Truth Squad Press Release

GRIDIRON GREATS ASSISTANCE FUND

LAUNCHES NFL RETIRED PLAYERS PUBLIC WEB SITE

gridirongreats.org

Vehicle unveiled for retired NFL players to communicate with the public and the media, tell their stories, IN THEIR OWN WORDS, provide information, comments, share experiences with disability, pension and other post career issues.

MIKE DITKA & DISABLED RETIRED PLAYERS DENOUNCE THE NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE PLAYERS ASSOCIATION FOR THEIR DIRTY PLAY, TACTICS & PUBLIC CAMPAIGN TO DISCREDIT DISABLED & MENTALLY IMPAIRED RETIRED PLAYERS

(For immediate release, Chicago, Illinois) MIKE DITKA announced today that the Gridiron Greats Assistance Fund has created and launched a web-based initiative for NFL retired players at gridirongreats.org. In response to the new tactics employed by the National Football League Players Association of publicly discrediting disabled and mentally impaired retired players, the Gridiron Greats organization is providing retired, disabled, and dire need players an online chalkboard to share their stories with the general public and media. The web site has been created by the Gridiron Greats as a service to provide a platform for players to tell their stories -- in their own words. It will all them to provide information, comments and share their experiences with disability, pension and other post career issues. Information that the players provide is exactly as it is submitted, it is not edited or censored.

At an emotionally charged Chicago press conference today held by Mike Ditka and the Gridiron Greats Assistance Fund, Ditka unveiled the Gridiron Greats web initiative for retried NFL players. The Gridiron Greats is providing this cyberspace platform to retired player’s partiality in response to the NFLPA’s recently launched web based “Truth Squad” and “The White Paper", both of which publicly target specific players who are disabled or mentally impaired. Some players who have been publicly targeted are those that have testified in front of the United States Senate or have spoken publicly about their situations.

“These are deplorable tactics by the NFLPA,” said MIKE DITKA, Gridiron Greats Board Member. “The players union publicly discrediting disabled and mentally impaired players through this “Truth Squad” is despicable. They don’t know the meaning of the word (truth). They should focus their attention on fixing a pathetic disability program. Gene Upshaw and the NFLPA should be ashamed. The Gridiron Greats has launched this web site for NFL retired players to provide a vehicle for all retired players to share their truth and information with the public in their own words. I want everyone to visit gridirongreats.org regularly to see the stories and for retired player to actively use this web site to share their feelings”.

Recent History. A day after a meeting between several former players, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell and union leader Gene Upshaw, where groups were invited to discuss potential solutions to issues facing retired players, former players, including some from the Gridiron Greats, were asked to share information with the NFLPA regarding the names of disabled players who are in need of help or disability. The very next day the NFLPA launched a web initiative targeted to discredit many of the same players.

“I was shocked to learn about the NFLPA public tactics and to find myself written about in their ‘White Pages’ on the internet. This is causing additional anguish to myself, my family, and many of these disabled players who, like me, are already suffering due to the NFLPA’s inadequate disability system. Now, to have to endure even more distress and hardships at the hands of their union; I have already posted my story information and even some x-rays for people to see,” said disabled NFL player, DAVE PEAR. “I am so grateful we, as retired players, some like me who have lived in isolation for so long, now have a forum in which to share our truth with the public and the media as well as have means to correspond with public. I hope that everyone will regularly visit the retired player section at gridirongreats.org.”

MIKE DITKA was joined at the press event by several disabled players and family members of those deceased who have been targeted by the campaign including DAVE PEAR, former Oakland Raider, GARRETT WEBSTER (son of Hall Of Fame, Mike Webster) and EUGENE “MERCURY” MORRIS former Miami Dolphin they spoke about the NFLPA’s recent tactics.

“The experience that my family and I went through with my father, Mike Webster, was horrific,” said GARRETT WEBSTER, son of Mike Webster. “After many years of dad and all of us suffering and a long legal fight against the NFLPA, which we succeeded in all but too late, my family and I are saddened by the NFLPA ‘Truth Squad’ initiative. The inclusion of my deceased father in this is disgusting. My dad loved the game and suffered needlessly at the hands of this union and now even though he is gone they continue to take issue. As part of the new Gridiron Greats web initiative I have posted my thoughts and a complete factual and truthful outline about my father prepared by one of the lawyers who fought for my dad, Cy Smith. I invite all of you to read his story and his truth at gridirongreats.org.”

“I have been in this fight for a very long time and have seen a lot of things,” said EUGENE MERCURY MORRIS, “but this is a clear message that they have no intention of fixing a system which I believe is full of fraud and corruption. The truth? The truth is 20 years from now present players will be in the same position on disability unless responsible honest people run the NFLPA.”

“We are committed to working as hard and long as we have to manage this web initiative and provide retired players with this important tool. Volunteers working through the Gridiron Greats office will help post and transcribe content for the site from retired players wishing to share information who do not use the internet. The Gridiron Greats will also provide technical assistance, a fax (920) 499-7135 and toll free phone number 1-800-708-1078 as a means for retired players to get the information to us that they would like to post,” Said Jennifer Smith, the Executive Director of the Gridiron Greats.

Gridrongreats.org also includes a mechanism for the public to post their thoughts and comments and even email questions or comments to specific players making this a truly interactive initiative. The retired player’s web pages are not in a blog format, many players have several comprehensive pages posted. A section of the site highlights players in dire need. It is a forum for the pubic to learn about some of the people who are in need of assistance and make donations if they wish. Visit the players section now

The Gridiron Greats is a nonprofit charitable organization that relies on donations to provide social services and financial aid to retired NFL players who are in dire need. Donations to the Gridiron Greats Assistance Fund are accepted on-line click here to make a donation by phone at 1-800-708-1078 or via mail at 2830 Ramada Way Green Bay, WI. 54304

Media opportunities and interviews are available with Gridiron Greats and many retired players. Contact Jennifer Smith at (920) 499-7133 or gridirongreats24@aol.com or Media Coordinator Richard Sternard (920) 499-7133