Irv Cross: WHERE IS MY SEVERANCE PAY?
Lionel,
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I know many of you remember how tough the ’82 season was: a 57-day strike, a shortened season and a brand new wage scale. One of the highlights of the ’82 through ’86 contract was supposed to be SEVERANCE PAY.
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Here is Gene Upshaw’s own statement at the time about Severance Pay as found in the Foreword Section of the ’82 contract: “For the first time in any sport, players will receive substantial SEVERANCE PAY when they leave the game, and our medical bill of rights is in place.”
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For Lionel & everyone -
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Here’s the language I’ve found from the ’82 contract for Article XXlV Severance Pay:
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“Section 1
Amount:
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Effective November 16, 1982, any player who has earned two (2) or more credited seasons under the Bert Bell NFL Player Retirement Plan and leaves the National Football League, will be entitled to receive from the last NFL club to which he was under contract a severance payment with the following schedule:
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| Credited Seasons |
Last NFL Seasons 1982, 1983, 1984 |
Last NFL Seasons 1985 or 1986 |
| Two | $ 5,000 | $ 10,000 |
| Three | 20,000 | 30,000 |
| Four | 60,000 | 70,000 |
| Five | 70,000 | 80,000 |
| Six | 80,000 | 90,000 |
| Seven | 90,000 | 100,000 |
| Eight | 100,000 | 110,000 |
| Nine | 110,000 | 120,000 |
| Ten | 120,000 | 130,000 |
| Eleven | 130,000 | 140,000 |
| Twelve or more | 140,000 | 150,000 |
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For the 1982 season only, a player who was on any club’s Active, Inactive, Injured Reserve or Physically unable to Perform list on the dates of a club’s first two regular season games will be deemed to have earned a credited season for purposes of this article only and for no other purpose, including pension plan purposes.
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Section 2
PAYMENT:
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The foregoing severance payment will be paid to the player immediately following the third game of the regular season next following the player’s leaving the National Football League or any other professional football league whichever occurs later. The amount of the severance payment prorated among all clubs to which a player was under contract during his NFL career, except in the case of a player who left the NFL prior to September 20, 1982 and returns to a club after the execution of this Agreement, in which case the player will be entitled to only one-half of his accrued severance benefit and the club to which the player returns will be responsible for one-quarter of his accrued severance benefit as well as any full severance benefit earned following his return. A player may not qualify for more than one severance payment under this provision.“
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Lionel, everything here was copied word-for-word from the Collective Bargaining Agreement signed on November 16, 1982 to be effective July 16, 1982.
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I hope you find the answer to your question: “Where is Severance Pay from 1980-88?” It looks like a lot of people are asking the same question. WHERE IS MY SEVERANCE PAY?
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I hope this note helps more of our guys. How many of you were aware of this formula and actually received your Severance Package from playing in that era?
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Irv Cross
Philadelphia Eagles & LA Rams
1961 – 1969
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Lionel James
March 29th, 2010 at 8:15 am #
Irv and Dave and RobertinSeattle,
This information with the chart where it shows the number of years played, the amount that you should receive, and Gene Upshaw’s words is a BIG piece of the unfinished puzzle. I really appreciate you responding to screams of injustice. Now as retired players, the matter of receiving what is rightfully ours is the end to the finished work of this puzzle.
John speaks of Statutes of Limitation. I am aware of those laws, but we played America’s Game and the American Teams are now turning their backs on us. Maybe the citizens of America should know all of what is going on. Maybe a full-page ad in USA Today will help, but where would the money come from? Maybe a fan strike would respond to this forest of injustice. I’m not necessarily advocating this but whatever gets the ball rolling – not uphill – but in a legal manner. I am not saying take a few years to do this because there are guys in dire need today. Some will be foreclosed, some need mental help – another story in itself. Where should we start: On our own as Burt and myself are doing, or do we finally come together as a mighty fist and band together to get something done?
Question, how would I start to band this group together to get it started? Have a letter mailed out? I don’t think that it will work because some of these guys have no address to be reached. Where should I start? You want me to do anything, I will do it. Just lead me in the right direction if you are neutral and are not tied to the NFL process which would cause you any conflict of interest.
Lionel James
San Diego Chargers
1984 – 1988
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Lionel James
March 29th, 2010 at 10:45 am #
I haven’t found all the answers to the questions I have added to my list from the Collective Bargaining Agreement of 1982. What I now see is a group of Lawyers on the other side already lining up to size up their opponent. Seeing if I have all the answers (NFL Lawyers ) and seeing what I was against (NFLPA).
If I was on the money side, I would have known then this deal is done. They used on us what we used in the game every day. We knew before the play from friends on the phone, coaches’ speeches and finding out how tough the guy in front of me would be. Once I knew those things, I knew where I could beat the other guy to win.
