These comments came from Maureen Kilcullen, who worked in the Baltimore Colts front office from 1968 to 1980:
Dear Mr. Schaal: I read with great interest your piece entitled "Mike Ditka flags NFL on its CR Gameday," a compelling analysis of the issues faced by many retired NFL players. However, having been involved in the effort to improve pension and disability benefits and to gain representation for retired players for the last four years, I wanted to contact you regarding the situation.
When the NFLPA failed to respond to efforts of the Baltimore Colts alumni to gain assistance for Hall of Fame tight end and former NFLPA president John Mackey, the Colts' alumni raised $25,000 to benefit Mackey, who suffers from frontotemporal dementia. Since that time, the Baltimore Colts alumni have been at the forefront of a movement to enlighten the NFL, the NFLPA, the fans, the media, and the active players about the plight of hundreds of retired NFL players from the 1950s and beyond.
Approximately three years ago -- having learned that Mackey's situation was repeated far too often in the homes of retired NFL players across the country -- we took the first steps to organize a national effort on behalf of our retired teammates. We launched a weblog to inform the public; a private Google Group that, for the first time ever, provided information, identified players in need, and offered a private forum for retired players; and a 501(c)(3) organization, Fourth & Goal, that advocates for representation and improved pension and disability benefits for retired players.
Our effort builds on those of John Unitas, Ordell Braase, Jim Mutscheller, Mike Pyle, Pete Retzlaff and a host of other retired players who formed the Pro-Fac Committee approximately ten years ago. In November 2005, Pro-Fac wrote to NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue to ask for considerations regarding retired players' defined benefit pension plan, partial and permanent disability issues, and representation. Commissioner Tagliabue forwarded the letter to NFLPA Executive Director Gene Upshaw, whose response to Pro-Fac confirmed what we had long suspected--that retired NFL players "are not union members," "have no rights here" and have no representation at the bargaining table. Through Fourth & Goal's Google Group and weblog, retired players read Upshaw's comments in his response to Pro-Fac, in the Charlotte Observer article and in an e-mail message, all of which were posted on the Google Group and the blog.
Upshaw's words helped to ignite our effort. Nearly every day, retired players ask to join our group, which has now grown to more than 1,100 retired NFL players. And the concerns they have expressed are universal:
How do we as retired players gain representation?
How do we improve our pension benefits?
How do we improve the disability system to ensure that those who suffer from football-induced injuries obtain the care and support they need?
How do we obtain affordable health insurance, given our football injuries?
How can we share in the profits generated by Players Inc.?
How can retired players share in the success of the NFL, the $24 billion business ($24+ billion over the length of the latest CBA) that we helped to build?
How do retired players build relationships with active players to make them aware of the issues?
Fourth & Goal is an independent national organization for the benefit of all retired NFL players. In September, our first major fundraiser -- A Salute to Art Donovan -- raised more than $100,000 to benefit retired players. We plan a major weekend of events in Atlantic City in June. To date, we've provided immediate -- albeit modest -- assistance to about a dozen retired players and the widows of two retired players. In some instances, in fact, these men and women were unable to obtain assistance elsewhere.
Bruce Laird, a 12-year NFL veteran with the Baltimore Colts and the San Diego Chargers, works tirelessly as president of Fourth & Goal. Board members include Maxie Baughan, Joe DeLamielleure, Sam Havrilak, Sam Huff, Mercury Morris, Jim Mutscheller, Jeff Nixon, and Charlie Waters. Interestingly, What makes our success so impressive, I believe, is that we are an all-volunteer organization. We have no payroll, no office, virtually no infrastructure -- and both Bruce and I have full-time jobs!
We commend Mike Ditka for his efforts on behalf of retired players. In fact, we reached out to Jerry Kramer and Gridiron Greats as the organization was being formed and we've collaborated with them on various efforts. While Gridiron Greats takes a humanitarian approach to the issues, Fourth & Goal takes a two-pronged approach. We believe Band-Aid fixes will continue to be necessary -- for generations -- without representation for retired players; thus, in addition to providing immediate financial support to those in need, we are also advocating for representation. To that end, Bruce Laird and NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell have maintained an ongoing dialog that has contributed greatly to the incremental benefits improvements for retired players. (Interestingly, despite personal appeals by Commissioner Goodell, other NFL officials, and numerous retired players, Upshaw has steadfastly refused to allow Bruce Laird a seat at the "alliance" table.)
