John Hogan Asks a Question
John Hogan – an Attorney who specializes in Disability for over 25 years – asks: What is a promise?
Subject: Commissioner Goodell’s Alliance 2/29/08
In June of 2007, NFLPA representative Doug Ell testified to the Subcommittee on Commercial and Administrative Law ( Washington DC) that the NFL and NFLPA, “recently agreed to immediately grant T(otal)&P(ermanent) disability benefits to players already receiving social security disability”. However, this has not been the case. More than 7 months have passed and we are still waiting. This is contrary to what was promised to Congress. My suggestion is, “make your yes mean yes and your no mean no”.
The press release on 2/29/08 states that, “players who were denied benefits under the NFL plan but have subsequently been found disabled by social security (may) have their cases (reconsidered). Reconsidered does NOT mean, “to immediately grant”. Is this consistent with the Congressional testimony given?
With all due respect Mr. Ell, “you have a credibility issue with retired players”. With this type of mentality that the NFLPA unwittingly displayed, I now have to question if this alliance is even real. Is it? The standard of integrity seems to only lower itself. Is it wrong to promise the Senate one thing and then do your own thing?
We look forward to your responses, Roger Goodell and Gene Upshaw.
Sincerely,
Dave & Heidi Pear
NFL 1975-1980
Social Security Disability
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jack barry
March 9th, 2008 at 4:48 pm #
Mr. Upshaw and Mr. Goodell, are “two peas in the same pod”… I think there is no point in expecting Mr. Upshaw to be aggressive with his pals, the League owners.
Who the heck voted him his enormous annual compensation? How does the “package of benefits” that he has obtained, for the retired and disabled players…compare with the NBA and MLB folks who represent their former players.
To try to strike an open and “good faith dialogue” with Upshaw/Goodell is a total waste.
You need to simply sue them for being part of a longstanding “criminal conspiracy”. Start with the needed “Discovery”, before too many guys die.
Amazing...
March 10th, 2008 at 5:59 am #
Why don’t you apply for it instead of waiting for a check in the mail? Do you think it’s that hard to fill out a form? The things people complain about never ever cease to amaze me…….
robert
March 10th, 2008 at 9:43 am #
In answer to Mr. Amazing:
What makes you think they’ve only filled out ONE form? Unless you’ve experienced the Kafka-esque process of actually applying for disability with the NFLPA, you’ll never have a remote idea of the hoops these retired players have gone through just to get in front of a review panel only to get turned down each and every time. You think the Federal Government’s hard to get money out of? Try getting disability from the NFLPA.