Comments on: Bob Grant: Questions for DeMaurice Smith http://davepear.com/blog/2009/12/questions-for-demaurice-smith/ • the unofficial blog for independent football veterans • Sat, 11 Feb 2012 01:33:43 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Bruce Jarvis http://davepear.com/blog/2009/12/questions-for-demaurice-smith/comment-page-1/#comment-22103 Bruce Jarvis Sat, 12 Dec 2009 18:37:54 +0000 http://davepear.com/blog/?p=4867#comment-22103 <img src="http://www.davepear.com/images/Bruce_Jarvis_Topps.jpg" alt="Bruce Jarvis" /> De Smith, Thanks for responding sanguinely to Bob Grant's questions. You realize that even though you now have stated to us clearly that you "and the NFLPA represent all players — those who play the game and those who played the game — and my door is always open to discuss any concerns of any player"...because of the miserable actions of your predecessor, Gene Upshaw, we former players will only believe you when you deliver results in any representation of us. Here are the results that, when delivered, will restore our trust in the NFLPA as a representative of our best interests: 1) Pension benefits GREATER than Major League Baseball or the NBA; 2) A legal and fair disability plan and process (cleaning house of all who have been NFLPA representatives in the past process); 3) Comprehensive medical and dental benefits after retirement (including but not limited to brain injury/dementia, joint replacement, spine injury, long-term assisted living, drug/alcohol treatment, etc.). Your credentials are impressive but as you know, you follow in the footsteps of Gene Upshaw who - along with the actions of the active players through the votes of their team representatives (no doubt manipulated by Upshaw and the others at the top of the NFLPA over three decades) - got us to the sorry state that currently exists. <strong>UNTIL YOU DELIVER THE BENEFITS LISTED ABOVE, YOUR WORDS ARE JUST WORDS AND TALK IS CHEAP!</strong> With that said, your efforts to negotiate the coming COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENT with the NFL will either contain the vast improvements we seek or in my opinion - and that of many, many other vets with whom I talk with regularly - you will have failed the retired players who built the NFL into the $30 Billion entity it is today. Bruce Jarvis Buffalo Bills 1971 – 1974 Bruce Jarvis
De Smith,

Thanks for responding sanguinely to Bob Grant’s questions.

You realize that even though you now have stated to us clearly that you “and the NFLPA represent all players — those who play the game and those who played the game — and my door is always open to discuss any concerns of any player”…because of the miserable actions of your predecessor, Gene Upshaw, we former players will only believe you when you deliver results in any representation of us.

Here are the results that, when delivered, will restore our trust in the NFLPA as a representative of our best interests:
1) Pension benefits GREATER than Major League Baseball or the NBA;
2) A legal and fair disability plan and process (cleaning house of all who have been NFLPA representatives in the past process);
3) Comprehensive medical and dental benefits after retirement (including but not limited to brain injury/dementia, joint replacement, spine injury, long-term assisted living, drug/alcohol treatment, etc.).

Your credentials are impressive but as you know, you follow in the footsteps of Gene Upshaw who – along with the actions of the active players through the votes of their team representatives (no doubt manipulated by Upshaw and the others at the top of the NFLPA over three decades) – got us to the sorry state that currently exists. UNTIL YOU DELIVER THE BENEFITS LISTED ABOVE, YOUR WORDS ARE JUST WORDS AND TALK IS CHEAP!

With that said, your efforts to negotiate the coming COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENT with the NFL will either contain the vast improvements we seek or in my opinion – and that of many, many other vets with whom I talk with regularly – you will have failed the retired players who built the NFL into the $30 Billion entity it is today.

Bruce Jarvis
Buffalo Bills
1971 – 1974

]]> By: Bob Grant http://davepear.com/blog/2009/12/questions-for-demaurice-smith/comment-page-1/#comment-22096 Bob Grant Fri, 11 Dec 2009 21:15:25 +0000 http://davepear.com/blog/?p=4867#comment-22096 <img src="http://www.davepear.com/images/Bob_GrantSM.jpg" alt="Bob Grant" /> Earl, You are absolutely right. I just wanted to offer the Director an opportunity to personally explain to us his role and involvement in the Settlement and the Settlement Process. Now let's see if he thinks enough of our Retired Independents to respond. Please stay involved. Bob Bernie Parrish Team Member Bob Grant
Earl,

You are absolutely right. I just wanted to offer the Director an opportunity to personally explain to us his role and involvement in the Settlement and the Settlement Process. Now let’s see if he thinks enough of our Retired Independents to respond.

Please stay involved.

Bob
Bernie Parrish Team Member

]]> By: Earl Thomas http://davepear.com/blog/2009/12/questions-for-demaurice-smith/comment-page-1/#comment-22093 Earl Thomas Fri, 11 Dec 2009 13:37:18 +0000 http://davepear.com/blog/?p=4867#comment-22093 <img src="http://www.davepear.com/images/Earl_ThomasSM.jpg" alt="Earl Thomas" /> You already know the answers to most of your questions. You should know that when lawyers take cases with no retainers, they set the fees. Yes, they were high and unreal but no one stepped up to pay a retainer. While he should, no one is giving him much respect to not only decide on payments but not a lot of anything. This process will not be fixed overnight. Gene screwed us big time so don't think that Mr. Smith will just step in and solve all of our problems right away. Earl Thomas 1971 – 1976 Chicago Bears, St. Louis Cardinals, Houston Oilers Earl Thomas
You already know the answers to most of your questions. You should know that when lawyers take cases with no retainers, they set the fees. Yes, they were high and unreal but no one stepped up to pay a retainer.

While he should, no one is giving him much respect to not only decide on payments but not a lot of anything.

This process will not be fixed overnight. Gene screwed us big time so don’t think that Mr. Smith will just step in and solve all of our problems right away.

Earl Thomas
1971 – 1976
Chicago Bears, St. Louis Cardinals, Houston Oilers

]]> By: RobertinSeattle http://davepear.com/blog/2009/12/questions-for-demaurice-smith/comment-page-1/#comment-22074 RobertinSeattle Thu, 10 Dec 2009 23:18:46 +0000 http://davepear.com/blog/?p=4867#comment-22074 To all you guys who have been patiently waiting for more news on the Class Action checks: Please stay tuned for an announcement tomorrow afternoon. Apparently the wheels of justice still grind V-E-R-Y slowly but we should have some confirmed final information on what each of you will need to take to make sure you get your checks. To all you guys who have been patiently waiting for more news on the Class Action checks: Please stay tuned for an announcement tomorrow afternoon. Apparently the wheels of justice still grind V-E-R-Y slowly but we should have some confirmed final information on what each of you will need to take to make sure you get your checks.

]]> By: Reggie Harrison http://davepear.com/blog/2009/12/questions-for-demaurice-smith/comment-page-1/#comment-22073 Reggie Harrison Thu, 10 Dec 2009 20:59:29 +0000 http://davepear.com/blog/?p=4867#comment-22073 <img src="http://www.davepear.com/images/Reggie_Harrison.jpg" alt="Reggie Harrison" /> Are we not going to receive the payout now or is it still on? I thought we were suppose to receive the checks the first part of December. If we don't receive the payout, do we get interest added on? Reggie Harrison Pittsburgh Steelers 1974 - 1977 Reggie Harrison
Are we not going to receive the payout now or is it still on?

I thought we were suppose to receive the checks the first part of December. If we don’t receive the payout, do we get interest added on?

Reggie Harrison
Pittsburgh Steelers
1974 – 1977

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