Again, thanks for covering the issues.
Sincerely,
Maureen Kilcullen Baltimore Colts front office, 1968-1980
Retired NFL Players
These comments came from Maureen Kilcullen, who worked in the Baltimore Colts front office from 1968 to 1980:
Dear Mr. Schaal:
I read with great interest your piece entitled "Mike Ditka flags NFL on its CR Gameday," a compelling analysis of the issues faced by many retired NFL players. However, having been involved in the effort to improve pension and disability benefits and to gain representation for retired players for the last four years, I wanted to contact you regarding the situation.
When the NFLPA failed to respond to efforts of the Baltimore Colts alumni to gain assistance for Hall of Fame tight end and former NFLPA president John Mackey, the Colts' alumni raised $25,000 to benefit Mackey, who suffers from frontotemporal dementia. Since that time, the Baltimore Colts alumni have been at the forefront of a movement to enlighten the NFL, the NFLPA, the fans, the media, and the active players about the plight of hundreds of retired NFL players from the 1950s and beyond.
Approximately three years ago -- having learned that Mackey's situation was repeated far too often in the homes of retired NFL players across the country -- we took the first steps to organize a national effort on behalf of our retired teammates. We launched a weblog to inform the public; a private Google Group that, for the first time ever, provided information, identified players in need, and offered a private forum for retired players; and a 501(c)(3) organization, Fourth & Goal, that advocates for representation and improved pension and disability benefits for retired players.
Our effort builds on those of John Unitas, Ordell Braase, Jim Mutscheller, Mike Pyle, Pete Retzlaff and a host of other retired players who formed the Pro-Fac Committee approximately ten years ago. In November 2005, Pro-Fac wrote to NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue to ask for considerations regarding retired players' defined benefit pension plan, partial and permanent disability issues, and representation. Commissioner Tagliabue forwarded the letter to NFLPA Executive Director Gene Upshaw, whose response to Pro-Fac confirmed what we had long suspected--that retired NFL players "are not union members," "have no rights here" and have no representation at the bargaining table. Through Fourth & Goal's Google Group and weblog, retired players read Upshaw's comments in his response to Pro-Fac, in the Charlotte Observer article and in an e-mail message, all of which were posted on the Google Group and the blog.
Upshaw's words helped to ignite our effort. Nearly every day, retired players ask to join our group, which has now grown to more than 1,100 retired NFL players. And the concerns they have expressed are universal:
Fourth & Goal is an independent national organization for the benefit of all retired NFL players. In September, our first major fundraiser -- A Salute to Art Donovan -- raised more than $100,000 to benefit retired players. We plan a major weekend of events in Atlantic City in June. To date, we've provided immediate -- albeit modest -- assistance to about a dozen retired players and the widows of two retired players. In some instances, in fact, these men and women were unable to obtain assistance elsewhere.
Bruce Laird, a 12-year NFL veteran with the Baltimore Colts and the San Diego Chargers, works tirelessly as president of Fourth & Goal. Board members include Maxie Baughan, Joe DeLamielleure, Sam Havrilak, Sam Huff, Mercury Morris, Jim Mutscheller, Jeff Nixon, and Charlie Waters. Interestingly, What makes our success so impressive, I believe, is that we are an all-volunteer organization. We have no payroll, no office, virtually no infrastructure -- and both Bruce and I have full-time jobs!
We commend Mike Ditka for his efforts on behalf of retired players. In fact, we reached out to Jerry Kramer and Gridiron Greats as the organization was being formed and we've collaborated with them on various efforts. While Gridiron Greats takes a humanitarian approach to the issues, Fourth & Goal takes a two-pronged approach. We believe Band-Aid fixes will continue to be necessary -- for generations -- without representation for retired players; thus, in addition to providing immediate financial support to those in need, we are also advocating for representation. To that end, Bruce Laird and NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell have maintained an ongoing dialog that has contributed greatly to the incremental benefits improvements for retired players. (Interestingly, despite personal appeals by Commissioner Goodell, other NFL officials, and numerous retired players, Upshaw has steadfastly refused to allow Bruce Laird a seat at the "alliance" table.)
Again, thanks for covering the issues.
Sincerely,
Maureen Kilcullen
Baltimore Colts front office, 1968-1980