NFLPA / Ex-Players Battle

[Ksyrup]

Putting aside the Upshaw threats to that HoFer, the ex-players probably should have chosen a better sob story than Brian Demarco. This looks like one of those trials where you think you've got a great witness, and then the opposing counsel tears him to shreds and your compelling argument completely disintegrates.



NFLPA documents show $10K in help to DeMarco

By Chris Mortensen
ESPN.com


Mike Ditka has been saying for months that if the NFL and NFL Players Association want to back up their claims that they are meeting the needs of retired players then to provide "documentation."

In what may be a first significant strike back at a nasty public relations campaign waged by some retired players such as Ditka, the NFLPA on Monday night provided ESPN with nine cancelled checks totaling almost $10,000 that it paid in the past 12 months for items such as rent, utilities and child support to former NFL lineman Brian DeMarco.

DeMarco, 35, appeared at a press conference on Monday with Ditka and fellow Hall of Famer Joe DeLamielleure, claiming the players union had turned its back on him during a time of financial need caused by his physical disabilities from a five-year NFL playing career.

DeMarco had also told the Chicago Sun-Times that the union had ignored many of his pleas for help.

The NFLPA struck back Monday night with the documents, which included two payments in March from the Player Assistance Trust that totaled almost $3,000 covering rent and a moving company bill. The nine checks covering just under $10,000 since last June were only a "partial report," a union official said, and added that as recently as this past weekend that an NFLPA employee wired $300 "out of his own pocket" to DeMarco, who had called saying he was desperate for cash.

Until now, the NFL and NFLPA had ignored Ditka's request to provide documentation that the groups are meeting the needs of former players.

"We've wanted to save these guys in need their dignity but enough is enough," said Gene Upshaw, executive director of the NFLPA. "When they keep calling us out, they better be sure of the facts. We don't need a press conference to tell everyone how wonderful we are. We do our job. We meet their needs.

"We're responsive and we'll continue to be responsive, but DeMarco can't make that claim. In fact, one of the Hall of Famers on Ditka's board is somebody we've helped ... the guy I'm talking about was up there complaining earlier this year when he knew we had just made six mortgage payments for him."

Upshaw would not identify the Hall of Fame player in question but said, "We can't let them manipulate the media anymore. On dire need alone, we made $1.2 million worth of payments to 147 former players last year and paid another $1 million to 140 guys the year before. And we're glad to do it. We don't talk about it. That's what we do."

DeMarco was unavailable for comment Monday night but had admitted to the Sun-Times that he had received about $10,000 in assistance from the NFLPA. He still complained about the union's response to his plight.

Another union official told ESPN that it is DeMarco who has been non-responsive, saying he has not returned disability forms which have been sent to him twice and has ignored the NFLPA's instructions to fill out forms for an annuity worth more than $40,000. DeMarco also has received a $50,000 severance claim when he left the NFL after the 2000 season and has a 401K plan with $151,000 in it, the official said.

The NFLPA official said it also had lined up a job for DeMarco in Austin, Texas, but that he "no-showed."

DeMarco was a second-round draft pick by the Jacksonville Jaguars in 1995. He finished his career with the Bengals.

A prominent ex-Jaguars player told ESPN that he and another former teammate "cringed" when they saw DeMarco appear at Monday's press conference. The ex-Jaguar did not want to be identified but said DeMarco has been given significant financial help by his former teammates, including three jobs "that he's blown."

"Now he's walking with a cane in front of cameras," the ex-Jaguar said. "Last time we saw him -- and it was in the past two weeks -- he didn't need a cane. He has some physical problems, yes, but there are other things going on there."

[TroyF]

One of the most amazing PR counterpunch I've ever seen.

They destroy this guy point by point and make him look like a complete tool.

I'm interested to see how they try and fight back after this. That was just brutal.

[st.cronin]

Well, on the other hand, if you've got medical problems, 10 K in 12 months won't go very far.

I don't know how you decide what these guys deserve, though. I'm sure a lot of them do make bad decisions, starting with whether to graduate college or not.

[albionmoonlight]

We don't need a press conference to tell everyone how wonderful we are. We do our job. We meet their needs. . . . And we're glad to do it. We don't talk about it. That's what we do.

Originally Posted by TroyF

One of the most amazing PR counterpunch I've ever seen.

Indeed. Just a masterful job.

I also agree with Ksyrup that this reminds me of nothing more than having a client/witness who completely lies to you as an attorney, only to find out at some very inconvenient time that you have been hoodwinked.

[albionmoonlight]

Originally Posted by st.cronin

Well, on the other hand, if you've got medical problems, 10 K in 12 months won't go very far.

That might be true, but from a PR perspective, the ex-players just got smoked. Also,

Another union official told ESPN that it is DeMarco who has been non-responsive, saying he has not returned disability forms which have been sent to him twice and has ignored the NFLPA's instructions to fill out forms for an annuity worth more than $40,000. DeMarco also has received a $50,000 severance claim when he left the NFL after the 2000 season and has a 401K plan with $151,000 in it, the official said.