Well, it’s like health care: the Democrats want it and the Republicans don’t want it. Why would Republicans not want this unless they lose money. So with that, I say the RICH get richer until they sit on death’s door and ask God for forgiveness. Now, I ask should he? And I’m a religious person and I pray for your forgiveness. I do know that the 70-plus years we live on this side is way shorter than what we are into on the other side. Is it death that makes us finally wake up? No pun intended, but when do we finally decide to correct the wrongs in this lifetime?
Lionel James
San Diego Chargers
1984 – 1988
There is truth to the fact that an innocent man is put to death for what he did not do. What side of that fence will you be sitting?
Preston Carpenter
March 29th, 2010 at 6:01 pm #
Irv,
How does this affect Players who retired in 1968 ( I mean who quit the game in 1968)? Let’s get increases in Retirement Benefits. This should be Number 1 priority! This also includes you. Let’s get some movement in this Direction Only!
Preston Carpenter
Cleveland Browns, Pittsburgh Steelers, Washington Redskins, Minnesota Vikings, Miami Dolphins
1956 – 1967
Alonzo Highsmith
March 30th, 2010 at 3:54 am #
Can you still claim money that is owed to you? It’s obvious that players were shorted and how do you go about recovering the rest?
Alonzo Highsmith
Houston Oilers, Dallas Cowboys, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
1987 – 1992
Beverly Halton
March 30th, 2010 at 7:23 am #
Alonzo,
Collectively bargained benefits are still in force. As long as you did “not borrow against” any future payment of severance while still playing, then you should be able to still collect. Players borrowed money from their clubs knowing that they were to collect a severance payment in a lump sum when finished playing ball. Clubs did allow this as a “hardship”, the NFL allowed this and the NFLPA allowed this.
Beverly Halton
Former employee – NFLPA Retired Players Dept.
Trent B. Bryant
March 31st, 2010 at 11:07 am #
This is sad that for all the hard work we put into the League and they treat us like this? I would like to know: When will they pay us and who do we need to contact to get the ball rolling?
Regards,
Trent B. Bryant
Washington Redskins, Kansas City Chiefs
’81, ’82, ’83, ’87
Burt Grossman
March 31st, 2010 at 12:44 pm #
Seems there’s someone new every day – I’m sensing a pattern here…
Burt Grossman
San Diego Chargers, Philadelphia Eagles
1989 -1994
Irv Cross
April 18th, 2010 at 8:31 pm #
Preston,
Sorry for the long delay in responding to your question about retirees from the ’60′s. I have had a “bout” with the flu.
I happen to respond to the Severance Pay issue because I had the information the players needed to pursue their individual cases.
We, as retirees from the ’60′s, do not have any claims for Severance Pay because it did not exist for us. I do agree wholeheartedly with you that our present pension and disability plans should be dramatically improved for all retirees.
Preston, the most efficient way to have our pension and disability plans improved is at the bargaining table during the current negotiations between the NFLPA and the NFL Management Council. It is my hope that De Smith and the active players involved in the current negotiations will truly represent the needs of all retirees during these contract talks. The most efficient way to make meaningful improvements in the disability and pension benefits for all retirees is at the bargaining table! Preston, let De Smith know of your concerns and needs. Tell him firsthand what it was like in Pittsburgh and Cleveland in the ’60′s and why you need him to express your voice along with all retirees during this round of negotiations. Please also remind him that these negotiations will be the last for many of us who built this game during the infancy of the NFL.
Preston, it was great to hear from you. Send a note to De Smith.
Irv Cross
Philadelphia Eagles & LA Rams
1961 – 1969
Walker Gillette
April 26th, 2010 at 11:43 am #
Yes, the Severance Pay would have been nice, but I missed it. I do appreciate the payment from the GLA settlement.
Great work!
Walker Gillette
San Diego Chargers, St. Louis Cardinals & NY Giants
1970 – 1977
Howard Carson
April 28th, 2010 at 5:22 pm #
I played 4 years for the LA Rams from 1980 to 1983. From there I played 2 years in the USFL. I had 4 credited seasons with the Rams. It appears that I qualify for the severance. What do you think, Irv? Good to see you!
Howard Carson
LA Rams
1980 – 1983
Irv Cross
April 30th, 2010 at 11:17 am #
Howard,
Contact the Rams in writing (your last NFL team), with copies to the Executive Director of the NFLPA (De Smith) and the Executive VP of Labor Relations of the NFL ( Harold Henderson).
I would strongly recommend you also contact Burt Grossman. I’m sure he could give you some additional insights. Thanks for writing, it was good to hear from you. Don’t be discouraged if you run into some obstacles because there are a number of unanswered questions regarding severance pay. Submit your letter as indicated and that will put you into the system wherever it is. Be patient, seek advice from Grossman and others and hope for the best!
GOOD LUCK!
Irv Cross
Philadelphia Eagles & LA Rams
1961 – 1969