De Smith on His Congressional Testimony
AAA
Bob:
AAA
I want to thank you for your leadership on a number of issues and your vision for helping retired players. We may not always agree on every issue, but I value your opinions and welcome your assistance and appreciate all you have done.
AAA
As you will see attached, I am committed to doing a better job, fixing our mistakes and championing our players of yesterday, today and tomorrow.
AAA
Thanks
De Smith
AAA
________________________________________________________
AAA
Open Letter: Regarding Recent Articles on TBI and Head Trauma in the NFL
AAA
Recently, there have been several articles discussing Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) among NFL Players. The investigative articles and the findings demonstrate the need for concerted action to appreciate and decrease the risks of TBI. Some of these articles are based on a recent University of Michigan study commissioned by the NFL and was discussed at the Players Alliance meeting attended by several former players including Mr. Bob Grant. We believe the research has several issues and does not constitute a comprehensive or holistic look at this issue.
AAA
But you should be encouraged to know that today’s players through the Board of Player Representatives and the National Football League Players Association (NFLPA) are taking the lead to commission the research, gather the right information and find the right answer to these problems. We will examine the mistakes we have made in the past and embrace those that want to lead the effort to do right by the game’s legends.
AAA
Our first step is to introduce the NFL Players Concussion and TBI Committee. Our Committee will be composed of the world’s best doctors, researchers, current and retired players; it is important that players have ownership of the process. The Committee will include many of the physicians and researchers who were dismissed and rejected by the NFL. Again, I believe that it is critical that we get the right answers to these issues and I have committed our staff and given this Committee the freedom to pursue these answers. Dr. Thom Mayer and current player Sean Morey from the Arizona Cardinals will lead this effort. I believe that current, former and future players will look at this as a turning point in the efforts to protect our players.
AAA
I would like to outline some steps we have taken in the last six months on this issue.
AAA
First, the NFLPA’s Medical Director has been tasked with “pushing the envelope” to ensure Player safety. Accordingly, his attendance at CBA meetings dealing with player safety is now mandatory. He is also tasked as chair of the Players TBI Committee to work with all of the various existing medical physicians, researchers and experts in the field.
AAA
The NFL and the NFLPA, at our insistence, have reached an agreement that guarantees every player a copy of their complete medical records at the conclusion of the season. No questions asked.
AAA
Today, the Chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, John Conyers, held hearings that addressed this issue. We welcomed these hearings, not only as an opportunity to address the ways in which the players who bear the risk can work effectively with the teams who employ them, but as an opportunity to highlight our renewed, dedicated, and resolved effort to ensure a game that is safe for our players.
AAA
While we fear that the owners’ actions to date suggest a potential lockout in 2011, we are committed to discussing and improving player benefits irrespective of that process. The collective bargaining agreement ensures that former players receive a baseline quantity and quality of support, but health and safety is frankly beyond a CBA issue. We are already doing more and we are already doing it now.
AAA
We look forward to working with all the experts, especially with the players, to build a safer game. It is our duty to help everyone who has played and continues to play in this game. Our hope is that we can become the standard-bearer for player safety for football that is played at every level – from youth to college and ultimately the NFL.
AAA
John Hogan
October 28th, 2009 at 8:16 am #
This is a great letter for ACTIVE players, but does nothing to address the needs of older players who played with flimsy helmets on Astroturf – and whose records may now be destroyed. What does he plan to do to improve the disability plan? Has he joined in the call for an audit of the NFL disability Plan? What do NFLPA retired players chapters and officers do to help their wounded brothers?
John Hogan
Disability Attorney
Thane Gash
October 28th, 2009 at 2:09 pm #
As time continues, more than 20 percent of the current active players he is talking to will be done with football when they get to the 2011 season. They will learn the hard lessons that all of us retired players are learning now.
( I should have done more when I had a voice!!!
Thane Gash
Cleveland Browns (1988-1991)
San Francisco 49ers (1992-1993)
Bob Grant
October 29th, 2009 at 12:56 am #
I am just glad, at this point, that the NFLPA has a Director who is saying that he wants to do something. No one can say for sure what he will actually do but m sure going to give him a chance to deliver.
I still don’t belong to any of the Groups and I’m not looking for a position or a paycheck. What I am is a Member of the Bernie Parrish Team and I make no apology for that. I’m an independent Advocate, Activist and Fighter for Retired NFL Players and NOTHING MORE.
