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By Bill Begley
The (Kerrvile, Texas) Daily Times

Published June 28, 2007

The millions and millions of dollars � which have evolved into the billions and billions of dollars � were all built on the backs of men that these days often find themselves too bent and broken to stand upright.

That the NFL and the myopic leadership of its players� union don�t recognize that � and feel compelled to do something about it � is criminal.

Right now, NFL players enjoy riches that their predecessors would not have dared to dream of.

The signing bonus alone of a top-flight free agent could have purchased an entire franchise not so long ago.

And still, former players and coaches were forced to parade before a House Judiciary subcommittee on Tuesday, spinning tales of multiple surgeries, dementia and homelessness afflicting many of the pioneers of the NFL � players who turned the outlaw sport of the 40s into the multi-media giant of today, but ignored by the wealthy denizens of today�s games.

Players like former Steelers great Mike Webster � a block of granite in black and yellow who rarely missed a game despite a career riddled with horrific physical trials � who battled mental illness and died homeless in 2002.

Players like John Unitas � the quarterback long recognized as the greatest to ever take a snap � who was all but crippled in the later years of his life, a victim of thousands of stand-tall blows while delivering passes in a collapsing pocket. It got so bad, Unitas had to use rubber bands to help hold a pen as he signed autographs.

And those are just a couple of the stories about former players with names even the less-than-average fan can recognize. There are thousands of others � not stars, but the faceless many who have had limbs amputated and suffer from the ravages of a collection of concussions.

Players who should be revered for their sacrifice and courage and hailed as the rock the league was built upon.

Instead, they have to battle the very league � and the very union that is supposed to protect players � for medical benefits, retirement moneys and aid for those no longer able to take care of themselves.

The league says $126 million a year goes into pension and post-career disability benefits for retired players and their families. The accounts pay out $60 million a year to those players, $20 million of it for disability payments.

But only 317 out of more than 10,000 eligible players are getting disability payments out of that fund, according to league officials.

That still breaks down to $63,000 a year from an industry that generates more the $7 billion a year.

The NFL says its done its part.

The union says it has done what it can. Upshaw � on vacation in Italy, so he did not attend Tuesday�s hearing � has pretty much washed his hands of the group, saying the NFLPA is in place to champion the cause of the current players.

Yep ... lots of millionaires need your support.

Shame on all of you. Not one of you has the guts to stand up and do the right thing. Not one of you is willing to look into your soul � and dig into your well-attended coffers � and come up with a bit of charity.

These former players gave of themselves � at a time when the game mattered more than a paycheck � and they should get what they have earned.

And, if there is justice in this world, the stingy NFL, the tight-fisted NFLPA and cold-hearted Upshaw, will get what they deserve, too.