NFL hates former players

[Atlas]

They don't care about the players that made them billions!!

Retired players decry pension
Ditka, Kramer demand improved disability benefits for those with chronic injuries
By Mike Klis
Denver Post Staff Writer

As NFL owners occasionally squabble over how to divvy up $6 billion in revenues, some of the players from yesteryear are fighting to receive disability for bum knees, fuzzy brains, replaced hips and irreparable bodies.

"Our pension stinks," Hall of Fame guard Joe DeLamielleure said. "I think Gene Upshaw and Paul Tagliabue are responsible for this."

Whoa there, Joey D.

Upshaw heads the NFL Players Association and Tagliabue is a former NFL commissioner.

The Super Bowl XLI proceedings got contentious here Thursday when former Green Bay Packers lineman Jerry Kramer announced the start of the Gridiron Greats Assistance Fund. Supporting Kramer at his news conference was former Bears tight

Super Bowl Blog

The Post's Anthony Cotton, Mike Klis and Bill Williamson blog from the Super Bowl all this week.
end and coach Mike Ditka, who made it clear football has enriched his life, but he is stepping up on behalf of his less-fortunate colleagues, including Lions cornerback Lem Barney and DeLamielleure, who played for the Bills and Browns.
"One of the guys who was in here complaining, we just paid his mortgage the past five months," Upshaw said later at the NFLPA news conference.

Ditka was impassioned about helping some of the former players such as Willie Wood, Wilber Marshall, Joe Perry, Doug Atkins, Conrad Dobler and the late Mike Webster. Ditka said a few years ago, he sent a letter to every NFL owner asking for a $100,000 donation to help fund his ex-players' fund.

He said he received two checks - one for $10,000, another for $5,000. He sent the checks back.

"It's embarrassing," said Ditka, his face reddening. "It's not like there isn't enough money to go around. There is enough money to go around. We give disability to every other form in our society and these are guys who really are disabled, and we can't do it in football."

[BroncoBuff]

Embarassing stories ... how many former players can there be?

The super-rich NFL should at least see to it that any player (w/ some minimum service in the league) gets medical care and a place to live and food to eat.

http://www.orangemane.com/BB/showthread.php?t=52652

[-Slap-]

Its not that they hate them, they just want them to crawl off and die somewhere.

[AFCWestFan]

If someone gives me a job and I do it and they pay me and I blow the money is it the employers job to take me in and bail me out?

OK thats overly simplistic I know...but come on these guys are no different than the old boy wo builds houses for 30 years and ends up with bad knees a back problem and cause he is a moron blows his money.

[shakenbake]

I also heard that many of the guys who complain take a retirement payout when they retire rather than spread it out. They go through that money and then go to the media complaining about thier retirement. Alot of companies with "billions" of dollars have gone broke because of pension and retirment plans. You very very rarely see a private company offer any kind of pension or retirment these days. Ohh and guess what, when you quit your job you gotta find your own insurance program. Its not like they were lied to about what they were going to get when they finished playing.

[Jesterhole]

John Unitas, arguably the greatest player in NFL history, died an old, bitter man with a horribly broken body and no medical insurance, angry as hell at the NFL.

That is just wrong.

[Bronco_Beerslug]

It's like most corporations, use you, abuse you, throw you away when they're done with you.

[AFCWestFan]

It's like most corporations, use you, abuse you, throw you away when they're done with you.

Hope they dont bitch while cashing checks from said bad nasty mean corporations.

[2KBack]

I hear from a lot of people that Athletes are over-paid, but now people want to keep paying them after they don't play anymore?

[Bronco_Beerslug]

I hear from a lot of people that Athletes are over-paid, but now people want to keep paying them after they don't play anymore?This isn't anything new, they are paid a pension with a minimum requirement met. What they are asking for and should have is medical compensation for the brutal beating they endure to make billions for the owners and the league.

