Show Us the Money!
We keep getting inquiries and comments on an almost daily basis asking about when the retired players will finally be receiving their Players Inc. settlement money. Since the settlement was first announced with great fanfare in early June at a well-covered press conference that included NFLPA Executive Director DeMaurice Smith, plaintiffs’ attorney Ron Katz and plaintiff Herb Adderley, few details have been available on how, what, when, where and why. We need a Jerry Maguire to remind the NFLPA/Players Inc. to Show Us the Money!
Here are some comments from a recent e-mail from Bernie Parrish, the original plaintiff in the lawsuit:
“I have yet to find any retired player in the class – or even outside the 2,062 member class – who was consulted about the settlement before Katz accepted the strange $26.25 million deal that Kessler says he “crafted” and that Katz ordered Adderley to accept, telling Adderley it came from Latham & Watkins, a special law firm who suddenly arrived on the scene to hand Kessler’s “crafted” settlement deal to Katz…
“Adderley told the press conference he had not discussed the settlement with any other retired players because he just found out about it on Wednesday [Editor's Comment: The day before the press conference] and then met D Smith the day of the settlement press conference. And there are lots more lawyerly shenanigans where this comes from. I’ll be emailing them to you shortly.”
The only thing that seems certain is the attorneys on both sides will all get full payment of fees as soon as the settlement is ratified by the judge while the plaintiffs themselves will be waiting for their checks over a 2-year+ period. So what’s been most troubling is the fact that no one – NO ONE – on the plaintiffs’ side (outside of the attorneys) has even seen an actual copy of the settlement as agreed upon by the lawyers on both sides. Once again, we have a situation where the lawyers seem to have hijacked the bus. Perhaps a more fitting rally cry might be Show Us the Settlement!
Jack Dolbin
July 13th, 2009 at 2:41 pm #
Dave,
Who is included in the class? All retired players?
Jack Dolbin
Denver Broncos 1975 – 1979
Kathy Smith
July 13th, 2009 at 2:57 pm #
Sorry Jack,
The list was provided by Gene Upshaw and his Chapter Presidents.
Some of the names are quite astonishing since many were not vested and some played less then one season.
Kathy Smith
Dave Pear
July 13th, 2009 at 3:13 pm #
Jack,
I certainly wish ALL retired players who signed a GLA agreement or ALL retired players whose image was used in the Madden video game was in line to be compensated (at some point in time).
However, the list can be found on the post dated: Nov. 25, 2008 The Players, Inc. Trial GLA list:
http://davepear.com/blog/2008/11/the-players-inc-trial-gla-list/
The question of further litigation is already being asked by retired players.
Sincerely,
Dave & Heidi Pear
Stan Jones
July 13th, 2009 at 3:22 pm #
http://retiredplayers.org/wp-content/uploads/2008/11/class-list.pdf
Here is another link to the list of players in the class action suit…
Stan Jones
Chicago Bears & Washington Redskins
1954- 1966
John Pitts
July 14th, 2009 at 8:10 am #
It’s a terrible insult and embarrassment to the Retired National Football League Organization for the manner that they’re managing and handling the communication in the settlement of the $26-$28MM lawsuit. As you mentioned in your most recent update, it’s time to show us the money! Please provide us with some credible information that has some value and substance. Please get off the POT!
John Pitts
Buffalo Bills 1967 – 1973