[Sweed]

I certainly haven't followed this closely but am of course aware of former players asking the union for help and benefits. However I'm surprised that someone who played as recently as DeMarco is involved.

I always thought this was the "old timers" that played at the time Upshaw was in the league and before FA and the big money came about. Sort of like the NBA players of the 60's and before, ie the guys that "made the game" and were never rewarded because of when they played. This DeMarco played at a time where money was flowing and should take responsibility for not planning for the future.

IMHO, with the money the league generates today, the union should be helping the guys that played in the day where 20 grand was probably good money, and paved the way for todays millionaires. Then again maybe we'll get more reports like this and find out they already do?

[Ksyrup]

Yeah, the sad thing is that they might have a point about some of the older players, I don't know. But throwing Demarco up there just destroyed their case. Not only did he get some money, but it looks like he left other money on the table because he didn't fill out forms AND both the NFLPA and former teammates say he's bailed on multiple job offers. And then there's the claim that the cane is mostly a sympathy prop. Not good.

[TroyF]

Originally Posted by st.cronin

Well, on the other hand, if you've got medical problems, 10 K in 12 months won't go very far.

I don't know how you decide what these guys deserve, though. I'm sure a lot of them do make bad decisions, starting with whether to graduate college or not.

That's one of the amazing things about this though. The NFLPA paints a picture that:

1) They've went out of their way to help the guy and others like him.

2) They've tried to get him more money but he won't fill out the paperwork or bother showing up when they get him a job.

3) They've tried to keep the high road throughout the ordeal.

Then they get a former teammate to essentially throw him under the bus to top it off by saying this guy is faking the severity of his injuries and that he's refused help from former teammates as well.

They shredded this guys case point by point and then threw the knockout blow with the former player.

Is all of this true? Hell, I don't know. As with anything I'm sure there are two sides to the story. He's really going to have to come back and do some fighting to save face now.


As for the medical bills, I didn't see anything in the guys response indicating that was an issue.

Hall of Famer Joe DeLamielleure, claiming the players union had turned its back on him during a time of financial need caused by his physical disabilities from a five-year NFL playing career.

I could be reading this wrong, but if medical bills were an issue, you'd think it would have been brought up a ton in his press conference. The fact it wasn't makes me think he has some health insurance from the league and that the "disability" pay is the key issue. If I am reading it right, his not showing up for jobs and not filling out the disability forms pretty much end his right to complain IMHO.

[TroyF]

Originally Posted by Ksyrup

Yeah, the sad thing is that they might have a point about some of the older players, I don't know. But throwing Demarco up there just destroyed their case. Not only did he get some money, but it looks like he left other money on the table because he didn't fill out forms AND both the NFLPA and former teammates say he's bailed on multiple job offers. And then there's the claim that the cane is mostly a sympathy prop. Not good.

Exactly. They should have brought up one of those older players that may have a case. When you bring up an example to call someone out, it had damned well better be a solid one. If it gets ripped to shreds, anything else you say is going to be held to an even higher standard of proof.

Again, this is just an incredible job of a PR counterpunch by the NFLPA. If Demarco has something else up his sleeve, he'd better strike back with it quickly or Ditka and the group crying about benefits just hurt any player with a legitimate gripe against the league.

[hoopsguy]

I've seen pretty heavy coverage on this issue in Chicago, figuring it was the "Ditka" angle. Is this now starting to get more national coverage?

The Chicago Tribune had an article on Saturday where ex-Bear Dave Duerson, who is part of a six-person panel that works on these cases, fired on Ditka pretty hard. I thought Duerson came off pretty well in terms of laying out how the process works and basically saying Ditka and his gang are trying to make it personal when there is a business process in place. Maybe the system can be improved, or more funds can be allocated, but Duerson's account certainly sounded like there was a reasonable system in place that is working as designed. And that if they want to free up more money for the retired players, then it will have to come from the current players allowing for this in their next collective bargaining process.

http://chicagosports.chicagotribune....home-headlines

[BrianD]

As an aside, I met Dave Duerson at a golf tournament in the Chicago-area a few years ago. Very nice guy.

[Ksyrup]

It got national coverage, as far as I'm aware, when Gene Upshaw threatened to break Joe DeLamielleure's neck. Ditka's involvement is pretty recent, AFAIK. I saw Duerson's comments that Ditka never cared about player injuries as a coach. This thing is getting out of control.

For a league on top of the world, the NFL is sure doing its best to take multiple shots at its feet with a sawed-off shotgun this off-season.

[albionmoonlight]

Dave Duerson was the man on the original Tecmo Bowl.

[stevew]

Originally Posted by albionmoonlight

Dave Duerson was the man on the original Tecmo Bowl.

I was just getting ready to say that.

