The NFL’s Disgrace

The NFL\’s Disgrace –updates below–
cross-posted on Huffington Post

\”Before he cleans out his office, have Paul Tagliabue show you where he keeps Gene Upshaw\’s leash,\” Gumbel said.

I\’ve never missed a Super Bowl. In fact, I used to never miss games on Sunday.
But since becoming a political nomad, I\’ve not had a favorite team for a very
long time. However, I grew up a sports nut, so it\’s still in my blood. Once
upon a time I was a St. Louis Cardinals football fan. I grew up watching some
of the best. But I remember vividly watching Conrad Dobler. No doubt the NFL
honchos in the front office do too. That punk Gene Upshaw has to remember. He\’s
got the game films if he needs reminding, which seems obvious. Evidently, Upshaw has forgotten what players like Dobler meant to fans and the game of football. What Dobler and other former pros are going through is a disgrace. It is the NFL\’s shame, especially since Upshaw and the NFL have the power to change their reality.

Where do great NFL players go after their time on the field is finished? Some
get to the Hall of Fame, but some not only fade away, but many, many of the players spend the rest of their lives fighting severe pain, unimaginable
injuries and operation after operation, without any support at all. Mind you,
this starts young, sometimes not even at middle age.

The NFL takes care of their great players, right? Players like Dobler have
pensions and health insurance, or can get disability right? Wrong. Doctor after doctor have pronounced Dobler 90% disabled, but then the NFL brings their own doctors in and… well, you know the drill. What the NFL is doing to former pros is un-American.

For the National Football League, this is a glorious day. Championship Sunday. High-stakes atmosphere. Powerful and positive descriptions will flow from the designated mouths employed by the league\’s TV partners. Nonetheless, a league constant will permeate this big day – an unwillingness to speak the truth. There are plenty of examples of this. From CBS\’ Twinkie Munch of Shawne Merriman on \”The NFL Today\” to Fox being in denial when it comes to Tank Johnson. Anyway, all that really matters is this matchup between Tom Brady and Peyton Manning, right? (snip) \”Real Sports\” correspondent Jon Frankel reports on severe problems in the NFL\’s pension and disability program. Among the glaring observations is that the NFL and NFLPA seem united, arm-in-arm, on the issue. In so many other situations, union and management would butt heads. But for quite some time, the NFL and NFLPA have been on the same page with the pension/disability situation. The beef former players have with the system is this: No matter how much you are suffering from injuries incurred during your playing days, if you can still breathe you likely will not get disability payments. … .. NFL\’s secret shame League, Players Association turn backs on down-and-outsiders

HBO\’s
\”Real Sports\” this week chronicled Dobler\’s fight to get disability,
as well as those of others. Dobler spent 100 days in the hospital last year. Think about that one and we haven\’t even gotten to what he\’s going through with his wife, which just adds to his plight. But at least if Dobler could get the disability he has earned, one of his challenges would be relieved. It reminds us all of what happens when someone like Gene Upshaw forgets the greats of the game, putting his own welfare above the players.

But HBO excerpted a statement Upshaw made in 2006 to the Charlotte Observer. \”The bottom line is I don\’t work for them (former players). They don\’t hire me and they can\’t fire me,\” Upshaw said. \”They can complain about me all day long. But the active players have the vote. That\’s who pays my salary.\” Mike Ditka, who appears in HBO\’s report, minces no words about the union and Upshaw\’s leadership skills. \”The (NFL) players today are the worst represented union in all sports. Of all the sports,\” Ditka says. … (source)

Baseball and basketball players don\’t get treated like discarded racehorses
or greyhound dogs. Why do football players?

Today we will be given a spectacle straight out of the
Roman games, complete with Roman numerals and eight hours of pomp and pageantry
in the biggest sporting event of the year. However, for former Roman gladiators
in the game of football like Dobler, the people who are charged with projecting
the image of the sport and the game couldn\’t care less that he\’s fighting for
his life. Gene Upshaw sure doesn\’t, so Dobler is left to ponder his future.

\”If you know your quality of life is going to get worse, and you\’re going to be a burden on people around you, they shoot horses, don\’t they?\” – Conrad Dobler (HBO \”Real Sports\”)

Hey, Gene Upshaw, enjoy the big game today. I hope you choke on your hot dog.

UPDATE (3:41 p.m.): 92 yards, baby. If you missed it, here\’s your instant replay. … .. Manning scores, but they miss the field goal. … kick off.. fumbles … RAIN, oh rain. … .. Bears score again. This is going to be wild. Enjoy.

UPDATE (1:35 p.m.): I received this via emal and thought I\’d share it with you. Thanks,
Bruce. You\’re on the side of the angels. Let me also note that in Dobler\’s days NFL players made around $26,000, though they did get raises and bonuses. But even adjusting for inflation, that\’s hardly enough to save and live the rest of their lives coping with a proven disability.

Thanks for your comments on behalf of retired NFL players. The Baltimore Colts alumni have been at the forefront of a movement to enlighten the NFL, the NFLPA, the fans, the media, and the active players about the plight of hundreds of retired NFL players – from the 1950s and beyond. Over the last two years, we have launched a blog (http://nflretirees.blogspot.com) to publicize the issues faced by retired players and to share information, formed a Google Group that has grown to include more than 1,000 retired players to facilitate an open discussion among players, hired an independent actuary to explore the viability of increasing pension benefits to retired players and hosted a meeting of retired players to share the actuary\’s findings, pitched our story to dozens of media outlets, raised funds to assist our teammates, and more. We will continue to advocate for retired players and to work with Jerry Kramer, Mike Ditka and others to raise funds to help our brothers in need. As currently structured, funding for active and retired players\’ benefits is paid directly to the NFLPA by the NFL owners. The NFLPA, as the sole bargaining agent, is entrusted with allocating these funds as the union sees fit. Since, by NFLPA Executive Director Gene Upshaw\’s own admission, the union represents active players — not retired players — improved benefits for active players are funded before any improvements for retired players are even considered. While those players who retired prior to 1998 receive only a pension, those who retired after 1998 and those who are still playing will receive such benefits as generous pension, 401(k) plan, annuity, severance pay, health insurance for five years, college tuition reimbursement, and more. Bruce Laird Baltimore Colts, 1972-1981 San Diego Chargers, 1982-1983 NFL Retirees Blog