NFL Alumni Appeals for Unity - Focus for 2012

Feb. 8, 2012 - PRLog -- At the NFL Alumni’s pre-Super Bowl press conference held Thursday, February 2, 2012 at the JW Marriott in downtown Indianapolis, Executive Director, George Martin promoted a theme of unity and cooperation among all factions of retired players.

Members of the NFL Alumni Board of Directors, Randy Minniear, Ricardo McDonald, Vince Papale, and Ron Jaworski joined Martin on stage to show their support for the Executive Director, the organization and its mission. Also joining Martin on stage were Hall of Fame members Andre Tippett and Harry Carson, NFL Alumni website blogger Jeff Nixon and Sylvia Mackey, widow of the late Hall of Fame Tight End John Mackey.

Ms. Sylvia Mackey led the charge of unity demanding unison amongst all retired players, “I would like to see whatever bickering and differences that are going on stop. There will be more and more retired players. The numbers are only going to increase. We all want the same thing”

All retired players are looking for increased pension and added health benefits to effectively maintain a high quality of life. Martin stood with his fellow leaders of the retired player community, and acknowledged the strident gains which were accomplished by the NFL and NFLPA in the recent 2011 Collective Bargaining Agreement-- a CBA which netted NFL retirees nearly a billion dollars in new retiree benefits over the course of the next 10 years.

Martin drew special attention to the $300 million allocated for program and service enhancements for alumni; as well as, the removal of “Football Causation” in the Total and Permanent Disability portion of the Bert Bell-Pete Rozelle NFL Retirement Plan. Recognition was also given to the “88 Plan” expansion, which has been enhanced with respect to monetary compensation and now has the inclusion of ALS as a covered medical condition under the plan. Lastly, recognition of the NFL’s funding of the Long Term Care Program –a program which addresses what is often the most important issue that retirees and their families must tackle. The NFL Alumni Association singularly championed the funding of this program and considers it to be one of the most important programs now available to retired NFL players.  

In light of the new and enhanced benefits provided to retired NFL players in the new CBA, not all issues related to alumni have been solved. There are still gaps in the system as it relates to understanding and meeting the medical needs of retired NFL players. And there is still much that is not known about the long-term medical implications of things like CTE, or if repeated blows to the head increase the likelihood of a former player developing ALS.

Moreover, Martin identified the increasing challenges that new NFL retirees face as they transition from the field to the world of business. “Unlike when I played, football is a 24/7/365 job. And those demands start often in college. Even though the paychecks are higher today then in my day, few players leave the game ‘set for life’. How we help these young men achieve success off the field is vital to the health and stability of their lives and the lives of their families.”

In 2012 the Association will focus its attention on the needs of alumni which were not addressed in the new CBA. As determined by the Association’s Board of Directors, Chapter Presidents and the thousands of members, the NFL Alumni Association's agenda in 2012 will include:

•   The Association will look to ensure that the $22 million in the Joint Contribution Plan which has been allocated to the NFLPA for the funding of alumni specific programs   and services is used wisely and prudently. While some view this money as ‘discretionary’, it is the Association’s opinion that those funds should be used to the maximum benefit of alumni. Whether in cooperation with the NFLPA or in the court of public opinion, the Association will become a watchdog on how those monies are spent.

•   The Association will invest its time and capital into the creation of an expansive health & wellness program which will address the myriad of medical needs facing alumni. In addition, the Association will look to gain greater synergy and cooperation with the organizations which currently fund programs for alumni, to include:

         o     Fellow alumnus Archie Robert’s and the Living Heart Foundation, which provides cardiovascular health screenings;
         o     The AUA’s “Know Your Stats” Program, its spokesperson and fellow alumnus Mike Haynes, which is specific to                          prostate health;
         o     As well as work with the NFL and the NFL Player Care Foundation in enhancing the:
                   o     Joint Replacement Program to cover greater out of pocket expenses
                   o     Increasing the scope and benefits within the NFL Prescription Drug Plan
                   o     Creating a program to help diagnose and treat neuro-cognitive disorders

•   The Association will continue to improve its Career & Business Program, which has already provided vital services to alumni as they transition from the field of play to the field of business. Focus will be working with NFL Player Development, and fellow alumnus Troy Vincent, in allowing greater access for alumni in its programs.

•   Finally, continuing to advocate to the NFL and NFLPA on the administration of the “Legacy Benefit”. Whether it is re-examining how the Surviving Spouse and Child Benefit is administered or ensuring all eligible retirees are informed and proactive in completing the necessary paperwork to have the benefit applied to their monthly pension payments, the Association will not rest until the “Legacy Benefit” truly benefits the men who helped build the NFL into the #1 entertainment property in nation.

As the retired player community continues to strive for greater quality of life beyond the gridiron, the NFL Alumni identifies that in order to move forward it is necessary for all factions of the retired player community to unify and cooperate to effectively lobby for the rights of all former NFL players. Martin reiterated that improvements for all Alumni is a slow process, “This is a marathon not a sprint, but we will get the job done.”

For more information, contact NFLA Communications Assistant, Matt Fox at matt.fox@nflalumni.org or 973-210-7191.

About NFL Alumni

The NFL Alumni is comprised of two distinct non-profit membership organizations: the NFL Alumni Association and NFL Alumni Foundation. The NFL Alumni serves its retired player members and their families through the NFL Alumni Association and supports youth and community charities through NFL Alumni Foundation.

For more information, visit nflalumni.org.