[RendeR]

Originally Posted by TroyF

I could be reading this wrong, but if medical bills were an issue, you'd think it would have been brought up a ton in his press conference. The fact it wasn't makes me think he has some health insurance from the league and that the "disability" pay is the key issue. If I am reading it right, his not showing up for jobs and not filling out the disability forms pretty much end his right to complain IMHO.

You're confusing two people, DeMarco is the idiot who bailed on the jobs and wouldn't do the paperwork, Dellamalleur simply has issues with their assistance in general. He, as far as I've read here in Buffalo, has been a very upstanding person and works his ass off. Try not to sully his name by confusing the two players =)

[Crapshoot]

FWIW, my understanding is that the older players in question essentially want something for nothing - they're getting the pension payments they're entitled to, but want more. I can't really blame current players for not wanting to give up their money (that they've earned and bargained for) for an older generation - I think Upshaw and co pointed that giving an extra $300 per year of service to all the retired vets would bankrupt the fund.

[TroyF]

Originally Posted by RendeR

You're confusing two people, DeMarco is the idiot who bailed on the jobs and wouldn't do the paperwork, Dellamalleur simply has issues with their assistance in general. He, as far as I've read here in Buffalo, has been a very upstanding person and works his ass off. Try not to sully his name by confusing the two players =)

I just clipped the quote wrong, instead of:

Hall of Famer Joe DeLamielleure, claiming the players union had turned its back on him during a time of financial need caused by his physical disabilities from a five-year NFL playing career.

it should have said:

DeMarco, 35, appeared at a press conference on Monday with Ditka and fellow Hall of Famer Joe DeLamielleure, claiming the players union had turned its back on him during a time of financial need caused by his physical disabilities from a five-year NFL playing career.


----------------------------------------------

Sorry to Delamielleure, didn't mean to clip the quote to imply it was you. I think I said DeMarco in my post following though.

[Atocep]

Originally Posted by Crapshoot

FWIW, my understanding is that the older players in question essentially want something for nothing - they're getting the pension payments they're entitled to, but want more. I can't really blame current players for not wanting to give up their money (that they've earned and bargained for) for an older generation - I think Upshaw and co pointed that giving an extra $300 per year of service to all the retired vets would bankrupt the fund.

I think the bigger issue is streamlining the disability claims process. From what I've read it seems to be modeled after the military's and I can tell you from first hand experience its a confusing process that isn't consistent with its results.

I'd be willing to bet that at least 90% of the players that play for more than a couple years have legit disability claims. I'd be interested to see what the percentage of rejected claims is.

[spleen1015]

Does anyone know how much money DeMarco made while playing?

[Atocep]

Originally Posted by spleen1015

Does anyone know how much money DeMarco made while playing?

I was wondering this as well. My gut is telling me he's a guy that failed to make the necessary lifestyle adjustments after retiring.

I can understand the older generation of players struggling, but a guy that played multiple seasons within the past decade has no excuse other than poor money management. That doesn't mean people should turn their backs on him, but if that's the case he shouldn't be complaining that they NFLPA isn't supporting him financially.

[st.cronin]

The whole thing is just odd as a news story. It seems obvious that the whole point of what Ditka's doing is to try to get public support on his side ... but its unclear to me what his side exactly is, and why should the public care, and what difference does it make what the public thinks.

[hoopsguy]

Ditka's side is that the union is doing a terrible job of helping out the retired players. That there is a system in place, but it stinks and that union leadership has failed these guys. He, along with others associated with Gridiron Greats, suggest that the guys who helped build the NFL that are now crippled as a result of playing such a brutal sport, deserve better than Gene Upshaw and the miniscule post-career support that they get. Especially given the vast amount of money the league is making at this point in time.

What the union leadership is saying is that:
1.) They have a responsibility to the current players, first and foremost
2.) They have a system for helping out disabled players. This system was recently strengthened (Plan 88) and is doing good work for a lot of players
3.) The Gridiron Group are basically Johnny-come-lately, trying to make a stink about something that they don't understand

Mixed in there are a number of personal attacks and hurt feelings. And a lot of older players who really are in bad shape, based on articles I've read on this over the last year.

[spleen1015]

I would like to know what Bill Curry thinks about this. Anyone know if he has been on Mike & Mike recently to talk about it?

[stevew]

RIP Dave Duerson. He was a Tecmo legend.

[miami_fan]

Originally Posted by stevew

RIP Dave Duerson. He was a Tecmo legend.

It has been ruled a suicide.

[stevew]

It seemed like suicide from the initial reports. Hopefully his brain is useful for trauma studies. I guess he shot himself in the chest so that it would be intact.

[Logan]

Didn't notice the date of the thread until I read the Gene Upshaw quote.

[RainMaker]

Thought this was a good read.

Deadspin, Sports News without Access, Favor, or Discretion

[Radii]

Duerson brain tissue analyzed: Suicide linked to brain disease - CNN.com

[stevew]

Can't believe people still let their kids play football.

[molson]

Originally Posted by stevew

Can't believe people still let their kids play football.

I can't believe so many people still whine about the nfl trying to respond to this issue.