How Independent Players Will Win
Bob Grant
It seems as if there’s always someone ready to jump in to lead us and tell us what to do. You know – as if we were mindless, voiceless kids. We finally rid ourselves of Gene Upshaw and now here comes the so-called “New Alumni.” This is America and you and I are free to dash out and join the YMCA or PETA, the Taliban or Reverend Jim Jones – or any other group or individual – who advertise themselves as being “the way to the promised land.” That certainly doesn’t mean that we have to do so however; I personally believe we should be thinking independently and consciously considering all of our options before “signing on” with anyone.
Presently, the New Alumni Crowd is desperately trying to get anyone to believe that they’ve already been crowned as “the new official’ group that will be representing Retired Players. (“Say it ain’t so, Joe.”) They’re the very same bunch who were crying foul when Roger and Gene somehow got together and APPOINTED those guys who made up the so called Alliance to “speak” for all of us. Never mind that not a single one of us cast a vote for any one of them to represent or speak for us. Now another small group of very smart guys have put one more such scheme together, claiming the right and authority – all with the blessings of the NFL Owners – to represent us again. Fewer than five percent (5%) of us have even hinted that we’re in support of what they’re trying to do and NONE of us have voted to authorize them to do anything on our behalf! They’re self-appointed and don’t have anywhere near the support that they’re trying to get everyone to believe that they have. The truth is that many former Alumni members are now actually leaving the Organization because they’re not comfortable with this “takeover.” Count me as one of those who won’t be renewing my membership.
This new effort is a brilliant move on the part of the NFL Owners though. If you drink the Kool-Aid that they’re offering, you’ll have all but taken yourself out of our fight. At some point in the future, we’ll probably be taking the NFL to Court and they’re doing all that they can – with the help of this New Alumni bunch – to divide us so we won’t be able to come after them with our full army. I understand that there’s something written in the NFL Alumni Charter or Constitution stating that the Alumni will forever be unable to join in on any legal action against the NFL. Is it just me or doesn’t that make perfect sense because the Owners would be crazy to INVEST IN and SUPPORT a group that has the right to attack them now or in the future?
Recently, I was invited in on a meeting via teleconference held at NFLPA headquarters with Bruce Laird and a few others who were invited by Executive Director DeMaurice Smith. Don’t ask me why I was invited because all of you know that I have been – and will remain – one of our more aggressive and militant advocates. (It gave me an opportunity to speak up for all of us just as I knew that you’d expect me to and I don’t think I bit my tongue once!) A newspaper reporter who was also on the line asked Bruce if he would support a call for the owners to “open their books” and he shrewdly declined to do so. On the other hand, I stated that I supported a call for both the NFL and the NFLPA to jointly “open their books.” Bruce was unable to do the same because he knew that he could no longer say anything that might negatively affect the Owners. If he did, he’d be out of the Alumni thing and the NFL would certainly discontinue the financial support and funding that they have given the organization for so many years now.
You know the Owners could have helped us a long time ago if they were willing to do so “with no strings attached.” So we should be asking, “Why now?” They make a truck load of money today and that “so-called sixty percent (60%)” that they give to the players is really far, far less than a true 60%. That is why they’re rejecting D. Smith’s call for them to “open their books.” I would like to know how much money they still make from us Retired Players, in one way or another. I have – at one time or another – seen most of you on some of those old NFL films, and Coors, Bud Light, Ford or some big company is always showing a commercial that they pay the League and the Television Networks to associate themselves with for thousand of dollars a minute. Maybe they’re legally entitled to do it but it still stinks and some day the Public is going to refuse to support such exploitation.
The NFLPA’s books belonged to Gene Upshaw and his old Crew – not De Smith. He just got there so I think that he personally won’t object to showing all. Some around him may still object though – and most of you know who I’m talking about.
The Alumni has been caring for kids for many years now but what about caring for Retired Players? What they’ve given out to Players in need through the Alumni Dire Needs Program is pitiful. Feel free to check the record for yourself. I love kids and work with many through the “Goals For Life” program in the public schools here in Los Angeles but I care about Retired Players equally.The Alumni has, on occasion, marched Retired Players out to play in its golf tournaments, many of whom who were too embarrassed to admit that they were “stone-cold broke” and – in a few instances – homeless.