[2KBack]

This isn't anything new, they are paid a pension with a minimum requirement met. What they are asking for and should have is medical compensation for the brutal beating they endure to make billions for the owners and the league.

it's a nice thought, but it is a voluntary beating, and they are paid handsomely to endure it. It's not like any of these guy should be shocked about where they are. They got into the business knowing that they will get beat up, but they have the potential for great earnings as well. I don't see how the NFL owes them anything but fair compensation for the time that they were playing.

[Bronco_Beerslug]

it's a nice thought, but it is a voluntary beating, and they are paid handsomely to endure it. It's not like any of these guy should be shocked about where they are. They got into the business knowing that they will get beat up, but they have the potential for great earnings as well. I don't see how the NFL owes them anything but fair compensation for the time that they were playing. Not all players are paid the multi-million dollar salaries.
Many are hurt and injured after just a few years and get nothing from the NFL. Some major corporations have disability programs for employees, some don't, the NFL doesn't and needs to.

[2KBack]

Not all players are paid the multi-million dollar salaries.
Many are hurt and injured after just a few years and get nothing from the NFL. Some major corporations have disability programs for employees, some don't, the NFL doesn't and needs to.

Isn't it the government that pays disability? I don't know much about that spcifically.

I'm notsaying I don't want these guys to be taken care of either, I'm just taking the side of the corperation for arguments sake.

Guys are typically paid in accordance to their contribution. The NFL doesn't run out there and club people in the knees either. People play this game with full knowledge of it's risks. That really should take away the leagues accountability.

[Rock Chalk]

Some of these guys will make more money in a single year than I will in my lifetime.

And they are bitching about retirement?

Cry me a ****ing river. League minimum is still more money than I make in about 4 years.

And you wont ever hear me bitch about retirement.

You know why? Im not a dumb **** who wasted my money on stupid ****.

No sympathy from me. Crawl off and die if you are an idiot that doesnt know how to manage money AFTER you went and got yourself a college education.

[-Slap-]

Are people really so ignorant on this topic they think the players of yesteryear were making any kind of money?

The vast majority of these guys were selling insurance or driving beer trucks in the off-season just to make ends meet. This was going on well into the 1960s.

Believe it or not, you're not fit for most kinds of normal jobs after any significant period of time playing pro football. I know those injuries look rather minor sitting on your couch with a beer in your hand, but they have long term effects. Especially back in the old days when the medical attention wasn't as good and the teams openly lied to you to get you back on the field.

[Bronco LB 59]

Gene Upshaw has said on record that he doesn't get paid to back the old-timers. His job is to support the present clientele of the union.

Way to sell out your former peers, Raider douchebag.

[-Slap-]

He doesn't even do a good job of representing the current players. When BGumbel called him Tags' lapdog, he gave him too much credit.

[Atlas]

If someone gives me a job and I do it and they pay me and I blow the money is it the employers job to take me in and bail me out?

OK thats overly simplistic I know...but come on these guys are no different than the old boy wo builds houses for 30 years and ends up with bad knees a back problem and cause he is a moron blows his money.

It's not even that it's the fact that there are lots of players out there that built the NFL they did this back in the 60's and 70's and they didn't make any money. Now they suffer, financially, physically, and emotionally.

The really sad part is Ditka writting letters to the owners asking them for $100,000 each just to help some of these players and he gets a grand total of $15,000. That's embarrassing.

[BABronco]

I think it would be okay to give a pension to anyone who played before the 80's. But current day players don't need pension.

[shakenbake]

they willingly played, no one held a gun to their head. I'm sure the pay was on par for someone of their skill or educational level. They should have taken what they did make an invest it and then it wouldn't be a problem for them today. I can understand the disability thing, but again they signed up and knew the risks of doing so.

[Kaylore]

Meanwhile guys like Reggie Bush and Vernon Davis become the highest paid players at their position without taking a snap.

