The Road Forward: An Open Challenge to All Players
Like John, I also want to thank Tim Brown for helping to open up this dialog so everyone can discuss their opinions and ideas after the recent passing of Gene Upshaw. Hopefully, we can now look at things as a clean slate that each and every one of us can write on.
I can understand how you might perceive that the retired players are disrespecting the active players. And in a few cases you may be right. However, I would hope that you can understand their frustrations in watching young, untested rookies walk away with multimillion dollar contracts today after they broke their bodies for what certainly seems like pocket change these days to even the lowest-paid players.
One of the best analogies I can make is that the pie kept growing over the years (and yes, we all gave Gene Upshaw his dues for his part in helping to make this happen). With gross revenues hitting $8 Billion (that’s Billion with a ‘B’), the contract negotiated for the players was close to 65% of revenues. And with so much money to spread around, common sense would dictate that you set aside a portion of that revenue for disability benefits and pensions. But unfortunately, Upshaw was the only guy in the room holding the knife to slice up the pie. So he cut up a large piece for the current players and their agents, the organization and everyone else except the retired and disabled players, with incredible salaries and bonuses for himself and all those he appointed around him. And I’m sure you and everyone else will agree it was certainly well-known that no one could or would step up and tell him otherwise for almost 25 years. With as much on the table to work with, it’s hard to fathom what the motivation may have been to completely overlook and exclude the retired and disabled players. So I’m simply not going to get into any armchair psychology here (we’ll leave that for a future post perhaps). It would be too easy at this stage to waste any more time on finger-pointing and blame but the fact of the matter is that you guys are all looking at what may well be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to make things better.
I liked your example of how the active players would certainly take offense to being disrespected by the retired players. That said, I do want to address what I see as the biggest flaws in the NFLPA and its current structure (or lack thereof). And I can also do it using an example of fair turnaround. Let’s say, for example, that everything got reversed but with Upshaw still in total control. Let’s just say that the retired players got full recognition and received benefits that grew increasingly every year as revenues grew, while the current players just drafted out of college received starting salaries of $50,000 a year. And the current Board was comprised of 3 owners (or their reps) and 3 retired players (who favored the retired players), along with a chairman and Executive Director but with absolutely no representation for the current players. You can begin to imagine the resentment that would brew over 25 years of being completely ignored with no seat at the table. And then a few of the retired players come along and tell you, “Gee, if you’re really nice to us, maybe we’ll pay for your ticket to go to Hawaii so we can talk about this.” I’m not sure if there are very many guys out there who would still be able to hold on to their dignity and self-respect after being left out on the sidelines and mistreated for so long. Think of it this way: If it was such a good deal for the retired players to take a back seat and wait for their benefits later in their careers (which never come, by the way), then why are most current players and their agents demanding bigger and bigger signing bonuses and salaries up front?
To the outside world, Idi Amin was clearly a ruthless, 20th century dictator. But to his closest friends, family and business associates, he was incredibly generous because he shared his country’s fortune with them. He amassed billions in overseas accounts and when he was finally forced into “exile” in Saudi Arabia – Golden Handcuffs was probably a much better description – he lived the rest of his life in luxury with his wives and children. But if you asked the majority of the people who lived under his iron fist in Uganda (and I’ve personally met a lot of them here in Seattle), I have yet to run into a single one who would sing him any praises. In fact, most of them still cringe at the mention of his name despite his demise over 5 years ago (for fear he might still really be alive and in hiding since no one had actually seen his body).
What people like Dave Pear, Mike Ditka, Bernie Parrish, Brent Boyd, Wayne Hawkins, Mercury Morris, Tony Davis, Hollywood Henderson, John Hogan – and way too many more for me to even begin to list here – have been trying to say over the years is that the way the system is stacked, the retired players are completely left out in the cold with only their injuries and memories and not much else in their old age. As an outsider with absolutely little interest in team sports, I’ve gotten to know many of these guys during the time I’ve been working with them; I can honestly say that the majority of the retired players I’ve met have been seriously abused and disrespected. Rules and by-laws seem to have a mysterious way of constantly getting re-written or eliminated to continue stacking the deck against them unfairly because that’s how things work in a dictatorship. And yes – I just said it. A dictatorship. The NFLPA has been run like a Third World dictatorship (and I mean no disrespect to Third World countries). How can I make such an analogy? Simple. Let’s take a look at how things run in the real world and compare them to how they run in a dictatorship.
