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Retired players section vist their pages Tell us what you think Fans comments
Name: Quinn from Las Vegas
Just wanted to say that you guys are true heros, if the NFLPA won't do what's right it's nice to see that people do care about what has happened to our heros of the past. The NFLPA should be ashamed of the way that it is conductng itself. I would also like to know if buying NFL merchandice supports the NFLPA, if it does i am going to stop any and all purcheses of NFL Logo apparel and merchandice post haste, might be great national campaign to let the NFL and the NFLPA that this is not the way to treat people who have put there lives on the line for the entertainment of others. Quinn Jones Las Vegas Nevada BTW I am only 30 but i am with you guys all the way
Name: Tim
It is absolutely disgusting how unprofessional and incompetent Gene Upshaw has proven to be - especially given the fact that he is an ex player himself. How did he get elected to his position and what needs to be done to get him out so these Gridiron Greats are taken care of the way they deserve? I am a life long Cowboys fan and my 10 year old daughter has followed in my footsteps in that regard. With the way the grass roots players are being treated and the out of control attitudes the current players have (seemingly oblivious to the people that paved the way for the ridiculous salaries they receive today), I'm embarrassed when I have to seperate my love of the game with the corrupt and self serving tactics of the NFL and NFLPA brass. They have been reduced to perfect examples for me to explain to my daughter that the system isn't always fair. Hats off to all of the ex players working to get this fixed and to Iron Mike for being fortunate enough to not be dealing with the problem first hand himself. Despite his success, he still is making as much noise as possible to help these guys!
From: "David ( \"Lefty\" ) Lefkowith"
To: nflpaexecutivedept@nflplayers.com
Subject: Bad Move: The "Truth Squad" Webpage regarding Disabled Former Players
I was disheartened and dismayed to see that Gene Upshaw and the NFLPA decided to take the low road with your "Truth Squad" webpage. This is a bad strategy. It can't work.
Not only will it fail to elevate you in the eyes of the public - it serves to confirm the charges about you that the NFLPA leadership is more interested in appearances and politics than in actually helping the pioneers of your game. My name is David Lefkowith. I'm a long-time fan of the game. I lived and died with the Baltimore Colts during their heyday. I played Strat-o-Matic Football and memorized all the statistics. I saw many of the disabled players (and Gene Upshaw) play many times.
I'm also a management consultant. Over the last 30 years I've worked with all sorts of organizations and executives, focusing many times on policy issues as thorny as the disability issue is for the NFL and the NFLPA.
Had I been advising you, I would have urged you NOT to pursue the strategy that you have evidently decided to pursue.
Resorting to calumny against these former players doesn't help. It makes you look like bullies. They're poor and ill. You're rich and apparently healthy. This is monumentally bad judgment on your part to resort to name calling and charge swapping. It won't achieve any worthwhile objective. It simply seeks to confirm the worst about you to anyone who is convinced about (or even questioning) your intentions and good will.
You might believe that there are "facts" that address the "distortions" of selected players. Even if this is true, there are still many articles stretching back dozens of years on the inadequacies of the disability system for NFL retirees. I have three that so touched me that I saved electronic versions of them - one from the Wall Street Journal (12/03/05), one from Sports Illustrated (5/7/01), and one from the Baltimore Sun about one of my boyhood heros, John Mackey (12/27/05).
Here's the main point:
Disparaging disabled retirees is a defective strategy. Rather than achieving anything positive for the NFLPA leadership, it will mostly serve to confirm the picture others would paint of you as callous, bullying and self-interested. This strategy makes you seem mean-spirited and obstructionist - it most certainly does not absolve you from the charges laid at you by your detractors.
A much better strategy would be scouring your retiree database to find those truly needy individuals whom the system may have overlooked, and going the extra mile to make sure these retirees are treated fairly (maybe even kindly).
This is the appropriate answer to the allegations laid at you by your detractors.
Final Note:
I've run a few large organizations, and consulted to countless senior executives. My wife currently runs a large organization within UCLA. In every case, we have both been advised by HR experts that you never comment on the specifics of a personnel matter in public, not even if the individual involved has disclosed details (partial, distorted or otherwise).
Had I been your consultant, I would have urged you to seek legal opinion as to whether or not you lay yourself open to claims based on improper disclosure of personnel matters.
And even if this is not the case, disclosing negative information about disabled retirees will nevermake you guys look better. It might (or might not) cover your detractors with mud - but it won't clean you.