[KipCorrington25]

The NFL doesn't hate it's former players per say, but does helping them out make the NFL money? No, so there's your answer to why they don't.

[RhymesayersDU]

John Unitas, arguably the greatest player in NFL history, died an old, bitter man with a horribly broken body and no medical insurance, angry as hell at the NFL.

That is just wrong.

Beat me to it. I just got to the part in Floyd Little's book where he talks about Johnny U. Both his knees were replaced and he couldn't even lift a fork with his throwing hand because 3 of the fingers didn't work.

When he asked for the NFL to help with medical bills, they refused, citing some policy about filing for help before age 55.

[RhymesayersDU]

The issue for me is the old timers, guys like Johnny U and Floyd Little who weren't paid like they are today.

If somebody like Peyton Manning or Mike Vick asks for help with retirement, I'd tell him to piss off too, with all the money they make.

But the old timers, who not only weren't paid like the players today, but didn't really have adequate doctors on the teams anyways, I do feel sorry for many of them. They killed themselves for the NFL.

[Mediator12]

The problem here is that people see the players of today and Have zero clue how they got there. I mean how old are some of you saying that they knew what they were getting into and they were well payed?

The real problem is that the NEW ERA players have all the protections the old era players actually need in their new CBA agreements. The new penision and medical plans will pay for these ELITE players who actually make the 100 million contracts and endorsements deals and the guys who made their profession what it is today get less than medicare and medicaid from the league and NFLPA. The NFLPA is the biggest reason for this discrepancy. League Revenues are growing much higher than the rest of the entertainment industry and instead of doing the right thing and taking some of those enormous gains and funding programs to help the people who made it all possible, they keep paying the highest paid 5% of players 60% of those gains. The rich get richer, and the players who make the league work for these "superstars" get the shaft.

The average NFL player lasts less than the vestment period for the benefits package! But, but Upshaw represents the playas! Whatever. He represents the agents of those players who get paid on continually increasing NEW contracts and the Endorsement level money making players. He wouldn't know 1/10th of the players people on this site would recognize in a crowd.

Meanwhile, the NFL continues to "crack down" on those Crazy Christians who want to watch the "game" (I need to trademark that word so the NFL has to pay me royalties for it's usage). Yeah, those guys in New York and especially Gene Upshaw are sure good businessmen ;D Too bad they have the moral character of the Cincinatti Bengals. Leaders lead and do the hard things that are right. The NFL just polices it's profit Margin and flips its customers the Bird.

[watermock]

Yes, players lived above their means at times and didn't save a nest egg. However, salaries and medical care for the old timers. The fact is that some ex players need some help, regardless.

I can understand Ditka's anger...100K per team is peanuts this day and age, and there are several players like Manning, Favre and others that could easily chip in a million, yet alone just 100K which I believe would be tax free.

That creep Upshaw really pissed me off..."His job is just to protect current players..." Well how about taking it apon himself? It's not like that job isn't cake when labor negotiations aren't in the works.

[Atlas]

The problem here is that people see the players of today and Have zero clue how they got there. I mean how old are some of you saying that they knew what they were getting into and they were well payed?

The real problem is that the NEW ERA players have all the protections the old era players actually need in their new CBA agreements. The new penision and medical plans will pay for these ELITE players who actually make the 100 million contracts and endorsements deals and the guys who made their profession what it is today get less than medicare and medicaid from the league and NFLPA. The NFLPA is the biggest reason for this discrepancy. League Revenues are growing much higher than the rest of the entertainment industry and instead of doing the right thing and taking some of those enormous gains and funding programs to help the people who made it all possible, they keep paying the highest paid 5% of players 60% of those gains. The rich get richer, and the players who make the league work for these "superstars" get the shaft.

The average NFL player lasts less than the vestment period for the benefits package! But, but Upshaw represents the playas! Whatever. He represents the agents of those players who get paid on continually increasing NEW contracts and the Endorsement level money making players. He wouldn't know 1/10th of the players people on this site would recognize in a crowd.

