Ordell Brasse thinks the National Football League has reached its breaking point in terms of treating retired players.
The former Baltimore Colt defensive end views NFL commissioner Roger Goodell?s expected participation in Tuesday’s meeting hosted by NFL Players’ Association executive director Gene Upshaw as the latest sign the league understands the struggles retirees have dealing with the effects of injuries sustained during their playing careers.
“I think [Goodell] might be our biggest ally in this fight,” said Brasse, who played with the Colts from 1975-68. “I’m glad to see someone in [Goodell?s] position can no longer ignore us.”
The meeting is expected to address the process NFL and NFLPA uses to decide which former players quality to receive disability payments. According to the NFL figures, 284 former players are receiving disability payments, totaling more than $19 million this year, including some who receive as much as $224,000 annually.
Carl Francis, director of communications for the NFLPA, said the player?s union have tried to help disabled former players in recent years after several players voiced their concerns publicly.
“We’re looking to continue the dialogue on this issue and look for additional ways to assist retired players,” Francis said. “Nothing we have done recently has come as a result of an instant idea. We have been working to address this issue for at least the last 10 to 15 years.”
However, Brasse believes there are approximately 10,000 former players who should be compensated for their disability. Last month, several former players who suffered debilitating injuries during their playing days testified before Congress how difficult it was obtaining disability benefits under the NFL?s current plan.
“If a guy can’t work, he can’t produce an income and the NFL pension is not enough,” Brasse said. “The congressional hearing is a good first step, but we still need to find a way to put more pressure on the league to make changes. I’ve had three hip and one knee replacement, but I’ve had insurance to take care of most of them. I’m more concerned to see how the league and union have treated some of the other players.”
NFL NOTES
>>Former players Jack Kemp, Steve Largent, Cornelius Bennett, Jerry Kramer and Willie Lanier are among the players expected to participate in Tuesday’s meeting with Goodell and Upshaw.
>>Former Baltimore Colt Bruce Laird, one of the most outspoken on the union’s treatment of former players, has not been invited to the meeting.
>>Among the recent improvements to the benefits given to retired players are: a 25 percent increase in pension payments for players who retired before 1982 and a 10 percent increase for players who retired after that year. Also, the Number 88 Plan offers up to $88,000 annually for institutional care or up to $50,000 a year for in-home care for players suffering from dementia, including Alzheimer’s disease.
>> In May, Goodell announced plans for an alliance between the NFL, NFLPA, NFL Retired Players Association, NFL Alumni Association, NFL Charities and the Pro Football Hall of Fame to coordinate support for former players in need of medical care.
