THREE TIME SUPER BOWL CHAMPION, FORMER DALLAS COWBOY, DARYL JOHNSTON SPEAKS OUT ABOUT  NFLPA DISABILITY SYSTEM & LENDS SUPPORT TO MIKE DITKA & THE GRIDIRON GREATS

DISABLED NFL PLAYERS  JOIN JOHNSTON AT PUBLIC FORUM TO ADDRESS INADEQUATE  DISABILITY SYSTEM & BENEFITS PROVIDED BY THE NFLPA & THE ABANDONMENT & BETRAYAL MANY RETIRED PLAYERS FEEL

Dallas, Texas, August 20th -Today former Dallas Cowboy Daryl Johnston revealed his personal experiences and expressed his frustration with the NFLPA disability system. Johnston, a TV Analyst for the NFL on FOX, participated in a public forum hosted by the GRIDIRON GREATS ASSISTANCE FUND. The forum featured retired NFL players who are disabled, in dire need, and all who have had nightmarish experiences with the NFLPA disability system. The retired NFL players issued strong statements and detailed their personal struggles with post football related issues. The group also spoke about the recent meetings held by NFLPA Union Chief Gene Upshaw regarding issues facing retired NFL Players and their proposed alliance to deal with those issues.

 

Johnston is lending his support to The Gridiron Greats Assistance Fund which is a nonprofit, humanitarian organization overseen by a board of directors consisting of many players who are advocates of retired NFL players’ rights including: Mike Ditka, Gale Sayers, Joe DeLamielleure, Harry Carson, Willie Davis, and Tom Nowatzke. The organization provides immediate aid and support services to retired NFL players who are in dire need due to lack of adequate disability, medical, and other issues. To learn more about the Gridiron Greats and the forum. click here

 

“I have been through the process and I knew it was wrong but I did not understand how bad it really was,” said Daryl Johnston.  “After hearing some of the stories I am more than convinced than ever that something has to be done to fix this. We have a new commissioner who has taken a tough stance and I hope he will do the same with the issues facing retired players and end the division that exists between the retired players and the NFLPA.  We need organizations like the Gridiron Greats right now to put a band-aid on this thing until significant changes are made.”

 

“I am so pleased that Daryl Johnston is speaking out with regard to the NFLPA disability system and the treatment of retired NFL players by the union. By sharing his experiences and frustrations, the Gridiron Greats, as are many dire need players we are assisting, are all grateful for his support," Said Mike Ditka, board member of the Gridiron Greats Assistance Fund.

 

Gridiron Board member Joe DeLamielleure said, “With guys like Johnston and Ditka bringing awareness to this issue, and working on it, it may be our only hope to getting this thing straightened out.”

 

The forum which took place today in Dallas Texas featured DARYL JOHNSTON, former Dallas Cowboy, CONRAD DOBLER, three time Pro Bowler and dire need player who has been turned down multiple times for NFL disability despite 13 surgeries, BRIAN DEMARCO, dire need player, suffers from a cracked back and nerve damage has yet to have a claim opened after four years, DAVE PEAR, pro bowl nose guard, Tampa Bay Buccaneer and Oakland Raider who after  seven operations on his spine had also been denied disability.

 

The group of players in attendance openly discussed the abandonment and betrayal of former players by the NFL/NFLPA and the possible corruption and grotesque conflict of interest that many retired players feel exists at the NFLPA.

 

“I feel good being here today and helping to call attention to these issues. I am so grateful to the Gridiron Greats for the help they are providing to me and my family. The NFLPA disability system is deceitful, cruel, and evil and created a hardship for our families,” said Dave Pear. The former pro bowler went on to say, “The NFL turned its back on me and so many others. Together with the Gridiron Greats, we are going to fight this fight and not give up.”

                                                                                                                                      

“I am thankful to have another opportunity to expose the injustices that retired players have to face because of the NFLPA’s system. It’s wonderful to be here and have a guy like Daryl Johnston step forward and share his feelings and experiences,” said Brian DeMarco.  “It is ludicrous that the NFLPA hires a guy like Lanny Davis to call reporters and dispute my disability applications.  Is the fact that the NFLPA is paying a high profile Washington spin doctor who worked for President Clinton during the Monica Lewinsky scandal to attack the credibility of crippled players, who are in dire need, a sign that the NFLPA wants to address the disability issue? This is a joke.”

 

With regard to the meeting last month hosted by the NFLPA to discuss issues facing retired players and a proposed alliance, Mike Ditka had this to say:

 

“I don’t believe any of the stakeholders where there. The meeting had no substance. If Gene Upshaw and Roger Goodell wanted the meeting to have substance, the players and their families who have had to fight an inadequate disability system and bad pensions would have been there such as Brent Boyd, Mike Webster’s son Garrett, Mike Mosley, Brian Demarco, Conrad Dobler,  Dave Pear and Herb Adderley.  Were any of them there? Judging by the attendees invited to this meeting it was clear that the NFL and the NFLPA are not that interested in conducting meetings with substance that will bring about the major changes that are needed. Where were the owners?”  

 

The Gridiron Greats as an organization is not in support of the meeting and formation of the alliance.  The voices that need to be heard are those of the retired players who are suffering, have lived on the streets, used up all their earnings on medical payments, and have to deal with these desperate situations day in and day out – not some hand picked NFL committee of retired players that were selected for their name recognition, celebrity status, and political correctness. It is the opinion of the Gridiron Greats Organization that the meetings held by the NFL and the NFLPA were yet another diversion tactic by the NFL and an attempt to not deal with the core issue of overhauling a broken, and what some call corrupt, disability system. The results of the meeting, an announcement of “new retired player’s benefits initiatives” lacked substance, details, and does not address the core issues.

 

 

“There are a multitude of problems facing retired players,” said Jennifer Smith, Executive Director of the Gridiron Fund. “The problems are vast and range from inadequate disability benefits and pensions to depression, addiction to pain medications, homelessness, and poverty. We are helping players who are dealing with all of these issues. Many of the retired players our organization is assisting are truly touched by that fact that Daryl Johnston is speaking publicly and calling attention to the issue and the treatment many of them have had to face". 

 

The GGAF fund has provided financial aid and support services to retired players who have had their lifetime disability revoked, players who have been denied disability multiple times, players in need of shelter, and families who need support just so they can care for a former player or bury a spouse. The Gridiron Greats organization relies on public and corporate support. Currently, there’s a donation drive underway. The public can learn about specific players in dire need, make a donation, read in depth reaction, and post comments at gridirongreats.org.  Donations can also be made by calling 1-800-708-1078.