First of all, I don’t know of any other union in this great country – the AFL-CIO, UWA, CWA, TWU – that doesn’t have open and full representation for all of its members. Each of them have representatives on their Boards for each and every group of members: current workers, apprentices (rookies) and retired employees. They all have elected seats on the Board and they all get to vote on ALL of the major issues, including pensions and benefits. In fact, a lot of strikes are called over retirement benefits and not over wages. You may remember one of the most recent big strikes was over medical benefits for retired workers at one of the big 3 auto makers. But has the NFLPA ever had a vote or a strike over retirement or disability benefits? And yet, the NFLPA membership card bears the words, Past, Present, Future along with the Retired Players logo on the back. I truly don’t even know how the AFL-CIO can allow themselves to be associated with such a shameful situation.
By finally adding three more long-overdue seats to the current Board specifically for current players, as well as replacing the present slate of appointed insider retired players (just how long have these guys held their seats, how much have they been paid and for doing what?), there would be a lot less animosity and misunderstanding among all of those involved. Retired and active players would then be able to voice their concerns directly and on equal ground with the other members of the Board, on a level playing field with each Director given an equal vote (what a concept!). And each and every member of the Board would be nominated and elected to serve on behalf of the entire membership at large and not at the pleasure of the Executive Director. Oh – and all Board minutes would be documented and made readily available for review by any member, any time, anywhere.
As I had mentioned earlier, I’m an outsider with little or nothing to gain from being here other than to help my good friend, Dave, and his fellow retired players. However, I do have a lot of business experience and in my own business dealings over a 40-year career working with both for-profit and non-profit corporations. I can say without reservation that I’ve never seen any other organization run with so few checks-and-balances and real oversight as the NFLPA. No free and open elections by its own members and absolutely no transparency whatsoever, particularly as it relates to the very core membership that it’s supposed to represent. The only time this much power falls into so few hands is either in a family-run business or a dictatorship. I have never personally seen a corporation – private or public – run with such blatant disregard to its members (or shareholders).
Remember: A smart dictator keeps his closest lieutenants fighting among themselves. It’s called distraction. But in a democracy, there are free and open elections and EVERYONE gets a vote. One member, one vote. Because you’re all supposed to be equal and working for the same goals. Because if you don’t stick together and look after each other, no one else will. And remember – there will always be a lot more retired players than there are current players and each of the active players will eventually become a retired player. And you’ll eventually want direct representation on the Board to voice your concerns as they come up.
And while we’re on the subject of open and free elections, leaders should be chosen on their merits and voted in to office based on their qualifications and contributions on and off the field. And with term limits. Because it ensures that there’s less or no chance of corruption or even the appearance of corruption. The Board should be charged with selecting and qualifying 3 – 4 candidates every 3 – 4 years. Those candidates would be placed on a ballot with each and every card-holding member voting for their choice after the candidates have each made their case for what they can offer all of the members. In a dictatorship, there are no free or open elections and the dictator simply puts himself back into office every year with no votes or objections. Gee – Sound familiar?
In sticking with football analogies, the best way I can describe what has been going on within the NFLPA over the past 25 years is to compare it to an uneven playing field with few or no referees to keep the game fair. If the playing field were level, we likely wouldn’t be having this discussion now and there certainly wouldn’t be a big vacuum in the leadership of this Union because of the passing of one man. With absolutely no other clear leader or succession plan ever put in place, the entire organization is now in complete disarray, with any number of factions and individuals scrambling for power and position. This may not have been the way it was intended at the beginning but for one reason or another, this is where things have landed.
At this unique moment in the NFLPA’s history, it should actually be a simple process to review the entire process, add new members to the Board and then call for elections next year. With the passing of Gene Upshaw, we can sing praises to the good things he accomplished while still planning for the future of the NFLPA and what it needs to move forward into the 21st century to become the best sports organization in the world. This opportunity won’t be around for very long and it may not come again in your lifetimes. Or everyone can continue to sit back quietly and watch from the sidelines as it reverts back to more of the same. The choice is clearly obvious to outsiders like me and I can only hope that blogs such as this one have provided an open forum for everyone to finally come to the table and discuss their issues in an open and dignified manner. The choice is yours for the taking.
chris burford
September 10th, 2008 at 7:59 pm #
Best discourse full of common sense I’ve seen in a long time.
