To the NFLPA: Retired Players Want Real Referees Too!
Last Friday, the NFLPA wrote a sanctimonious letter to NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell regarding their indignation over the League’s use of replacement referees in this new season. The NFLPA has continued to whittle away at retirees’ benefits and rights with each passing agreement all while trying to point out what a great job they did for retirees – and let’s not forget overlooking the widows – in the new CBA. Their hypocrisy deserves a cynical and sarcastic response for all the Union’s whining after the CBA was signed (and let’s not forget that DeMaurice Smith was bragging about what a terrific deal he had cut right after it was signed last year; it earned him a new multimillion dollar contract and bonus).
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So we’ve reproduced the NFLPA’s letter below (on the left) and written a similar letter back to him – and the NFL – on behalf of retired players (on the right). Enjoy! Click on each image to enlarge for easier reading and printing.
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RobertinSeattle
September 24th, 2012 at 10:45 am #
BTW – The NFLPA letter was officially signed by:
Domonique Foxworth, NFLPA President
Charlie Batch, NFLPA Vice President, Pittsburgh Steelers
Cornelius Bennett, NFLPA Former Players Board of Directors Chairman
Drew Brees, NFLPA Vice President, New Orleans Saints
Brian Dawkins, NFLPA Vice President
Scott Fujita, NFLPA Vice President, Cleveland Browns
Matt Hasselbeck, NFLPA Vice President, Tennessee Titans
Brandon Moore, NFLPA Vice President, New York Jets
Jeff Saturday, NFLPA Vice President, Green Bay Packers
Mickey Washington, NFLPA Former Players Board of Directors Member
Brian Waters, NFLPA Vice President, New England Patriots
Benjamin Watson, NFLPA Vice President, Cleveland Browns
Dave Pear
September 24th, 2012 at 9:47 pm #
After watching the Monday night game between the Seahawks and the Packers, it was apparent that the officials were not qualified to officiate the game.
Maybe Commissioner Goodell can do another one of his studies to find out the real issues?
The officiating of the game reminded me of the Bell/Rozelle Disability board because they too are totally unqualified to vote on disability and they don’t even understand disability law.
The NFL probably hopes that this crummy officiating will make the public take their eye off the current growing concussion scandal.
In my opinion, it looks as if the NFL is trying to end football with their fraudulent handling of concussions and replacement referees!
Best,
Dave Pear
John Hogan
September 25th, 2012 at 6:24 am #
Everyone knows that the replacement refs are doing a terrible job because we can SEE what they are doing. It is “transparent.” This is what we need from the Disability Board. While they cannot open their meetings to the public because of Privacy issues, we need an independent Department of Labor to come in and audit their practices, procedures and decisions.
I’m sure it would make the Packers’ loss seem trivial.
John Hogan
Disability Attorney
Retired Player Advocate
Dave Pear
September 25th, 2012 at 2:35 pm #
Can anyone confirm the rumor that Roger Goodell recommended that if the league decides to bring back the real officials then the current officials that are clearly not qualified to officiate NFL football could fill in as replacement team doctors?
After all, the NFL’s MTBI Committee co-chairs Dr. Ira “NO” Casson and his cohort Dr. David Viano resigned in 2009. And their predecessor and chairman from 1994 – 2007, Dr. Elliot “YES” Pellman, graduated as a rheumatologist from the University of Margarita in Mexico was also a paid physician and trainer for the New York Jets.
These two geniuses ran the “MILD” Traumatic Brain Injury (MTBI) Committee for years and put out counterstudy after counterstudy that concussions did not cause any permanent brain injuries or long-term damage. But there’s nothing mild about ANY brain injury!
The NFL’s answer to this debacle was to rename it the “Head, Neck, Back and Shoulder Committee.”
Roger, NOBODY believes you anymore.
Best,
Dave Pear
P.S. – And where has the NFLPA been through all of this? Writing letters to the Commissioner about the replacement referees and filing briefs on the Bountygate rulings instead of protecting active and retired players who were put at risk while all of this has been going on.