Director Smith and I have been in touch since May of 2009 and to date he has been willing to talk with those of us who are the more militant wing of the Retired Player Movement. He assured me back in May that he would be making some changes and he has come through on a number of things so far. I’m waiting to see if he comes through on other things that we discussed.
He has been under constant attack by some of the Players, and others, who are promoting the New Alumni that the NFL is supporting while they pretend that Roger Goodell is darn near the “Second Coming.” They’re entitled to their opinions and positions but I don’t agree with them or their positions. I’ve spoken out against them and their efforts and I’m entitled to do that. At times, they’ve accused me of ranting and raving and I plead “Guilty” to the charge. What else should I do? We have honest men who are hurting and deserving of better than they’re getting. We are dying off every year. You can darn well bet that I’m upset.
I remember how upset most of us were when Gene came out saying that he did not represent us. We came down hard on him for saying that. On the other hand, we now have a new Director who says that he WANTS TO represent us and work with us and some of you are upset at him for saying that. He hasn’t threatened to “break any of our necks” the way that Upshaw did to Joe D and he doesn’t come across as a bully.
He’s in a pretty tight spot right now as I see it, because he’s going up against the most powerful Sports Owners in all of history. I believe they really intend to finally break the back of the Union and take some of the money back from the Active Players that we ourselves created in the labor strikes we launched many years ago. I remember the one we had back in 1969 under John Mackey with our little headquarters at the Lamplighter Motel in Baltimore.
Gene gave a big share of what we should have received to the Active Players to buy their loyalty. Forget about having the Owners take that portion back because they need to make more money. I want De to hold on to it and pass it on to us the way that Gene should have.
Do you really think that the Owners didn’t know that Gene was using a lot of our money to pay himself millions every year as well. Now that their PARTNER is gone, they don’t want to pay that money each year.
In my own talks with the NLRB, I’ve been assured that a Retired Member of a Union can have a right for life to vote in that Union if the Active Members vote for it and it can be shown that it is within the scope of the purpose of that Union.
Thane, it’s not too late. I believe that we can make a case to Active Players to give themselves and all of us the right to vote for life.
I, for one, am going to give Mr Smith his chance but I won’t just give him a pass.
It seems as if there are a lot of folks running around saying that they represent you and all of the rest of us even though we didn’t cast a single vote for them to do so. Somebody over there SELECTED their new Executive Director and they will probably pay him a tidy little salary to go along with a fine expense account. “Gene Martin” is probably a fine man but I’m not going to send him any membership money. Actually, I would appreciate it if he would cut a hundred out of his check and send it to me. I could pay for two of my prescriptions with it.
As always, I urge you to investigate for yourself, think for yourself and then decide for yourself. That’s the way a Free Man conducts himself.
I remain a strong supporter of Bernie Parrish, the real leader for almost fifty years now of the independent movement, who has himself been attacked by those who are siding up with the Owners.
Director Smith deserves a chance.
Bob Grant
Independent Activist and Advocate for Retired NFL Players
Dave Pear
October 29th, 2009 at 1:01 pm #
Dear Gene Martin,
Like Bob Grant, I have a lot of medical bills for my monthly prescriptions as well. I would certainly appreciate it if you would send me $1,500 a month from your large salary to offset my $1,500 a month prescription bill.
Thank you in advance!
Sincerely,
Dave & Heidi Pear
George Visger
December 10th, 2009 at 9:19 pm #
There has been a lot of hollow lip service regarding benefits for retired players. Though I don’t qualify for anything, I applaud Bob Grant and Dave Pear for their relentless efforts on behalf of so many voiceless players. Let’s hope more step forward to be heard.
I am all for giving De Smith a shot at getting the job done. If he doesn’t produce, treat him like they did us: Cut his butt and shove someone else in his position ’til we get someone who can get it done. After 9 brain surgeries, several grand mal seizures, 3 knee operations, a GoreTex ACL, fractured C6 & C7 and not a dime from the NFL. So I really don’t have time to wait ’til next season to see what De can do.
I would like to see Dave Pear get his $1,500/month to offset his prescriptions, and the countless others out there get what they paid for and are still paying for with not only their flesh and blood, but their families’ sanity.
George Visger
San Francisco 49′ers
1980 & 1981