I am tired of folks using us as we approach the end of our lives. If I see the NFL show one more park or football field that they’re building with Home Depot etc. I’m going to throw up. Our schools are failing, our kids are falling behind children from other countries academically and we’re still building stadiums. Every single nickel of that money should be going to education for kids and helping Retired Players.
The New Alumni is telling everyone that they will be using the Alumni Shield to generate millions of dollars and that they will send dividend checks out to everyone every year. Let’s be serious! How much money can they raise? Will five or six hundred dollars more a year make your life different? You do the math. Thirteen Thousand Retired Players times five hundred dollars. Will you be offered one of the big salaried jobs at the New Alumni? I don’t know about you, but I’m tired of those “Mini-Gene Upshaw” parasites over at the Alumni feeding off us on the first and fifteenth of every month.
I for one don’t believe that the NFL could turn down a fair audience to any Group of a thousand or more of us on a particular issue. I honestly don’t believe that they could say, “Sorry, Boys. But you’ll have to come through the Alumni if you want a hearing.” I also don’t believe that they’d be able to tell the NFLPA and De Smith, “If you want to try and undo some of the damage that’s been done to Retired Players, you’ll have to come through the Alumni.” In fact, I’d challenge the Commissioner to say that! If he does, I’d like to see him defend that position in Court.
Heck, I’m absolutely sure that Laird, Davis, Nixon and their lawyer John Hogan have never had the full support of their Fourth And Goal Organization. They didn’t have that support before the Summit when they were keeping the members and supporters at FAG in the dark about their Alumni Project and they still don’t today. That said, they really don’t need to go through any kind of Alumni Executive Director search. Bruce deserves the job and he deserves the paycheck because he worked pretty darn hard to put the whole thing together. To the men who are riding on his coattails, give them a nice Alumni salary as well. I just can’t make myself believe that any of them are going to work for free. At the Summit – and I quote – Bruce said that Frank Krauser was gone. Well, old Frank has not given his paycheck up yet. He’s still managing to hang in there.
We’re going to get justice from both the NFL AND the NFLPA through the Courts and hopefully through a Program that a group of us are working on to develop a mutually beneficial relationship with the Active Players. Don’t turn on them yet, fellas; I still believe that this new Executive Director is going to TRY. That’s what we’ve been demanding, isn’t it? The Alumni and the Owners are trying to get us to turn on him before he even has a chance. That said, he might turn out to be what he’s representing himself to be. BUT – then again, he could turn out to be even worse than Upshaw was for Retired Players. All I know is nothing else has changed – NOTHING – other than the new Executive Director. Not the NFL, not the Alumni, not the Alliance, not the Commissioner and not even the NFLPA – other than the new Executive Director. And now that things look like they just might begin to shake out differently, the old crew comes out wanting to slam the one thing that’s threatening their cozy little club? It’s obvious to me that without Upshaw at the head of the PA, the old deals that were in place for 25 years are in clear danger of being exposed. Kind of convenient, isn’t it? What say you? Do we give him a chance or not?
I believe that ALL NFL PLAYERS (each and every one of us) should have a “VOTE FOR LIFE” in the NFLPA. Let’s just hope that the Active Players and Executive Director Smith can counter the attack the Owners are planning. If the Owners win this one, they’ll set the Active Players back fifty (50) years and we’ll be next in line. And you know it!
That said, we’ve been working really hard on the next round of suits against both the NFL and the NFLPA. On legal advice, I know that Bernie Parrish can’t tell you everything that he’d like to tell you right now but I promise that good things are in the works. Let’s give him a chance, too. I think he’s earned it as well.
Thanks for Your Time,
Bob Grant Independent Player Advocate
How Independent Players Will Win
July 15th, 2009 at 12:16 pm #
[...] News Sources wrote an interesting post today onHere’s a quick excerptBob GrantIt seems as if there’s always someone ready to jump in to lead us and tell us what to do. You know – as if we were mindless, voiceless kids. We finally rid ourselves of Gene Upshaw and now here comes the so-called “New Alumni.” This is America and you and I are free to dash out and join the YMCA or PETA, the Taliban or Reverend Jim Jones – or any other group or individual – who advertise themselves as being “the way to the promised land.” That certainly doesn’t mean that we have to do s [...]
