Pro Football Players Re-Unification Project

No one can make an intelligent decision without being properly informed. Every one of us has advised our children, grandchildren and friends on “the value of family.”

And no one can deny that there is presently a wide gulf that separates today’s players from yesterday’s players:

1. Everyone seems to be afraid to acknowledge the difference in the racial makeup of players of yesteryear versus that of today’s Players, for fear of being accused of playing the now infamous “race card.” We have avoided open discussion on this sensitive fact. Ignoring an “eight hundred-pound Gorilla” in the room or pretending that it isn’t there will never solve the problem that each and every one of us knows exist. The open dialogue encouraged in this Project should help build a bridge that addresses this divide.
2. Secondly there is a cultural and age divide between Retired Players and Active Players that must be bridged and no bridge can be built to span that part of the gulf until we begin to openly address those issues. This Project should help build a bridge that spans the gulf at that point.
3. Finally, there is an economic divide that must be bridged. Active Players think that the Retired Players made a lot more money during their careers than they actually did, and the Players of yesteryear think that the Players today make a lot more than they actually do. In either era, if the top 20% of Players are removed from the equation used to calculate the average salaries today and yesterday, they will find that the averages are typically much lower than are represented in the media.

As Retired Players, we are not the enemies of the Active Players, nor are they ours. It has just been in the best interest of some to promote the illusion of us not being both a family and fraternity.

We should not be so quick in condemning and attacking the active players because the fact of the matter is they are what we were yesterday, and we are what they will be tomorrow.

With those thoughts in mind we started to work some months ago with the encouragement of NFLPA Executive Director Smith on the development of a program that will facilitate the building of these bridges between the players of today and the players of yesterday.

We have been involved in frequent talks with Director Smith since early May 2009 believing that the Pro Football Players Re-Unification Project can only strengthen the understanding and relationship between all Players, both young and old. Mr. Smith has made it clear that he also wants to find ways of including both retired and active players in the future and has indicated a willingness to work with us on this non-political, non-partisan Project.

We urge all participants to think intelligently and independently. Each has every right to support their self-interests but first they have to know what their self-interests are.

Since most of us were – and are – Players (not Owners), it stands to reason that it is in our best interest to stick together. As Retired Players, if we are to ever have a voice and to vote in the NFLPA again, it can only come about through a Program such as this Re-Unification Project that we are asking you to participate in now. The time will come when ALL NFL Players will have a “Vote for Life” on Retired Player relevant concerns and issues in our Union. Such a decision would give Active Players the right to participate with active voices in the Union after they have retired, as it would Players who have already retired.

I would like to thank Director Smith for having the courage to share these talks with us. While some are accusing him of having done nothing, I can assure you, that is untrue. The ideas that have come out of these discussions could play a major role in building bridges across the gulf that has separated – and continues to divide – Active and Retired Players.

How The Voluntary Re-Unification Project Works

A brief and nonpartisan packet will be given to all participants that will list all NFLPA historical  Managers as well as Independent Advocates down through the years, which tells, factually and fairly, what their contribution has been. All past legal actions taken through Court actions will be included, and the participation of the new NFLPA Executive Director DeMaurice Smith and Retired Player Leader Bernie Parrish will be a part of the introductory package.

• The new program will be one in which a select number of (up to four or five) active NFLPA members from each team will be matched with two retired players each, considering geographic availability. Retired Players in or near Team cities will be working with an Active Player there during the football season. If a player resides in a different town or city during the off season, he will then be connected with two Retired Players in that town or nearby when he returns there in the off season.
• The participants will all be volunteers and agree to meet for breakfast once a month for twelve months.
• Also in month one, one of the retired players will meet with the active player in the Active Player’s home for dinner. The second retired player will do the same in month two.
• In month three, the Active Player will meet the first Retired Player in his home for dinner.
• In month four, the Active Player will meet with the second Retired Player in his home for dinner.
• At some point during months five and six, all three of the participants will get together for a simple dinner (or meeting) and will be encouraged to bring at least one of their family members or close friends.
• The cycle will be repeated once again in the final six months of the year.

At that point all of the players will be interviewed about their year’s activities and given the opportunity to voice their opinions on how Active Players and Retired Players might continue working together to help one another and strengthen the Union. Absolutely no exchange of monies or business dealings of any kind between the participants will be permitted during the program, and the participants will be free to discuss whatever they choose to share in each meeting. Hopefully some of their discussions will include the football issues identified earlier. History has proven to us that relationships begin with dialogue. That is what we hope for in this Project.

This Project will not change the things that have already been done. Those things will – and should be – dealt with in different forums. It is not designed to stop or discourage anyone from following through on any effort or business that they believe will advance the cause of all Pro Football Players or any Group of Players. It is open to all Players, both Active and Retired.

There is work to be done to begin the process of building bridges to re-connect ourselves. Will you “get in the boat” with us and help?

I will have other news about the progress that we have been making over the past months. Some of it is more than any of you might want to believe. Parrish and Smith in the back of a taxi cab talking? It’s possible… Active Players and Retired Players United?  It’s possible.

Watch this blog for more details on how to sign up for more information.