. Well, it’s been a while since I first started trying to access the benefits for some football-related injuries that hospitalized me earlier this year.(Click HERE to read my earlier post about THAT exercise in futility.)I’ve still been trying to wade through all the traps*** that the NFL management has set in addition to those posed by my personal circumstances… So I thought I’d give everyone a little update on my progress (or lack thereof!):
One of the more common questions coming in from recently retired players (the last 10 – 15 years) has been about severance pay. In our last post, both Lionel James and Burt Grossman mentioned that they weren’t even aware of any severance pay clauses. Irv Cross sent in a response through the Comments and we decided to put it up as a general post so it would be more visible to everyone. Thanks, Irv!
It’s another Monday, one week after Super Bowl Sunday. Some current news items of note as well as a couple of reminders on some events and dates that are coming up.
A lot of you out there probably still remember Gay Culverhouse’s passionate testimony in front of Congress last October. (You can read her testimony by clicking HERE.) During the time Gay Culverhouse was President of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, she witnessed firsthand many of the things that teams and team doctors do in treating their employees: the players. Dr. Culverhouse has been taking up the cause for retired players’ rights in their generally next-to-impossible process to apply for disability and pension benefits. After she began to realize the scope of this problem, Dr. Culverhouse recently started a new nonprofit organization – Gay Culverhouse Players’ Outreach Program – to provide assistance to any and all players who either need assistance in applying for their benefits or who have been turned down for benefits. (Click HERE to access their website.)
Would you trust your brain or your money with this man?
We have no idea how anyone missed this little tidbit from the Congressional hearings on brain concussions in the NFL. The media rightfully focused on stirring comments made by former Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ owner Gay Culverhouse regarding the complete lack of advocacy for the players when it comes to brain injuries: The team doctors are hired by the owners and are employed to protect their investment; many of the coaches and owners often play golf with the team doctors in their free time. Tampa Bay Online covered Ms. Culverhouse’s testimony closely and the last paragraph in their story says a lot about just how seriously Roger Goodell plans on looking into brain concussions.
Don’t let anyone fool you. Some of the toughest players in the retirees’ struggle with the NFL… are the ladies. No one needs to tell football players or their families about pride, determination, intelligence, grit and the heart it takes to engage in battle. Recently in Washington DC, it became openly clear that women are fearlessly standing up for what is right, breaking through the barriers to take care of the business of football and it’s impact on the lives of our men and our families.continue reading »
A lot of you out there probably still remember Gay Culverhouse’s passionate testimony in front of Congress last October. 
