To all retired players: . On Wednesday, February 15, 2012 at 1:30 p.m. your case will be argued against the NFLPA in front of Judge Susan Nelson in St. Paul, Minnesota. The NFLPA filed a Motion to Dismiss and this hearing will be to determine if your case is dismissed. . If you will recall, in September and October of 2011, 47 former NFL players, including 27 Hall of Famers (26 of whom who are listed in the NFL’s official encyclopedia as 300 of the greatest players in NFL history), representing every decade in pro football since the 1940′s, filed a class action lawsuit against the NFLPA. The class representatives represent virtually every position in football, and every category of NFL player – including vested, non-vested, Hall of Famers, forgotten players, and legends of the game. The lawsuit was filed on behalf of all former NFL players and seeks to increase the retirement benefits of all players – vested and non-vested . The NFLPA is asking that your case be dismissed against them. We will argue that your case deserves to be heard by a jury. . It would be great if the Judge could see a courtroom of retired players who are all in support of having your case get heard by a jury. So if you are available to make it to Minnesota to attend the hearing, I ask that you mark it on your schedule and come show your support for your case. It is particularly important that you attend if you live locally. . The address is below. Please let me know if you plan to attend. Thanks. . Best regards, Shawn D. Stuckey, Esq. (former NFL player – New England Patriots, Minnesota Vikings, Tampa Bay Buccaneers) Wednesday, February 15, 2012 at 1:30 p.m. Courtroom 7B United States District Court 774 Federal Building 316 North Robert Street St. Paul, MN 55106 . (Eller/Bednarik et. al, v. NFLPA and Gault/McElhenney et. al, v. NFLPA) Case No. 11-CV-2623 SRN/JJG (D. Minn.) .
EDITOR’S NOTE: The Annual Hall of Fame ceremonies were held in Canton Ohio this last weekend. Joe DeLamielleure was among the Hall of Famers in attendance along with several other players who are part of the Eller Class Action suit (including Carl and Paul Krause. A surprise guest showed up – Joe D. provides some notes on the event: .
This dinner is always strictly for Hall of Fame players and the new inductees only. So most of us were wondering – some loudly – Who invited Smith? .
When De Smith walked into the room to speak, around 12 of the guys actually walked out. .
When Smith spoke, it was obvious that he had no idea that this audience consisted mostly of pre-1993 players. .
An informal count indicated there were at least 40 Hall of Fame players who were each receiving less than $200 a month ($176) in pensions and Smith was asked what their increases would be in the new CBA. Smith said that their pensions would increase to $1,000 to $1,500. . Paul Krause and Carl Eller asked about pension increases for retired players and never received a straight answer. .
Carl Eller also asked if retired players could represent themselves and Smith answered, “I would not be opposed to that” in front of the group. . . . .
And for those of us with shorter attention spans, the highlights are now up on YouTube from our June 20th 2011 Retired Football Players Press Conference. We’ve uploaded it to YouTube in HD – you can enlarge it to full screen for easier viewing using the enlarge button in the lower right corner of the video window. .
And once again, thanks to Jennifer Thibeaux and her crew. We’re working on shorter individual clips to also be posted daily on YouTube over the following weeks to keep this issue front and center with the fans and general public. Retired Players are NOT going away! .
And for those of us with shorter attention spans, the highlights are now up on YouTube from our June 20th 2011 Retired Football Players Press Conference. We’ve uploaded it to YouTube in HD – you can enlarge it to full screen for easier viewing using the enlarge button in the lower right corner of the video window. .
And once again, thanks to Jennifer Thibeaux and her crew. We’re working on shorter individual clips to also be posted daily on YouTube over the following weeks to keep this issue front and center with the fans and general public. Retired Players are NOT going away! .
. And a little something extra: Hall-of-Famer Gale Sayers is mad too! .
. HOW YOU CAN HELP: Click on the Like button on YouTube, as well as passing these videos along to all of your friends. You can also post our video links to your Facebook page if you have a Facebook account and Tweet it to Twitter (you can use those buttons at the bottom of each of our posts). And please be sure to click on the Sign Our Petition link at the top of the sidebar on the right to let everyone know you support these guys! .
There were few people who didn’t like Merlin Olsen. He passed away early today in Salt Lake City at the age of 69 after a long battle with mesothelioma, a cancer of the lungs.
I have stood on the sidelines long enough to see how corrupt the NFLPA is to the players that gave this game the foundation that carries forth so that today the generation of active players can make millions of dollars.
The Milwaukee Journal Sentinal‘s Bob Wolfley wrote about a recent interview with Paul Hornung on Sirius Radio’s The Opening Drive. Hornung was running back for the Green Bay Packers 1957 – 1966 and had recently undergone hip replacement surgery at 72. Here’s the clip:
We want to extend a firm, hearty congratulations to you, the NFL Draft Class of 2008. It is our hope that you have a successful and safe NFL career. Let us emphasize the word safe. As most of you know — or we hope know — there have been thousands who have played this game before you. The history of the NFL extends back before The Second World War and some of the greatest athletes this nation has ever produced have played in the National Football League; perhaps you will be one.
We hope that once you sign your name to a contract and receive your bonuses, you can pause just a moment before you deposit your check and remember those who worked to give you this opportunity. Those who played for thousands of dollars a year — not thousands of dollars a week — they gave you this day. We hope that you remember those who were this league’s guinea pigs and played their entire careers on artificial turf and now use walkers or wheel chairs to get from room to room.
To all retired players:
EDITOR’S NOTE: The Annual Hall of Fame ceremonies were held in Canton Ohio this last weekend. Joe DeLamielleure was among the Hall of Famers in attendance along with several other players who are part of the Eller Class Action suit (including Carl and Paul Krause. A surprise guest showed up – Joe D. provides some notes on the event:
Paul Krause and Carl Eller asked about pension increases for retired players and never received a straight answer.
There were few people who didn’t like Merlin Olsen. He passed away early today in Salt Lake City at the age of 69 after a long battle with mesothelioma, a cancer of the lungs.
