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Ron Snyder, The (Baltimore) Examiner
June 14, 2007

BALTIMORE - Bruce Laird was only trying to help a friend.

That was his original intention after hearing the plight of fellow retired Baltimore Colt John Mackey, who was dealing with frontotemporal dementia, an illness similar to Alzheimer�s. But in the three years since Laird first got involved in helping Mackey, he has become a national figure in the fight to improve pensions and benefits for retired NFL players.

�It�s really an amazing American story,� Laird said. �A group of Baltimore Colts finds out one of their own is in trouble and we quickly organize to do what we can to help a brother of ours in need.�

Laird discovered that Mackey was one of dozens of retirees around the country who has experienced financial difficulties due to medical expenses stemming from career-related injuries. Over the last year, efforts from players like Laird and former Colts running back Tom Matte have made the NFL and the NFL Players� Association take notice. Since then, the NFL has announced plans to improve pensions and created the Number 88 Plan, which is named after Mackey and provides assistance to players suffering from Alzheimer�s or dementia.

Laird and others say they had to take a stand because NFLPA executive director Gene Upshaw wouldn�t. Laird added that he couldn�t understand how the union didn�t do more on its own to help a Hall of Famer like Mackey.

�We decided to help our own because Gene Upshaw wasn�t going to do it,� Laird said. �The union�s mission statement talks about paying respect to the players of the past, but Gene Upshaw forgot that.�

NFLPA spokesman Carl Francis defended Upshaw, but declined to make him available to comment directly.

The latest step in improving care for retired players came last month when the NFL announced plans to form an alliance to improve coordination of medical care for retired players.

Sylvia Mackey, John�s wife, said she is extremely appreciative of all of the work done by former players and is proud of how John has become a key symbol on this issue.

�This issue will continue to snowball as the cost of medical needs and nursing care continues to go up,� Sylvia Mackey said. �Thanks to the work of people like Bruce, I�ve gotten calls from wives of players who can now get the care for their husbands they need and from others who won�t lose their house now.