“I”ndividuals vs. Team Players

Every year the National Football League (NFL) holds a draft to pick individuals from various colleges to play on one of 32 teams. Once chosen every individual is expected to study complicated systems and learn how to play together. When motivating players many coaches have stated that, “There is no “I” in TEAM (as in me, myself and I) but there is an “I” in Win.” As a sports enthusiast, I have given further thought about the letter “I” and its influence in the post-careers of NFL players.

While it is true that there is no “I” in “team,” the letter “I” has a different meaning when you are no longer able to play professional sports due to injuries. As a player is suddenly jettisoned out of the NFL, you immediately incur a new identity other than an ex/Retired NFL Player. You become an “Individual” with “Injuries” who has no team and no representative who will have problems obtaining “Insurance” in the future due to pre-existing conditions.

There is no “I” in the acronym, N. F. L. which encompasses the Owners, League, Teams and Players (notice that there are no “I’s”).

The players’ union – NFLPA represents all 32 teams in negotiations for the CBA. The NFLPA files grievances against the NFL, not on behalf an Individual but on the players’ behalf (not player’s), in order to enforce the Integrity” of the CBA and negotiated provisions. There have been incidents whereby, in the absence of CBA provisions, issues have been addressed, but the outcomes were no greater than the protection and consideration for the WHOLE (all players collectively, not Individual players).

NFL Players do not have the same outlook and career goals like most people – to aspire to work with a company and retire at the age of 65 with a pension. Players are told that the average career in the NFL is 4 years, ending at the age of 26. Players have the illusion of infallibility, and until their careers have ended it is impossible to imagine being ineligible for future medical benefits after the 4-5 years that the NFL covers.

The effects of injuries can take years to manifest themselves and then ex-players deal with the total impact of: illness, impairment, the lack of information, and institutional delays. Pain is immeasurable and some people have become immune to the voices who are pleading for help. It’s an imposition and there seems to be no immediacy for resolve. And, what about impartial arbitrators? Independent panelists?

Coping with the sudden loss of your job can affect your identity when you are no longer included on the team. Players sometimes miss the camaraderie that they had with people who had identical goals – to earn a great income, to win the big game and to get that Super Bowl “Ring.”

Unless you have experienced chronic pain, it can be impossible to understand the fallout that major injuries can have on your day-to-day outlook. Coping with injuries can have a negative impact on your ego and once positive disposition. Over a period of time your own family and friends can become impatient with you; your thinking could become illogical; you could develop a speech impediment due to concussions; your handwriting could become illegible; for unknown reasons you could become ill-tempered; people start to think that you have a chemical imbalance, because you are becoming ill mannered; and, after all of the years that you have strived to obtain perfection, you face the reality that you are now imperfect.

Many players experience anxiety over their conditions. They become stressed, idle, withdrawn, isolated and depressed. In fact, they really need positive intervention.

People on the outside looking in have the impression that players have money to improve their conditions but they don’t. Some players have spent their life savings on medical care. So, as independents, we must illuminate the problem, initiate internal studies such as conducting (brain) imaging that will illustrate the problems more clearly and lead to a path of resolve. The matter is critical.

It is time to re-i[e]valuate (still with me?) the policies and practices of the sports and entertainment industry. It is immoral to ignore the impact of this health and welfare dilemma. We must ALL strive to improve the quality of life for our families and communities.

The long term effect of injuries in football is in plain “I”[eye]sight. We have the ability to conduct in-depth case studies. There are players in our midst whose careers have spanned across the past 50 years. We have state-of-the art information systems and the ability to communicate better. But all of the technology in the world means nothing without a sincere commitment, by NFL management and the NFLPA, to the players who have brought validity to professional sports.

Players have performed to the highest levels in the infancy of their working lives. They have made sacrifices that have increased incomes and investments for NFL team owners.

There has been an acknowledgment of injuries but there has been an absence of platforms to solve the worst of cases. There have been agendas without inclusion and many individual players and advocacy groups have been ignored. Some leaders have chosen panelists amongst their own sphere of influence (SOI) further alienating the concerns of the “indignants.”

Don’t get me wrong, for there is transparency and accountability but it is imminently clear that there is no accountability to those who care the most. The voices of the injured, and the whispers of the injured who are ashamed to raise their voices for fear of reprisal, are awaiting solutions to their illnesses and pain.

Imagine for a moment, that it is no longer an imposition to help those in need and that player’s health conditions, after football, could be improved.

I am convinced that it is not illogical or impractical to be idealistic that positive outcomes can be obtained. In fact, I’m counting on it!

In the meantime, don’t forget the interpretation of the ever present inaction that translates into the innuendo – Delay, Deny and Hope They DIE!

Copyright  © 2009 Valerie Thomas