I've read your website, fellas. The legal orders don't clear you - they talk more (in my reading) to the legal deficiencies of the pleadings of those suing you, not to your "innocence."
You're heading down the wrong path.
As a fan of the game, I'd be more than willing to review my thoughts with you, and to help you develop a strategy that is more caring and more likely to achieve your goals.
Dave Lefkowith ("Lefty")
cc: Roger Goodell NFL Gridiron Greats
Name: Roy
I just wanted to let you guys know that I think the cause your fighting for is absolutely wonderful. These players deserve anything they need to live a productive, pain free life. They gave their heart and soul to the game of football and to the fans for many years. The least the league could do is have sufficient funds and dr.'s available to assist in examing these players to see if they truly are in need of league support. I think its ashame what they are putting these players thru. Like they dont have enough going on in their lives, and now they have to worried about a previous employer, one worth billions of dollars for their support. Shows how much they care for the players that made the leaugue what it is today. Keep up the great work and know there are many people supporting the cause. To the players dealing with this: Walk with your heads high and be proud. You've touched many lives and that wont be forgotten. I wish you all the best. -Roy
From: Jon Arnett
Brent,don't worry because there are more people behind you than you can imagine. Your courage to-date has not gone unnoticed! We will not leave you out there alone!!!! For your information, I have had it with the NFL/NFLPA arrogance and hypocrisy. For Gene and Roger to retain a person like Lanny Davis put me over the edge. Here is a guy who is a major sycophant for the Clinton's and their Universal Health Care...we all take care of our neighbors, and now he represents the NFL in their quest to belittle the care of past players who have built the league. This is a topic that should be made public to the general population of this country, or at least the football devotees. The arrogance and lack of intelligence that goes with Gene Upshaw amazes me. I guess the owners know that by over compensating this empty suit, he will bark when they say speak. Obviously, I'm mad. How in the world can an organization as large as the NFL hire a person that was a part of the core of "Universal Health Care" and then plan the strategy for an organization to not allow it's people that same type of care? Beats me. They must think we are stupid and perhaps we are if we do not make this a major issue this coming year...especially with the Democratic Party making this their Battle Cry. Let's go get 'em, Jon Arnett
Name: William
My first frustration with the NFL and its owners came when Al Davis
moved my Raiders to LA and then back again. That told me they just don't care
about the fans and the community. Now that the 49ers are holding SF hostage for
a new stadium I cannot watch pro ball anymore.
Now that I've read about how the former greats are being tossed aside like
greyhounds at a race track I am left speechless and very angry. I will be
placing a donation today with your orginization and would like you to set up a
monthly donation from my credit card in the amount of $20 a month.
Name: Jimbo Mac '76
The NFL is a multi-billion dollar business. Kudos to Da Coach
Mike Ditka & Jerry Kramer amongst others who WON'T let the fat cats to
include Gene Upshaw dictate to them that there is no obligation to the
greats of yesteryear who paved the way for todays so-called stars. Read
your Bibles NFLPA & owners. Where much has been given, much is expected.
Mr. Goddell, continue to do the right thing. Force the fatcats of the NFLPA
& the owners to freely give, as they've freely received.
Name: Robert, Rachael and Ryan My family has enjoyed football my entire life. Growing up in the 70's those were great memories for our family. We all got together after church on Sundays to enjoy good food and football. I may not know a whole lot about football but we do enjoy watching it. My husband, however, is a football fan through and through and when we saw Mike Ditka talking about Gridiron Greats on ESPN Tv, I rushed upstairs to see the website. I was very touched by the story regarding Brian Demarco and his family, since I too will turn 35 soon and couldn't imagine having to go through what they have endured. On our next pay period we plan to donate to this fund and for the Demarco family. This is a very important fund and we will do our part to help the NFL players in need. Robert, Rachael and Ryan.
Name: Kurt , I realize that the players in years past did not make the kind of money that many players get today. However, it is hard to believe that a prominent and successful organization such as the NFL with all of its glory and history cannot come up with the funds to take care of their own!! How many old players are in dire need, 10, 50, 100 or more? Does the NFL today provide a program for players to participate hat will meet their health needs in the future? When I hear things like Michael Vick has to return to Atlanta $16 million in bonus money, and we can't take care of these players, there is something very wrong with our culture and/or value system. God bless you Mike Ditka for stepping up to the plate to help.
