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Monday, 30 April 2012

The Silence of our Friends


�Widows and other beneficiaries of vested pre-93 players who died prior to the 2011 CBA being signed are still awaiting word on their Legacy Benefit eligibility. The league has told the NFLPA that it would pay more than half the costs for this widows� benefit and the union has that proposal under consideration.� � Joe Browne, Senior Advisor to NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, in his letter to retired NFL players 
                                                                                                                                   
� DeMaurice Smith, Executive Director, NFLPA

 �                                                                                                                                  
� NFLPA Former Players� Board Members

That�s right � there are no quotes from De Smith or the former players� board members because they�ve said nothing. I have personally contacted at least 20 NFLPA Former Players� Chapter Presidents and board members, to inform them of the exclusion of the widows from the Legacy Benefit and to encourage them to speak out in support of the widows � and more importantly, to urge NFLPA officials to act. From the time I first contacted the NFL when the issue first came to light several months ago, the league has remained steadfast in its support of the widows. Moreover, NFL officials have agreed to pay 51% of the estimated $12 million cost to extend the Legacy Benefit to eligible widows (i.e., those whose husbands were vested veterans who retired prior to 1993 and who died prior to August 4, 2011). Yet the union has remained silent.

Here�s another quote for you:

�In the end, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends.� � Martin Luther King Jr.

The silence of our friends � pretty powerful words from Dr. King.

Clearly it�s going to take a grassroots effort to get the union to act. So I�m urging each one of you to speak out. Contact NFLPA Former Players� Chapter Presidents and board members and insist that they act on behalf of the widows. Contact the NFLPA leadership and insist that they pitch in the union�s share of the cost to cover the widows. This situation has gone on far too long.

What if it was yourwife who�d been excluded?

Bruce Laird
Vice President, NFLPA Former Players, Baltimore Chapter
Baltimore Colts, 1972-1981
San Diego Chargers, 1982-1983

NFLPA Former Players Board of Directors
Cornelius Bennett
Reggie Berry
Ron Davis
Derrick Frost
Eddie Khayat
Jim McFarland
Erik McMillan
Mickey Washington
Leonard Wheeler

NFLPA Former Players Department
Nolan Harrison, Senior Director
Andre Collins, Director 

Need  contact info? Email baltimorecoltsalumni at msn.com and we'll connect you.

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