Tony Davis: A REAL NFLPA Convention for Once?
Dave,
Please feel free to post this letter that was sent to all the NFLPA Retired Players Chapter Presidents prior to their meetings this weekend. You might also remind the body of NFL Retired Players to call their Chapter Presidents and let them know we want the issues discussed.
Tony Davis
Fellow NFL Retiree’s,
The NFLPA Retired Players meeting, set for mid October, allows this body which represents your individual area NFL Retired Players members, to take a stand on behalf of the body of men you were elected to represent. We entrust you to collectively come up with a unified stance on behalf of the NFL Retired Players and the issues of Pension, Disability and the right to vote on issues that pertain to these plans.
At last year’s NFLPA Convention the Steering Committee’s President, Jean Fugett, had the chance to address the Active NFLPA members. In his entire presentation to the Active Players your Retired Players Steering Committee President did not once bring up the issue of the current Disability Plan and how Federal ERISA laws have been broken by those administering the plan. Ask any player who has attempted to traverse through this Disability Plan process only to be denied. Yet not one word to the Active Players to address this problem, one that they will face in years to come. Wouldn’t it also have been nice for Mr. Fugett to have called for a further investigation and study on long term affects of concussions as well as the degenerative affects of having to play on Astro-Turf, both being avoided like the plague by the NFL as well as the NFLPA. Here is your Presidents quote to the Active Players about you.
“It is the same today with our retired group. Not all retired players support our Union. I was asked why and I can only speculate. Do they have their own individual agendas? Are they selfish or greedy like the NFL owners who say they want to take back from the players. Do they work for the NFL? “
“Or, …are they depressed ex-players who were kicked in the head as a player and then kicked to the side of the road after their careers ended, now old and frustrated looking at this great game they helped to build, feeling nobody cares and that the world has passed them by.”
“Honestly, if you come to the table and get the information and know the facts, one must wonder why would anyone who supports the active Players, especially a former player, would want to publicly attack the NFLPA and help the owners to divide and pull down the only organization that has consistently been there for all players, especially retired players, for over twenty-five years.”
Jean Fugett
Speech to the Active NFLPA
March 2008
I quoted Jean Fugett above from his speech at the NFLPA Convention. Let me make this clear that I want only to present facts. I do not question Jean Fugett’s character as I do not know Jean Fugett personally. As the President of the NFL Retired Players Steering Committee it is imperative we understand the direction he supports or does not support with regards to the major issues facing the NFL Retired Players.
Then there are the issues of Pensions. Here are the facts. Do not buy into the spin of the NFLPA.
“According to IRS reports the NFL retirement plan covers only 21% more people/players NFL 9,560 covered vs. MLB’s 7,540, while baseball’s expenses are much higher, travel expenses for the far longer season are drastically higher. In addition MLB average salaries are higher at $2.8 million vs. NFL $1.4 million. MLB average pension benefits are three times higher at $36,700 average vs. the NFL’s $12,165 average benefit. Baseball’s gross income is approximately $4.3 billion (Forbes) while the NFL’s gross is over $7.1 billion. Baseball’s total payroll is 1,200 x $2.8 million = $3 billion NFL’s total payroll is 1,696 x $1.4 million= $2.37 billion therefore MLB’s total payroll is 30% higher than the NFL’s payroll. Baseball also supports a minor league system and more youth programs than football. Baseball continues to prosper on less income and higher expenses. There is no excuse not to have the NFL retirement benefits matching and exceeding Major League Baseball’s.”
Your agenda for your meeting in Dallas is as follows:
NFLPA Retired Players Chapter Officers Meeting
October 18, 2008
Agenda
DRAFT
- Welcome – Andre Collins
- Steering Committee Report – Jean Fugett
- NFLPA Executive Director Succession Plan – Clark Gaines/Tom DePaso
- Legal Report – Tom DePaso
- Convention 2009 – Dee Becker/ Corinne Murphy
- Director’s Report – Andre Collins
- Website Update – Dee Becker/Corinne Murphy
- Collective Bargaining Update
Among those on the agenda is Tom DePaso. He may be speaking about the current Class Action Suit filed by Bernie Parrish and Herb Adderley on behalf of over 2000 members of this body. So let me get this right: They’re holding a meeting to address and inform the NFLPA Retired Players about how the organization that represents them is spending millions of dollars of the NFLPA’s money to defend themselves from the millions of dollars they may have been guilty of embezzling from the NFLPA Retired Players in the room listening to this presentation.
That statement says it all. If you have not seen the evidence that is already public, click this link HERE.
EDITOR’S NOTE Dec. 20, 2009
Jeff Nixon’s blog was taken down today.
I communicate with around 5,000 NFL Retired Players. I am not a part of any organization. Fact is, most of the NFL Retired Players are in the same category as I am. Many of you receive emails from me from time to time. In the opinion of the great number of players that I have contact with, it is our desire to take care of ourselves. There are ways this can be accomplished, WITHOUT ANY COST TO THE NFL OWNERS. This group – the NFLPA Retired Players – can decide to begin to affect positive change for its membership. Or, you can sit in your seat and allow the NFLPA to conduct its meeting without allowing you a say in the direction of your organization. It is up to you, the officers, to come up with a supportive resolution declaring your position on behalf of the NFL Retired Players. Once that is accomplished, then we can sit down and discuss how to take care of ourselves.
Tony Davis
Conrad Dobler
October 17th, 2008 at 4:31 am #
Well said. There is nothing in the body of your letter or their letter which is not true. The part about the lawsuit is quite funny. But true.
I am just pissed off that the NFL and the NFLPA consider us to be a bunch of goat farmers who don’t understand sh*t.
We have all worked for a living and made our own way while those present at the meeting representing the NFLPA have sucked off the money from NFL players in order to live their high life. Most everyone in the NFLPA makes 6 figures and I would like to see their pension information.
Conrad Dobler
Dave Pear
October 17th, 2008 at 11:01 am #
Conrad,
Amen Brother! Their cocksure attitude is filled with contempt for retired players and is certainly not in harmony with ERISA law and the guidelines of the AFL-CIO. We are perplexed by their pretense as they continue to act fraudulently. For that reason, justice goes forth crooked.
However, with zeal we’ve taken our stand as we relentlessly petition for justice NOW!
Dave & Heidi Pear
Liffort Hobley
October 19th, 2008 at 9:21 am #
We read the news and since we all worked in the same industry, Conrad, we should be allowed to see what their pension plan looks like.
What I would like to see soon – and very soon – is a real solution and not just a few here-you-go-boys!!
Let’s keep focus on our needs!!
Liffort Hobley
St. Louis Cardinals, Miami Dolphins
85-87 to 93