Meanwhile, the NFL continues to "crack down" on those Crazy Christians who want to watch the "game" (I need to trademark that word so the NFL has to pay me royalties for it's usage). Yeah, those guys in New York and especially Gene Upshaw are sure good businessmen ;D Too bad they have the moral character of the Cincinatti Bengals. Leaders lead and do the hard things that are right. The NFL just polices it's profit Margin and flips its customers the Bird.

Good post like usual. Hell, even players in the 80's really didn't make that much. Wasn't the minimum salary in the 80's like $70 or $90,000?

I'm just saying the NFL should take care of their own.

[watermock]

Auction

http://jerrykramer.com/GridironGreatsAssistanceFundSuperstarAuctionItemsP review-SomeAdditionalItems.html

[Malcontent]

And how is it that a scum like O.J. gets 25k per month from his pension?? Yeah..this world is fair.

[TomServo]

the old timers from the 60s and 70s and maybe even early 80s should be taken care of but after that. its cry me a river...
my dad is a korean war vet with a metal plate in his freakin throat from shrapnel and he doesnt get crap compensation. so w/ pple who made millions even if it was for only a year or two, well boo hoo if you didnt put something aside.

[Atlas]

my dad is a korean war vet with a metal plate in his freakin throat from shrapnel and he doesnt get crap compensation. so w/ pple who made millions even if it was for only a year or two, well boo hoo if you didnt put something aside.

That has nothing to do with the NFL. The NFL makes over $6 billion a year. Why are you on the side of the billionaire owners? What they can't fork over $100,000 to help out former players that are in need. Who cares if the guy was from the early 90's. Look at Ted Johnson he had so many concussions he will have severe Alzheimers within 15 years. If he would need help down the road I would hope that the owners would sack up and help him.

[TomServo]

That has nothing to do with the NFL. The NFL makes over $6 billion a year. Why are you on the side of the billionaire owners? What they can't fork over $100,000 to help out former players that are in need. Who cares if the guy was from the early 90's. Look at Ted Johnson he had so many concussions he will have severe Alzheimers within 15 years. If he would need help down the road I would hope that the owners would sack up and help him.
because after @1985 it becomes billionaire versus miliionaires. players like otto graham i have plenty of sympathy for. after that my sympathy grows cold. sorry.<!-- / message --><!-- sig -->

[Goobzilla]

The previous generations of players made crap money and weren't given the best of medical advice when injured which is why some of them are in the condition they are in. I heard Jerry Kramer on Fox Sports Radio the other day and he said in the preseason they were paid $50 a week and there were 6 preseason games. It is sad when you hear about these guys that were your heroes and they're treated so coldly by the league that profited from their play. Ditka and Kramer and some of the other guys are trying their hardest, but someone from the league needs to make this a priority. It's an uphill fight without the league and/or the NFLPA involved.

No one in this league really needs to work an offseason job these days, thanks to the guys building the league into what it is. Akili Smith and Tim Couch's signing bonuses alone would be enough to build and staff an NFL retirement home.

Herb Adderly gets 176 bucks a month. HOF'er Mike Webster dies in the street. Andre Waters dead, John Mackey dying. Conrad Dobler spends $150 a month just on Vicodin. The list goes on and on...

[TomServo]

Conrad Dobler spends $150 a month just on Vicodin. The list goes on and on...
now Conrad Dobler... i hope that asshole suffers. Karma

[Odysseus]

Its not that they hate them, they just want them to crawl off and die somewhere.

I think anyone who doesn't see this is retarded.

I don't care what a guy does after the game we should do right by the players in terms of pension, medical, and counseling.

[Bronx33]

It's simple (just take care of your own) todays NFLers/The league need to step up for those living under bridges and eating top ramen are the ones that laided the easy road they now follow. (Upshaw makes 3.5 million a year and is a **** plain and simple)