleep at night!

Remember, the union membership is mostly made up of players in their 20's. Most people at that age are only worried about the paycheck... not the retirement and benefits. Now, take that and multiply it by 100 and that is the kids in the NFL and the crazy money they are seeing.

[skinsfan_nn]

POSTED 1:42 p.m. EDT, May 26, 2007

DITKA, UPSHAW DUKING IT OUT

There's an intriguing squabble brewing between the head of the NFL Players Association and a talking head who is the resident crotchety old man on ESPN's coverage of pro football.

Mike Ditka, a Hall of Fame tight end who coached the Bears to a Super Bowl win 21 years ago, has been firing off about the manner in which the NFLPA does (or, as the case may be, doesn't) take care of its former members.

On Friday, Ditka took it up a notch. A big notch.

Ditka claimed on a Chicago radio station that Upshaw is breaking the law, and that the Senate will be investigating the union soon.

"[Upshaw is] taking loans from the Players Association which are illegal,'' Ditka said on WMVP-AM in Chicago. ''You cannot take any loan which [is] over $4,000 from the union. He's on the books for over [a] $100,000 loan, which is really a criminal offense.

"There's going to be a Senate investigation of the National Football League Player's Association, believe me,'' he said, ''and we'll see what happens, that's all. They brought it on themselves."

Upshaw's response?

"That is so farfetched that it's not even believable,'' he said, according to the Chicago Sun-Times. ''I would not dignify those comments with a response, other than to say it shows how out of touch he is. Consider the source. This is all Mike Ditka whistling Dixie.

''Why would I take an illegal loan? And the limit is $2,000. That's stupid. Whatever I get from the players association and my salary are reported. He's nuts. We report every transaction. Ditka's not interested in the facts.''

Upshaw told the Sun-Times that he hopes to address the matter directly with Ditak. ''I'm not afraid of talking to Mike,'' he said. ''My record of what I have done is unmatched.''

Who knows what'll happen next. But Ditka is the first high-profile NFL figure to ever call out Upshaw so loudly. Even if Ditka is off the mark, the mere fact that he's throwing the darts is amazing to us.

Especially since no one else of Ditka's ilk previously have even dared to try.

[Redskin Rich]

I don't know much if anything about the loan thing.... I can see both points in their dislike... Ditka feels the union owes it to the older guys to take care of them.... He is right, to a point.

The older guys did not have the clout to get the benefits they needed. Now that the younger guys have the clout, they are only interested in themselves. Gene Upshaw is the target that Ditka is directing his anger at.... but it shouldn't be Upshaw, but in fact the union that gives Upshaw his direction. If the current players wanted to work hard to take care of the guys who laid the foundation for their success... then I am sure the NFLPA would get it done with Upshaw in the lead putting pressure on the NFL.

[70Chip]

I've never understood why Pro athletes would want a labor union as it has been known in this country. They could hire a law firm to do everything the NFLPA does and probably for less. I suppose Federal Law more or less compells them to have a union in order to bargain collectively, enjoy certain protections, etc. But I mean why create a monster like Upshaw when you could have an expendable lawyer do the same thing. Get tired of the lawyer, hire a new one. Upshaw will never go away.