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Sunday, February 24, 2008

By Bill Williamson
The Denver Post

Domonique Foxworth admits he isn't completely satisfied with the leadership of the NFL Players Association.

However, the Broncos defensive back is tired of hearing current and former players verbally attack the union's executive director, Gene Upshaw. In the past year, many people, most notably Mike Ditka and Kyle Turley, have taken Upshaw to task for his handling of retired and disabled players. Foxworth understands where the frustration is coming from, but he doesn't believe publicly bashing Upshaw is worthwhile.

"It's frustrating to me to keep reading this stuff," said Foxworth, who was the Broncos' assistant union rep last year and is poised to take over for Rod Smith, who likely will retire, this year.

"Why should all these guys air their dirty laundry? If they are unhappy they should join the cause and help make things better instead of just talking about it. . . . I've had my differences with Gene and the union but I have worked to solve them instead of going public. Instead of keep saying 'Gene stinks, Gene stinks, Gene stinks.' Do something about it."

Foxworth said he plans to stay active in the union for the rest of his career and aspires to someday be union president.

"That's how you make things better," Foxworth said. "I have nothing against guys like Ditka and Turley, but just talking about things doesn't do any of us any good."


Comment by Bruce Laird, posted to Denver Post in response to Domonique Foxworth's remarks:

* Retired NFL players With all due respect to Domonique Foxworth, many of those who are involved in retired players' efforts and/or who have been directly affected by the union's indifference, even hostility, toward retired players have, in fact, worked diligently within the system. For example, I've been involved in the National Football League PLayers' Association for decades, as a player rep with the Baltimore Colts and as an officer of the NFLPA's Baltimore chapter of retired players. Bernie Parrish was one of the founders of the NFLPA. And John Mackey was the first president of the NFLPA following the merger of the NFL and AFL. Mackey filed suit against the NFL to gain free agency for active players, thus setting in motion events that have resulted in the lucrative contracts and benefits afforded modern players.

Yet Mackey, who was diagnosed at age 59 with frontotemporal dementia, received no assistance from the union when he could no longer work and required full-time care. When my teammates and I saw what was happening to Mackey, we had to act. We organized a fundraiser that raised more than $25,000 to immediately assist the Mackey family in caring for John and we lobbied the NFLPA to take steps to assist Mackey and other players who suffer from football-related ailments.

Our efforts -- coupled with an appeal by John Mackey's wife Sylvia to then-NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue -- resulted in the 88 Plan to assist those affected with dementia and Alzheimer's. And our efforts grew to become Fourth & Goal, a national 501(c)(3) organization that advocates for improved pension and disability benefits and representation for retired players.

I'd welcome a dialog with Mr. Foxworth. I can be reached at baltimorecoltsalumni@msn.com or fourth.and.goal@hotmail.com. For additional information on Fourth & Goal, go to www.fourthandgoalunites.com.

Bruce Laird
President, Fourth & Goal
Baltimore Colts, 1972-1981
San Diego Chargers, 1982-1983
Bruce Laird
Joined: Sep 24
Points: 211 Posted by Bruce Laird (aka BadBoy40)
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