Dave Pear
July 15th, 2009 at 9:35 pm #
Bob,
I certainly agree that the NFLPA and the NFL should open their books!
The NFLPA Leadership has proven to be a ruthless enemy towards retired players. They have a malicious attitude and a sinister objective.
I feel compelled to press on for justice!
Regards,
Dave Pear
John Hogan
July 15th, 2009 at 10:11 pm #
Bob,
I am 100% in support of your retired players’ independent organization! Where do I send my check to join? How much are dues? Who determines how much the dues are? Who is the president/CEO/executive director? Where is the office? Surely you must realize that a serious organization of 1000 retired players can’t exist without a staff and office don’t you?
Where do I direct the applications for dire need assistance that I receive, which I have been forwarding to Fourth & Goal and the Player Care Foundation? I can absolutely guarantee that Bruce would be the happiest guy in Baltimore if you could take over that duty for him!
I’m also happy to send a donation to any legal fund for suits which I think have merit. Where do I send the check? Oh, who hires the attorneys to file the lawsuits? Will all 1000 guys have a vote in that? Who gets to determine if and when the case is settled, and upon what terms? Isn’t there some discord and unhappiness about the current settlement situation?
How do we take care of retired players who may have been screwed by the Plan, but whose claims now lay outside of the Statute of Limitations? (Note: in case some of you don’t know already, the reason that some of you guys who signed GLAs were not included in the class action law suit was because you had not signed one recently, and the Statute of Limitations imposes time limits on how long you can wait to file suit.) As an attorney, I can tell you that one of the worst parts of my job is that occasionally I have to tell a prospective client that the law does not provide a remedy for their problem. The only way we can ever have some wrongs righted will be through sitting down with the parties to the CBA – the League and the Union, and convincing them to make the appropriate changes. I happen to believe that the new Alumni association – when a new director and staff are in place, and up and running, is the best avenue to achieve that goal.
The Class Action victory was fabulous, and I hope all members receive their checks ASAP. However, I want to point out that as great as the victory was, it does not compel the defendants to change their conduct – that is, the PA and Players, Inc. are not now forced to continue the GLAs and pay guys on an on-going basis.
Law suits have their purpose. But they are very expensive, take a lot of time, and the outcome is always uncertain. A different Judge and/or Jury, and there may have been an unfavorable result in the class action.
No one at Fourth & Goal, or the Alumni, is preventing anyone from joining in any further legal actions; nor are memberships in the PA or any other group precluded.
Bob, keep fighting with passion, but don’t tear down others who are working hard for the same goals through different avenues and methods.
You criticize us for keeping guys “in the dark” and a few paragraphs later ask us to trust you and Bernie because he can’t tell us everything right now! That’s right, Bob, sometimes when something is “in the works” you can’t share it with everyone. Trust me!!!!
John Hogan
Disability Attorney
Jeff Nixon
July 16th, 2009 at 7:00 am #
Bob Grant says “The Alumni has been caring for kids for many years now but what about caring for Retired Players? What they’ve given out to Players in need through the Alumni Dire Needs Program is pitiful.”
Hundreds of thousands of dollars have been given out to retired players through the Dire Need Fund, but obviously more needs to be done… and that is one of the main reasons Bruce Laird, myself and other members of Fourth and Goal advocated for the change in the mission of the NFL Alumni Association….and we got it done! If there are current members of the Alumni Association, like Bob Grant, that don’t like the fact that we are now making the #1 priority of the NFL Alumni Association “Caring for Retired Players” then they should leave the organization.
Fourth and Goal also has given out thousands of dollars to retired players in need.
While others are actively in the game trying to make a difference, Bob Grant is standing on the sidelines criticizing every move they make. He reminds me of a benchwarmer on a football team that thinks he should be the starter. If Bob wants to be the starter he needs to show us what he has done. Actions speak louder than words.
Bob also says, ” I believe that ALL NFL PLAYERS (each and every one of us) should have a “VOTE FOR LIFE” in the NFLPA.”
