Dave Pear's Blog

The NFLPA finally got around to making a proposal for pension increases to the 320+ widows who were left out of the current CBA. Keep in mind this is still a proposal until both sides sign off on it. Here’s the update that was sent out to Chapter Presidents from Former Player Executive Committee Representative Jim McFarland yesterday (our highlights in RED):
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Dear Fellow Chapter Officers:
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In case you have not already been informed, I am pleased to report from our conference calls today that we were notified that the NFL has agreed to pay its 51% of the Widows Legacy Benefit from Club Funds and that the NFLPA has offered to pay its 49% from $7 to 9 million of “fine money” that was not allocated to any specific charity. We are waiting for the NFL’s response.
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Thus, 51% will come from owner funds and 49% will come from player money taken from salaries in fine money under this proposal.
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Unfortunately, even if the NFL agrees to this proposal, the funds will not be immediately available to these widows and survivors just as funds were not immediately available for Pre-93 vested players. The process of paying such Legacy Benefits to these widows and survivors will be similar to the process of getting legacy benefits to Pre-93 vested players.
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With regard to the 2,841 former players who were immediately eligible to receive the legacy benefit, it has been a long, but steady process. As of today, apparently 84% of these former players are receiving their legacy benefit. Unfortunately 16% of these player elections are still in process for reasons including that some of these former players have QDRO issues with regard to divorced spouses, that they are receiving disability benefits which complicate determining their Legacy Benefit amount, and that 6% of these former players have not yet signed and returned their legacy benefit forms.
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Hopefully, these matters will be resolved soon. Let me know if you have any questions.
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Sincerely,
Jim McFarland
NFLPA Former Player Executive Committee Representative
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