Da Coach
Pro football’s line of scrimmage in its battle over disability benefits to ex-players again moved to Capitol Hill on Tuesday, this time with sharp words exchanged between senators, former players and coaches.
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Front and center in the trenches were former Chicago Bear Dave Duerson and his former coach, Mike Ditka, who have recently exchanged words in the media. Earlier this year, Duerson accused Ditka of not caring about injured players when he coached, an allegation Ditka later called “an out-and-out outrageous lie.”
So about an hour after Duerson, a trustee for the NFL’s retirement plan, gave his testimony, it was Ditka’s
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turn. He didn’t disappoint, immediately saying, “A former player of mine seemsto be taking potshots, that’s his nature. But I’m not mad at this man or that man.”
Ditka then seemed to take issue with the whole exercise, declaring: “You people have more important things to do than what we’re doing. Fix it, and everyone will go away, including me.”
But Sen. Byron Dorgan, D-N.D., pointed out that the “baseball folks said no one should be holding hearings on steroids, either,” although those hearings became the impetus for change.
Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass., seemed to take Ditka’s side, saying, “Most Americans would look at this and say, ‘Wow, what is Congress doing getting into this?’ ” But he went on to say he’s prepared to introduce legislation if the NFL doesn’t act.
Among those also on hand Tuesday: new NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, making his first appearance before Congress; ex-Cowboy and current Fox Sports color man Darryl Johnston; Jim Irsay, owner of the champion Indianapolis Colts; Bears great Gayle Sayers; former Redskin Brian Mitchell; and legendary lineman Conrad Dobler.
After the hearing, many of them retired to the Union Pub to watch themselves on ESPN over lunch.
