That statement is true but I should probably add that I do not believe that the NFL would be foolish enough to actually allow the Plan to lapse. However that being said, the way that the 88 Plan arrangement stands today, I understand my statement as stated is true.

My intent was not to alarm the wives but just to show that there is “small print” in the arrangement that makes it less than the guarantee that it should be for the 88 Plan Families.

Still, at this point I must say that the NFL seems to be holding all of the cards.

Thanks for calling this to my attention, Alan.

Bob
Independent Retired Player Advocate

Just a couple of minor corrections:
1) there are less than 120 retired player NFL Alumni members;
2) Goodell’s balloon boy hoax of a recruitment party at Yankee Stadium only drew 26, leaving George Martin hiding in the attic with Goodell;
3) I have a sworn statement from Upshaw (Berthelsen) submitted during our trial (Parrish et al vs. NFLPA et al Case No. 07-0943-WHA) that there are now 13,000 retired NFL players.

Thanks for your hard work.

Bernie Parrish
REAL Independent Retired Players Advocate

“In God we trust. All others, we monitor.”

Marvin Cobb
Cincinnati Bengals, Minnesota Vikings, Pittsburgh Steelers
1975 – 1980

Kathy & Lucious Smith

I respect your right to investigate for yourself and then take any position that you are comfortable taking or taking membership in any or every group. Let’s keep the dialogue going and I encourage others from all of the organizations to get involved and express themselves.

We have accomplished more in the last year-and-a-half for Retired Players and reached more folks in the general public with what has been going on with us since I was a part of the John Mackey team on the strike that we had back in the 1960′s.

The men who played in my era and before don’t have a lot of years left to live. We have to make something happen soon.

I am not a lawyer, an accountant or a PR spin man so I am not going to even try to take you on, on the questions and statements that you make above on what constitutes a diversion. A lot of those words and terms that you used are above the heads of most of us regular guys. I can only say that I am trusting in truth and that I’m very open to hearing from the NFL any explanation that they can offer as to why they have REFUSED for months now to deposit their share of funds into the PAT Fund.

I’m not sure about this either but I believe that a loan is not recognized as a loan under the interest-free terms that Roger said that the NFL is making to George, Frank and the Alumni. I don’t think that the IRS recognizes that kind of arrangement as a legal loan. I’m not a Lawyer though so I could be wrong on that.

Bob Grant
Independent Retired Player Advocate

When NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell finally returned one of my numerous phone calls to him back on 10/17/07, I explained my grievance to him and when I was finished his response was, “Who do you think I am – god?” My response was, “NO, but you have the power to fix the problems facing retired players.” He said that he would look into my grievance and get back with me. However, I didn’t hear back from him until June 18, 2009 when he sent out a mass mailing to retired players addressed, “Dear former NFL Player” and he was asking retired players to join the NFL Alumni.

Click HERE to read about that.

The NFL Alumni is Roger Goodell’s organization and it is designed to further control retired players and their beneficiaries by not allowing them access to their benefits.

The real issues have always been pension/disability reform and medical after football.

Pensions need to at least match Major League Baseball (MLB) and we need a disability plan that is unique to our industry that’s truly accessible and refrains from violating ERISA Law. Plus, retired players will require real medical benefits after football and not these phony programs that seem to come out every couple of months from the PR department.

Remember what just happened in Washington DC on 10/28/09? Commissioner Goodell was scolded by The Judiciary Committee!

Next, read George Martin‘s own words following the death of his beloved friend, Gene Upshaw, benefactor to all retired players:

Ex-Giant George Martin on the death of Gene Upshaw
By Paul Needell/The Star-Ledger
August 21, 2008, 10:23AM

Just got off the phone with former Giants DE George Martin, the team’s player rep and the president of the NFL Players Association in the ’80s. Obviously, he worked closely with the late Gene Upshaw, the union’s executive director since 1983.

Here’s what Martin had to say about the stunning news earlier this morning of Upshaw’s passing from pancreatic cancer, which was diagnosed only on Sunday:

“‘Shocked’ would be more appropriate in my case. … I’m deeply saddened by Gene’s loss, not only as the head of a great organization but as a very close friend on mine. My heart goes out to his entire family.

“I’ll tell you this unequivocally: America has truly lost a giant in the labor movement. His legacy is going to be one of a tremendous ground breaker, a tremendous champion on behalf of players. I think now without bias — because the personality will be taken out of the equation — that objectively people will see his accomplishments are unparalleled, without question.”

Regarding the controversy in recent years surrounding complaints by a faction retired players that Upshaw did not do nearly enough for them in terms of disability issues, Martin was dismissive.