Chris Burford
Texans/Chiefs 60-67
Bob Grant
September 10th, 2008 at 10:28 pm #
Fellas,
There are many others out there just like the fine intelligent man who wrote “The Road Forward” piece here. They can help us turn public opinion our way.
So please forward our news to a few of your friends and family members.
Both Dave and I plan on showing up in San Francisco in October to show our support for Bernie, Herb and Walt at the Federal Trial. If you can make it for just one day that would be great.
I will talk with you next week, Dave.
Bob Grant
Tim Brown
September 11th, 2008 at 8:57 am #
Men, once again I will say, if you start with a faulty premise, no matter what is deduced out of the situation, your conclusion will be wrong. Such is the case here in your assumption that the PA was ran like a dictatorship. Nothing could be farther from the truth. To make such a comment absolutely dismisses the current players and the few retired players represented in meetings. When Gene made the comment he doesn’t work for the retired players but for the current players, I know that was received wrong, but what was meant by the statement was Gene was MANDATED by the board to do everything having to do with the CBA. There were only a few times where he would ask for Executive Director latitude to get a deal done, but never with the CBA! In fact, the way it works is the 32 board members come up with the plan, they pass that plan over to the Executive Committee and they would give Gene his directives to get things done. Please do not believe these players allowed Gene to run roughshod over them. Again nothing could be farther from the truth.
In my 17 years of meetings, I certainly didn’t see a dictatorship; personally, I wouldn’t have stayed involved if that was the case. We all are players, at some point if you are going to win, you have to trust your coach. Gene was the coach and the players TRUSTED him.
I will get you men all the information on the exact amount of funds that has been distributed back to the retired players since inception of the CBA. Because it’s important to understand in the players minds, they HAVE given back. It’s also important to know that this is a very expensive proposal we are talking about. Keep that in mind, because every penny the retired players get, does not go in the current players pockets. I hear the groans!
I will have the information in about a week.
Tim Brown
Bob Grant
September 11th, 2008 at 9:43 am #
My Response Tim,
Two NFLPA conventions back I asked if I could have the floor for 2 or 3 minutes to say a few things regarding Retired Players and our positions. I was told that I was “welcomed to attend and observe the democratic process in action” but that I could not have that 2 or 3 minutes to speak. That policy may have changed since.
As Almighty God is my witness, Tim, that is what I was told. It was at that point I decided that I would no longer send my $100 to the PA. Not too long after that the Executive Director of the NFLPA openly said that he did not represent me or any of the other retired players.
In regards to the Active Players I have drawn a conclusion based on what they have not done up to this point. If you can get them to work with us and help us I know that our Advocates are willing. I am not angry with the young Active Players but I do understand something about the way that they think. I have kids and also have a number of young people who work for me. Ask any of them who Marion Motley, Jackie Robinson or even Jim Brown played for or what their contribution was to the good fortune that young professional ball players was. Try it. Ask any of them who Abner Haynes or Gale Sayers were.
You are a good man, Tim, but we have many good Advocates in our cause who have recently been unfairly branded as militants, crazy men, freeloaders, greedy men and angry old white guys who want to destroy the Union. In the recent past, not one of those good men was selected for the “Alliance.” NOT ONE! How on earth can anyone justify that, Tim? There may be a few good men on the Alliance but our Advocates who have worked the longest are not. I don’t know who you voted for but I didn’t get to vote for anyone.
I will gladly accept the offer of a ticket if I am allowed to speak at the next Convention, but only if tickets are also offered to Abner Haynes, Bernie Parrish, Bruce Laird, Herb Adderly, Dave Pear, Tony Davis, Mike Ditka and Brent Boyd. All of us are retired players.
That is not going to happen though and we all know that it isn’t.
I am not being mean because there are some guys who have been recent NFLPA Officials that I really like. I would include both Jean and Troy in that group.
I am going to close with a quote that Abner Haynes, one of the two men that I admire most in our Cause, sent me recently.
“It is time to stand up – whatever time we have left – we ought to be standing up for right for everybody, not just a few.”
