When we talked about the plight of retired players the other day, Harry Carson was adamant about the idea that benefits for he and his fellow retired players can and WILL be improved over the coming months.
What NFL commissioner Roger Goodell said earlier today lends credence to that assessment. Although Goodell won't testify at Tuesday's Congressional hearings about the difficulties experienced by former players applying for disability benefits, as well as other areas of concern like pensions, Goodell said at today's rookie symposium should at least hearten those - including us - who would like to see the situation improve.
"The focus on retired players is that we have an obligation and a responsibility to retired players," he said. "I think we’ve done some very positive things for retired players and we’re considering doing some additional things that I think are quite responsive to the issues. I’ve spent a fair amount of time listening to retired players and listening to what the issues actually are."
Even better news: Goodell and NFL Players Association executive director Gene Upshaw will meet with retired players on July 24 to talk about the issues that are near and dear to the hearts of retired players, many of whom continue to live with the wounds inflicted during their playing days.
"Hopefully we’ll be able to move this forward," Goodell said. "I think we’re being very responsive to our retired players and I understand the interest in this. I hope were going to be seen in a very positive light in terms of being responsive to this."
Comments (3)
HOLY COW - IT'S YOU!
I AM SO IMPRESSED WITH YOUR ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND TALENTS. YOU ARE TRULY A HUMBLE PERSON.
Bob, the NFL reaction to Vick seems to be cautionary, early indication is they will let this play out via the justice system. Without devling into that debate, is that your read on the league's stance? Will that hold in the face of fan/public backlash? Early returns on Newsday and ESPN polls show massive negativity towards Vick. With regard to PR, a non suspension will undue the positive momentum built of Tank and Pacman suspensions. Ron Mexico has been upgraded from a hot potato to a live grenade.
Bob: Have you ever thought of going back to school, for, let's say, a dozen years or so, and concentrate on the rules for the case of pronouns after prepositions?
Imagine a professional musicians hitting wrong notes the way you and your buddies hit the wrong word, case, mood, etc.
How much work you think the
pro musicians deserve/would get? If lousy syntax were a sin
(I know you like my use of the subjunctive, there), how many centuries do you think you and Heyman and Davidoff and Berger(and you, too, Wally, though you aren't quite up to the feats of the others) would get in purgatory?