Feeling like the NFL turned its back on the players that helped make professional football the billion-dollar empire it is today, a number of retired Baltimore Colts are forming a non-profit organization designed to help provide assistance to former players with health care, disability and/or pension issues stemming from their playing days.
Former Colts defensive back Bruce Laird and running back Tom Matte are among those leading the effort to form the Baltimore Football Club Inc., which Laird said received non-profit status as a 501-C3 about three months ago.
An organization like this became necessary, Laird said, because there are more than 400 retired NFL players across the nation that receive a very small pension and no medical benefits and disability from the NFL, being forced often to work into their 70s to make ends meet.
“We?ve realized that the NFL?s players association does not represent any of the retired players at the bargaining table,” Laird said. “We?ve heard loud and clear that they only represent the active players. I?m not trying to disparage the active players because I?m happy for the huge salaries and benefits they receive today. But players from the past went on strike and went to court to help pave the way so today?s players could reap the benefits from that hard work.”
Laird and Matte said that they are still in the very early stages of organizing the club, including putting a board of directors together. They are also looking for grants and other funding sources to aid their cause. Among their future plans is hosting a tribute for Hall of Fame defensive tackle Artie Donovan this fall.
Much of the motivation for forming this club came from the plight of former Baltimore Colt John Mackey, a Hall of Fame tight end. Mackey suffers from frontotemporal dementia, a disease similar in its effects to Alzheimer?s. A one-time president of the NFLPA, Mackey, 64, now needs constant care, and his wife, Sylvia, still must work as a flight attendant.
The NFL and the NFLPA took some steps toward rectifying plights like Mackey?s in July when they improved existing benefits and created new ones for retired players, including the “No. 88 Plan,” which refers to Mackey?s old jersey number. The plan allows for retired players suffering from dementia or Alzheimer?s to receive up to $88,000 per year for institutional care or up to $50,000 per year for in-home nursing care.
Still, Matte believes much more needs to be done to help players of his generation, since they earned just a fraction of what today?s players get. Matte?s final contract in 1972 paid him $85,000.
“We just realized that there are too many players out there who have severe medical needs from their playing days that need help,” Matte said. “The NFL isn?t helping them, so we decided to do something about it ourselves.”
How to help
» For more information about the Baltimore Football Club Inc., contact Bruce Laird at 410-530-8696 or write him care of Multi-Specialty Healthcare, 540 East Belvedere Avenue, Suite 200, Baltimore, MD 21212.
