This is going to be the shortest post that we have ever featured here on DavePear.com. By now, you all must have heard that the NFL has just hired former NFLPA President Troy Vincent who served with Gene Upshaw, deceased Executive Director of the Union.
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We have now established that both the NFL and the NFLPA have been using fake “Experts” to trick Fans, Active Players, the Media, Congress, the Courts and Us. They have reached determinations and given testimony on Retired Player rights and benefits that were nothing more than shams in too many cases.
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Mr. Executive Director,
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This was a congratulatory letter sent from the NFLPA on Nov. 10th, 2009 to George Martin upon his selection as Executive Director of the New NFL Alumni. It’s signed by the NFLPA Steering Committee and NFLPA Chapter Presidents. To date, it has remained unanswered.
(As always, click on each thumbnail to enlarge for reading.)
President Harry Truman had a sign on his desk that read “The Buck Stops Here.” I always liked him when I was a kid because he was a plain and simple, straight-forward guy who was willing to take full responsibility for solving problems.
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AAA
Bob:
It ‘s almost comical when you look at the bill of goods the NFL and the Alumni are now trying to sell to Retired Players and the Public.
Here we go again. After the latest rounds of making it clear that I continue to support the need for independence, several retired players have been calling and writing to inform me that my name is once again being used to imply support for the Fourth & Goal/Alumni Alliance. At least now I can understand some of the confusion: many of you guys must have been wondering why I would be publicly stating my decision not to join the NFL Alumni organization when it appeared that I had been endorsing it.
Apparently, Fourth & Goal sent out a letter at the beginning of June (right after The Summit) to an unknown number of retired players to enlist their support of the new Alumni deal. It appears that not everyone got this letter since I know that a large number of us who attended the Summit never received it (so much for including ALL retired players, fellas). Also included with the 2-page letter were 5 pages from a “Confidential Business Plan” that caught my attention. The two most interesting pages are attached below (click on each page to enlarge for easier reading.) Important sections are highlighted and worth reading carefully. Both Marvin Cobb and I are listed as “Key members of the New Alumni Advocacy Group” along with other members of the current Board of Fourth & Goal.
continue reading »
Bob Grant
It seems as if there’s always someone ready to jump in to lead us and tell us what to do. You know – as if we were mindless, voiceless kids. We finally rid ourselves of Gene Upshaw and now here comes the so-called “New Alumni.” This is America and you and I are free to dash out and join the YMCA or PETA, the Taliban or Reverend Jim Jones – or any other group or individual – who advertise themselves as being “the way to the promised land.” That certainly doesn’t mean that we have to do so however; I personally believe we should be thinking independently and consciously considering all of our options before “signing on” with anyone.
Wow!
We already have guys like Mike Florio starting to work toward dividing the Players who were recognized in the suit. Seems to me that there are always those who want to pit players against one another like Pit Bull Dogs. Why didn’t Mike mention that the Man who initiated the suit and provided the early financing is not even a member of the Class and isn’t even getting paid. (Click HERE to read that post from Mike Florio on ProFootballTalk).
I think that folks should just calm down a bit and give both Parrish and Smith time to gather their thoughts and we can hear how they see it all in thirty days or so. I just hope that all of the boys who do get paid will kick in the $1,000.00 to the war chest that Bernie has requested for the legal actions that we have planned so that ALL retired players can get a few bucks next time.
Fellow Members,
To those folks who are pulling against the upcoming Independent Retired Players Summit, many of whom are with the NFLPA Golf Tournament down in Palm Springs, you don’t have to call anyone to see how it is coming along. I will bring you up to speed now.
We have already exceeded the number of retired attendees that we started out hoping for. More are still coming in every day. We haven’t waived a registration Fee that we never had and we’re not offering those who are attending the Summit any coupons or a gift of a membership fee to any organization because there’s no group or organization for them to purchase a membership from. Attending Advocates are, of course, free to make any presentation that they would like to. We are not requiring any Advocate to agree with any other on any matter. What the Retired Players feel and think are what is most important to me.
The information that came in across the “wire” earlier today was crazy. I have no idea as to whether Dee is ever going to work with the Independent Retired Player Advocates or not but I will support him in his demand for respect from the NFLPA.
New York Times - Concussions
Among the important subjects to be discussed at The Retired Players Summit: Head Trauma, Concussions and Brain Injuries. The New York Times’ Alan Schwarz started a long series on concussions in 2007 and the stories continue (click HERE to see a list of some of those articles). We just received more details this morning from Bob Grant: