The corrupt former head of the NHLPA Allan Eagleson was brought down over pension fraud by former star players, including Carl Brewer, Gordie Howe and Bobby Hull (link). So there might be hope in the NFL if a few others would join Ditka - Joe Montana, say, or some other icon of the game. And seconding that the current players have a responsibility as well - someone like Brett Favre really has nothing to lose and a lot to gain in terms of putting his blue-collar image to the test. And, with his past health issues off-field, he is a prime candidate to relate to a grunt who succumbs to addiction of some kind. One underlying issue that came out with th Vick case was the lack of guaranteed contracts in the NFL making players much more disposable than other sports, and hence more compliant to unfair working practices. The fan uproar that he should give his signing bonus back without consideration that his contract could have been terminated without cause at any time showed, I think, a fundamental bias against the players. The fact that most players are completely obscured by helmets means we cannot see their pain and empathy is muted, they are like androids. But none of that deflects responsibility from the owners. I know this issue has been posted previously on SpoFi, but personally, as a casual NFL watcher, I have reached the tipping point where the ultraviolence is too much in the context of the disposable human beings performing it. For a miniscule sum relative to income, they could look after all the old players and make like heroes. If they ever wanted to undercut the (emasculated) union, then this is their chance. A push from the fans would help. But I have the impression that an awful lot of football fans love the martial/disciplinary aspects of the game - the drill, the march, the field-general, etc., and see the perfect execution of a "play" as akin to a military manoeuver, successful because of discipline and obedience to command. So I am not holding my breath that the fans will really care enough to deal with it. Congress is taking an interest, and that may help. I'd like to think fans could put pressure into the mix as well. But how?
This is a good comparison to baseball player pensions & attitudes.
showed, I think, a fundamental bias against the players. The fact that most players are completely obscured by helmets means we cannot see their pain and empathy is muted, they are like androids. Plus the resentment that's grown with the gap between player salaries and average household income in the US. I'm not saying it's right, just saying it's there. I'm always stunned when someone comes on this site bitching about overpaid players, like it's somehow better when the money goes to a billionaire instead of a millionaire. I suppose they think the billionaire got rich by talent while the athlete got rich by luck, even though the reverse might be just as true.
If I had $2 million I could retire tomorrow and live a middle class life indefinately. Any player in any sport making $10-20 million per year in salary, endorsements, etc. and isn't doing anything for the betterment of mankind is simply put a shitbag. My religous beliefs compel me to try and do the best that I can for others whether it is smile for someone having a bad day, or trying to help a customer balance their checkbook. If a millionare athlete can sleep at night (and I'm sure that there are many who can) knowing that he did the best he could than more power to him. Two little things that I can do today is that I will add the Gridiron Great link to my website in case anyone wants to donate and I will write to my team (Patriots) and ask what they are doing to help. I am just a fan but there is strength in numbers. To whom much is given, much is expected Luke 12:48.
Reading about what happens to these players in physical/aging terms after they leave the game, who could accuse the Tiki Barbers, Jake Plummers, et al of being "soft" or "quitters"? Seems like an amazingly smart decision for these guys to retire when they still have their relative health and presumably are set for life financially. It's too bad that the same cannot be said (on both counts) for many of their predecessors.
You can obviously add an awful lot of owners, media moguls, season ticket holders etc. to my earlier comment as well. I don't want it to sound like I am specifically complaining about wealthy players. I am specifically complaining about people in general who sit by while others suffer.
Any player in any sport making $10-20 million per year in salary, endorsements, etc. and isn't doing anything for the betterment of mankind is simply put a shitbag. Your religious beliefs are very interesting.
I'm always stunned when someone comes on this site bitching about overpaid players, like it's somehow better when the money goes to a billionaire instead of a millionaire. What was that Chris Rock line? "Shaq is rich. The white man who signs his check... is wealthy." (Not that race is a huge issue here, but race does play a part in the skewed focus on player salaries at the top end.) Ultimately, it's the linemen who have to deal with escalating physical demands, shorter careers and greater risk of incremental disability, while being at the lower end of the wage scale and playing under the pressure of knowing they can be cut so easily from the roster. rumple's right: Favre would be ideal, not least because you just know he's going to be a physical wreck ten years after retiring.
Ineffective union representation and free agency opened the door for the parasitic cankers known as sports agents to enter and rape the league. This "show me the money" attitude has debased player loyalty to any one particular team. But what else could players do when the union is in the owners pocket but move around every three of four years? As soon as an injury sidelines a player, besides the team, he becomes a liability to both the agent and the union. I say sports agents need to step-up with the insurance policies during negotiations of players contracts and be forced to take some of the responsibility, as well as broadcast networks and any of the rest that get rich putting saddles on players backs for the ride to the bank. I do believe this can be easily fixed if the exploiters greed was added into equation before the paydays. This shameless apathy really pisses me off, greedy bastards. Let the league migrate to pay per view and see what happens. I know one thing, I will not be buying a thirty dollar cap or180 buck jersey from the NFL. Hell, I'll go to the flee market and get that swag for 5 and 10 dollars and send the difference to Ditkas bunch. Rookies need to know what they are getting into before any ink is on paper and this article is a good place to start their education.
Michael Moore could do an awesome film on this subject - what a sitting duck. Heh. Seriously, I think public shaming of the league would work. It's clear Upshaw doesn't give a shit. But the league might worry about it if public opinion rose a notch, or if advertisers started to ask questions. That, a documentary, and a well-placed shove by prominent players could do it quickly -- there is plenty of money in the system, just a lack of seriousness of concern.
Ineffective union representation and free agency opened the door for the parasitic cankers known as sports agents to enter and rape the league. This "show me the money" attitude has debased player loyalty to any one particular team. How are agents to blame? Their goal is to maximize their own revenues which, usually, means they have an interest in seeing their clients get as much as they can. Most players aren't attorneys or CPAs, so they're not ready to argue effectively in contract debates.
The NFL is a TREMENDOUS public relations machine. After reading this, the sappy commercials they run during games showing NFL players doing charity work in their communities make me want to puke. In high school I was 6'4", 205 lbs and athletic, a basketball player. You think the football coaches didn't want me? One of them called me a pussy for not playing. I actually wanted to play, although basketball was my first love. My old man prevented me from playing football. For years I resented it. It wasn't until I was in my 40's that I recognized his wisdom, and sent him an article from the San Jose Mercury News. It was a feature on ex-49ers linebacker Gary Plummer, who has had 17 surgeries and sleeps in a recliner in the living room so as not to disturb his wife when he wakes up in pain at night. My Dad knew that the coaches were nothing but young, macho assholes who wanted to use me for their own gain, no different than the NFL does.
I was one that always felt that when a player left his team that he had played for for a number of years and leave to play for another for more money,I always said "Where's the loyalty of this player to his team ?"But after reading this article,I can see now that they have to make the money while they can because when their playing days are over,Upshaw certainly doesn't give two shits it seems about anybody but himself and his huge salary.Something has got to be done to help these players who put their bodys through the rigors of entertaining the people who watch them play every Sunday.Even if they realize the next play may very well be their last before a catastrophic hit put upon an opposing player or one put on themself may leave them unable to move again.
I watched a bit of the Seahawks-Bears game on the weekend and I found it much less enjoyable thinking of each hit as another month of arthritic pain at 45, so to speak. Football really needs to deal with this because when it becomes visceral like that, it really detracts from enjoyment of the sport.
Lidocaine injections on the sidelines, while players huddle around to shield this from the fans. Yet they ban players from the league for marijuana use?? Tell me WHAT could be more hypocritical than THAT?
The NFL treats its players like Michael Vick treated his dogs. Football really needs to deal with this because when it becomes visceral like that, it really detracts from enjoyment of the sport. Football can't deal with the issue without putting flags on the hips of its players and banning contact. There's no way to build a sport around the violent collisions of huge athletes without accepting catastrophic and life-long injuries to the performers as the cost of doing business. I enjoy the NFL because I grew to love the sport before I understood the physical toll it exacts on the players. As I did with boxing, I should stop giving it my money and my attention.
Football can't deal with the issue without putting flags on the hips of its players and banning contact.
Nonsense. Rugby union and league are both contact sports with far more sensible views on handling injuries and on managing contact to redce serious injuries in the first place.