Bob Grant
robert
September 11th, 2008 at 11:10 am #
Tim -
If nothing else, I’m glad that this conversation is now turning into a dialog with people from all sides free to voice their opinions. I don’t think it’s a question of who’s right or who’s wrong; I don’t think there is truly any other issue than the players, current or retired. As I’d closed with in my post, the retired disabled players were once very active players and the active players will soon become retired players. Inevitably. It’s just a simple fact in this entire equation. But nonetheless, you’re all NFL football players. And whatever else happens, you guys are really all in this together and you’ll all have to work together to get through this successfully.
Like most everyone else here, we’re glad to finally hear your insider’s point of view. I’m trying my best to be open-minded in understanding how your perceptions formed about the NFLPA and Gene Upshaw from having been there. I can only hope that you and many other insiders will also have the open mindedness to comprehend the pain and loss that a large majority of the retired players have endured over the past decades. I keep getting shocked on an almost daily basis to hear the consistent stories of how little – or no – consideration these guys get (never mind the disrespect). When I hear about how players like Wayne Hawkins receive around $200 a month in pension for his 11 years in the leagues, I get disgusted.
I really have only one simple comment in answer to you about the NFLPA not being a dictatorship: Who died and left Gene Upshaw in charge? As in any other democracy or even a union, there are always open and inclusive elections for its leaders. Period. If you don’t like what you see, you can always wait until the next election to vote someone else in. That’s actually the way dictatorships DON’T work. And anyone who does a fantastic job should have absolutely no fear of being voted out even as all members have open access to all the business that their union is conducting. Why would anyone have anything to hide if eveything was being done above board and with complete honesty and integrity?
But I’m also shocked when I hear you say things like, “Because it’s important to understand in the players minds, they HAVE given back. It’s also important to know that this is a very expensive proposal we are talking about. Keep that in mind, because every penny the retired players get, does not go in the current players pockets. I hear the groans!” As I tried to diplomatically point out, one thing that Upshaw was particularly good at doing was keeping the different factions apart and fighting with each other. Think about it this way, Tim: Had Gene actually kept the retired players in mind from the very beginning, you – and all the current players – would NOT have this attitude of ‘more for me.’ Instead, everyone would have started off with an attitude of ‘Let’s carve this pie up the RIGHT way’ and included the retired players as well. Real leadership starts at the top. Where does a green rookie coming out of college come off thinking that he really deserves a $10 million signing bonus? Because he ‘earned’ it? Since when? And if you say because he might break his neck in the first year of playing, then you’ll have just made my case. So did a thousand other guys before you. And none of them are being taken care of for it so you could selfishly think about it today. Hindsight is always easier than foresight.
I can assure you that sitting down with honest numbers – and I emphasize HONEST – on NFLPA revenues, even I (a guy who hates accounting) could come up with a workable plan that almost everyone could love and live with. And wouldn’t make the lawyers rich in the meantime.
We look forward to hearing back from you with some numbers, Tim. I’m sure I speak for most of the retired players when I say that any help will be deeply appreciated. Unfortunately, when most of these guys have tried to call or request information or copies of plans or inquired about their benefits, they’ve generally been dismissed or hung up on (read some of Dave’s past posts). Only by sheer persistence has Dave and a few of the other guys made any headway. And Bernie, Herb and Walter wouldn’t have to be going to trial; it’s as much about getting any money that may be coming to them as it is about getting access to some honest accounting numbers on revenues that should have been readily available to all the players in the first place. With the upcoming trial in San Francisco as well as that new lawsuit filed by CBS Sports, I suspect we’re all about to see more cracks in that big stone wall. If what comes out of those trials doesn’t convince everyone that there’s more than enough to go around, I don’t know what will.
I have no doubt that the NFL and football are going to keep growing and the pot will continue to get bigger. If the NFLPA is going to thrive, it will need to evolve and improve in the way it takes care of its own. If you look at the amount of money we’re talking about, there’s undoubtedly more than enough to take care of EVERYONE. As much as a lot of young guys often don’t want to heed the advice and experience of us older guys, the wisdom of the years eventually does catch up with you when you realize, “If I only knew then what I know now.”
Glenn Bujnoch
September 11th, 2008 at 2:29 pm #
Absolutely Awesome!!! There are a lot of former players like myself who truly appreciate what the “GROUP” of you are doing. On behalf of them and myself, Thank You so much for your energy and your valued time that you all spend on our cause.
Glenn Bujnoch
Bengals & Bucs
’76 – ’84