The NFLPA executive committee held a conference call to share details of the proposed settlement and its impact on retired players. Led by De Smith from the NFLPA and Marty Amsler from the retired players’ side the call also included most of the NFLPA executive committee including Jim McFarland, Domonique Foxworth, Tony Richardson, Jeff Saturday, and Kevin Mawae in addition to Nolan Harrison the NFLPA Sr. director of former players. The tenor of the call was warm and upbeat with Smith commenting that “I’m happy because we’ve made a very significant step on our long walk, not only of a better relationship but a better system”
Current players are going to be voting to recommend today a settlement agreement that for the first time would include provisions for the teams to contribute directly to the pensions of former players. The legacy fund, proposed during the 2010 players’ convention, is now coming to fruition in addition to another achievement of a permanent long-term health care plan funded by the NFL.
While the details of how benefits will get distributed need the next CBA to get finalized the $620M benefit is affirmed. De shared a comment from a wise man “once you commit the money to something, you’re 99% of the way there.” While owners pay more of the fund than active players, as part of the $620M fund the NFLPA will have discretionary ability to use $20M for retiree healthcare issues and benefits.
At the end of the call the former players chose to “thank the active players very much for everything you did for each and every one of us.”
[Edit at 1:03] After the call we followed up with some questions to former players. Leonard Wheeler a safety who spent most of his career with the Bengals said “What’s so amazing about this day is that it gives a great perspective about people being unified and not trying to do things on their own. One thing that I really take away from this is that if we continue to stay persistent with what we believe in, things will always happen for the better good of the group not just the individuals.”
Marty Amser commented that “the people on this negotiating committee have been real loyal and each of us should thank each of them because it’s going to pay off for and hopefully bring a better quality of life for a lot of retired players” When asked what he thought about the amount of money set aside he responded “that a group of men have sat down and have cared for the retired players and I think it’s wonderful.”
Tony Bouie, a former safety for the Buccaneers, commented on DeMaurice Smith’s One Team philosophy. “When he first came in [to office] he reached out to disparate groups and forged a relationship and I think that was key in getting people on the same page and then really pounding the pavement and everything he said reiterated the feeling of one voice, one locker room, one team and today was the realization of that philosophy coming to fruition.”