It’s nice to hope for that, but the fact of the matter is the NFLPA won’t even let ONE retired player have a vote on the Executive Committee.
There is only one retired player organization in the United States where EVERY retired NFL player.. that wants to… can be a member and have a vote, and that is the NFL Alumni Association.
Bob Grant just gave up his membership in one of the few organizations that exclusively represent retired NFL Players.
Jeff Nixon
NFL Alumni Association Member
Fourth & Goal Board Member
Hogan,Nixon respond to Bob Grant’s Latest « FourthandGoalUnites.com
July 16th, 2009 at 9:11 am #
[...] Hogan,Nixon respond to Bob Grant’s Latest Yesterday former Baltimore Colt and Washington Redskin Bob Grant took to the internet once again to attack our partnership with the re-focused NFL Alumni Association. You can read Bob’s latest rant at DavePear.com by clicking here. [...]
Bob Grant
July 18th, 2009 at 5:42 pm #
Jeff is a really smart guy and John is a fine disability attorney. The plain and simple truth is that I like them both a lot and I have a little feeling that they like me too.
Actually Bruce and I spoke day before yesterday. I really do like all of them, especially Tony Davis, who is brilliant. That said, I still feel that they are wrong in the position that they are taking and do not see the Alumni as the way.
Bob Grant
Larry Kaminski
July 22nd, 2009 at 7:47 am #
Dave:
I agree with Bob that we must remain independent. I don’t think we’ll ever get anything that’s fair from an organization that is funded by the NFL owners. These czars, as they see themselves, need to get what is right done and quit skirting the need to help players.
I just don’t understand why we can’t get the press to tell the real story. I thank Dave for getting the issues out in a non-slanted manner.
Bob Grant is aggressive and a little angry at the process but actually is right on the mark in his attentions. I support his call for independence 100%. I want to choose those who lead me and be assured my voice is heard. We aren’t in a communist state as of yet.
Thanks for the time and consideration.
Larry Kaminski
John Hogan
July 22nd, 2009 at 3:59 pm #
Larry,
Bob ignored my questions posed above. Can you answer them?
John Hogan
irv cross
July 23rd, 2009 at 11:32 am #
Guys!
TIME OUT!! The many issues between the Alumni, the NFL and the NFLPA are broad and complex. As a retired player, I believe we should all have our voices heard. I also believe the worst thing that can happen to us is to have a series of petty personal disputes which could jeopardize the development of a sound, well-structured organization. Today we have a lot of issues (we think) without a formal structure to address them. An old adage relating to business is the one constant in business is change.
Today we are going through a number of changes regarding the Alumni and we must have a structure to manage them. All of the questions posed by John Hogan are valid. How do we function? A business failing to make the proper adjustments during changing cycles fails. We too will fail if we do not have a well-run organization. The one thing I know is the issues we are facing today will not be our challenges in the future; new changes will erupt.
The purpose of this note is to ask that we stop throwing barbs at one another and keep focused on the needs of our retired brothers.
When I coached for the Eagles the Staff fought among ourselves to establish game plans and how to defeat an opponent, but we never aired those disputes outside of our offices. Once the plan was set we went into all of our games on the same page. We fought like crazy to support one another on game day. Please guys, do not launch personal attacks; it looks and sounds bad. What we need is leadership, a structure to develop a long range plan, the input of the membership and a venue where we can all go to the mat to present our positions and come out of the room on the same page. In today’s environment, I see the Alliance with the best argument for a successful game day plan.
Irv Cross
Dave Pear
July 23rd, 2009 at 12:57 pm #
Irv,
I totally agree with you! This is the exact reason why Robert posted “Time Out” on July 17th. Thanks.
Dave
Stan Jones
July 23rd, 2009 at 5:55 pm #
Hi Guys,
I just got the NFL Alumni News yesterday and was reading it… I have a few questions re: NFL Alumni/4th & Goal like the rest of you, but feel that having a single voice and one that has an organization in place and ready to act is very important. And the most important aspect is that it is ONE organization – not several fringe organizations… I love the guys who put together Gridiron Greats, Retired Players, etc.. Bring everything under one umbrella and move forward.
Respectfully,
Stan Jones
Chicago Bears & Washington Redskins
1954- 1966