“It’s been very much overblown, not only at this juncture but since the inception of it,” Martin said. “When you look at the tremendous gains active players have gotten since the beginning of Gene’s tenure, if it’s judged objectively, Gene Upshaw will go down as one of the greatest labor leaders in the history of this country, no question about it.

“When you look at the fact that Gene always had to go through a very delicate balancing act, between satisfying his primary constituents — the active players — versus the discontent of the retired players, I think you’ll see that if history judges him fairly, he did an outstanding job.

“You look at the incremental gains that have been made for retired players since Gene’s tenure, I will say there’s not another labor union in the country – I dare say in the world – that can compare to what we as retired players have received.”

A powerful take somewhat blinded by friendship? Martin argues not.

“Now, does that mean Gene was perfect? No,” Martin said. “Were there some issues relative to the disability process? Certainly there were. But that wasn’t as a direct result of only Gene Upshaw.

“You’re talking to one of the biggest fans of Gene Upshaw, and I’ve always made that pronouncement.”

By his actions, Gene Upshaw had proven himself to be a ruthless enemy of retired players. We are still waiting to be paid from the Players Inc. trial. You know the one where Gene compared retired players to: “dog food” and failed to pay us one penny for stealing our images for over 14 years!

Then there’s Frank Krauser. Frank used to be the head of the NFL Alumni and in 2005 when they grossed $3,700,000 according to tax records and he gave $800 to a retired player in dire need? Quite a sizeable donation.

Retired players were promised that this new NFL Alumni would show Frank to the door but it seems that they promoted him and thanked him for his past years of service. Frank is still on the payroll and is clearly still in charge.

Change? Nothing has really changed!

Sincerely,
Dave & Heidi Pear

And yes, you’re right. Picking one’s fights carefully is a good idea. One of my favorite sayings:

“There are some battles that are not worth fighting even if you can win with ease and then there are others that are worth fighting even if you know you will lose in the face of overwhelming odds.”

To: RobertinSeattle

I find the statement “Bob Grant now reports that the NFL is now diverting much-needed assistance funds to building up the New Alumni” interesting. What constitutes a “diversion” of funds? How can I be sure that this truly is a “diversion” and not an new budgetary line item? If it is indeed a diversion, how can I be sure that the funds were not diverted from some other line item and NOT from “assistance funds”? I know how to fight — but rather not if I don’t have to.

Robbie Jones
New York Giants
1984 – 1987

Thanks for following the discussion. Different opinions and ideas are always open for all. As I’ve said earlier, this isn’t a personal thing with George Martin; what he does and how he does it will be how he gets judged by those it affects. I think you’ll see that most people are more suspicious of the organization and the organization behind the organization, as well as its timing and motives.

Outside of Terry Bradshaw’s recent bold comments on brain concussions, we have yet to hear much from any other NFL-approved announcers anywhere. As with anything the NFL and owners touch, it’s always about control and one can only wonder why there now seems to be a total blackout on what was discussed and proposed at last month’s recruitment dinner in New York. No press releases, no announcements on the Alumni’s website, no word from George Martin himself. From what I understand, there were a few people attending this well-funded event (they were expecting an overflow crowd of at least 160) and now there’s absolutely nothing public for all of you retired players to read about. In this day-and-age of instant access to all information, one would hope that we would hear any good news immediately and transparently so all of the retired players that they want on board could hear about it. We will gladly post anything George Martin might want to send in to Dave’s blog for everyone to read and comment on openly. Instead, Bob Grant now reports that the NFL is now diverting much-needed assistance funds to building up the New Alumni at a great personal cost to families like the Mackeys and the Hawkins. This win-at-all-costs mentality has to stop before anything good starts.

There’s always a lot going on behind the scenes that we all need to be cautious of, Robbie. Former NFLPA employee Valerie Thomas and player advocate Jane Arnett (wife of Jon Arnett) were recently on the L.A. Batchelor show and had some comments to say about this:

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/la-batchelor/2009/12/01/the-batchelor-pad

To: RobertinSeattle

All I am saying is be surgical with the punches. Don’t swing blindly at everyone in sight. You may hit a friend. If you’re giving D.Smith a chance, G. Martin deserves a chance too. G. Martin, unlike D. Smith, is not currently surrounded by holdovers from the “Upshaw Show”. Holdovers who were advisors and counsel to the “Upshaw Show” when the subject egregious actions were taken. If you are gonna give D.Smith a chance — then give G. Martin a chance too.

Robbie Jones
New York Giants
1984 – 1987