Quote: @pumpf said:
@ StickyBun said:
The NFL, can without a doubt, afford it. I'm for the healthcare ask, the annual salary? No.
All that being said, doesn't it bother anyone that the HOF'ers are ONLY asking for these things for themselves- not the entire league?
I do agree, pumpf, that the HOF's who are looking out for themselves, don't give a squat for anyone else. Any "salary" is out of the question, IMHO. I have no fundamental issue with health care (full or partial) being an option for veterans with "X" amount of years of service. I would rather the NFL spend their wealth on people rather than expansion in London, Japan or Mexico.
Quote: @pumpf said:
@ StickyBun said:
The NFL, can without a doubt, afford it. I'm for the healthcare ask, the annual salary? No.
I don't like the argument "they can afford it", because that's the same thinking that some have about taxes. Yes, I have more money than some others do (although probably less than the median), but I don't like the idea of anyone thinking that- therefore- I should give them some of mine. All the money that the NFL has- is money they "earned" through negotiated TV contracts, PSL (which I think are stupid and wrong- but if people will pay for them...) and the salaries that they have paid players. NFL players (these days, anyway) are paid more money than most of us will ever see in an entire life-time of working. That's OK; that's what the "market" allows for. And 99% of them have worked (physically) harder than most of us can even imagine. I don't begrudge them their salaries at all. But I think it's wrong for them to- retroactively- demand more from the NFL. Some of the old-timers didn't get much (especially compared to today's players... for example, Rickey Young had to become a car-salesman after his career was over because, back then, players were not "set for life"); I'm sympathetic towards them; but why should they get any kind of special privileges that the rest of us don't? I can promise you that- after 40 years or so in my chosen vocation- I won't be getting any special severance packages. What I will retire on... is what I save/put away today.
All that being said, doesn't it bother anyone that the HOF'ers are ONLY asking for these things for themselves- not the entire league?
It does bother me that the HOF'ers are asking for these benefits separately, as it shouldn't be based on performance and they are statistically I'm guessing the least likely to need the assistance anyways. Just being in the HOF alone must bring in a fairly steady stream of autograph/book signings, possible endorsement deals, investment opportunities, etc.
However, I'm all for the NFL helping out ALL of the retired players, at the very least with their healthcare. I think the annual salary request is going too far, and I believe there is already some sort of disability system set up for older players. But owners don't need to be making billions off the fans (and taxpayers) annually, while the players who built the league for them can't get out of bed in the morning or afford to go to the doctor to get help with the myriad of health issues that they now suffer from.
Quote: @pumpf said:All that being said, doesn't it bother anyone that the HOF'ers are ONLY asking for these things for themselves- not the entire league?
Nope. The league has been making money off these guys for years and lied to them about what they knew and when they knew it in regards to health problems. I say go get whatever you can out of the league. The HOFers especially. They built what the league is.
These guys are the backbone of the league and paved the way for it to be the profit machine that it is today. I don't think they should be able to discard them and disregard their legitimate concerns.
Quote: @Mike Olson said:
@ pumpf said:All that being said, doesn't it bother anyone that the HOF'ers are ONLY asking for these things for themselves- not the entire league?
Nope. The league has been making money off these guys for years and lied to them about what they knew and when they knew it in regards to health problems. I say go get whatever you can out of the league. The HOFers especially. They built what the league is.
Kinda have to agree. While not fair to the other guys from before not good enough for this honor. They are using their name and likeness along with their game memorabilia. Showing it to the public for the price of admission. They are still making money off them.
Sorry to get political, but if we had a decent national health insurance system in this nation like every other civilized country on earth, this wouldn't be an issue.
I don't agree with the idea of a salary, but a one-time cash award for making the HOF isn't a bad idea. Maybe there's already something for awardees?
Well these guys are ambassadors for the game. They make appearances and let's face it they are dying off too. How much money does this "Non-Profit" league bring in again? Yeah they could do it.
Quote: @Mike Olson said:
@ pumpf said:All that being said, doesn't it bother anyone that the HOF'ers are ONLY asking for these things for themselves- not the entire league?
Nope. The league has been making money off these guys for years and lied to them about what they knew and when they knew it in regards to health problems. I say go get whatever you can out of the league. The HOFers especially. They built what the league is.
Agree, there are serious health concerns for former players. Other people who can prove that their illness was/is caused by work get their healthcare paid. I doubt the current owners give a rats arse about it though. What exact leverage do the HOFers have to come asking for $100Ms to cover this?
If the NFL is continuing to make money off the players, they should be re-imbursed for that (unless they signed away that right). As for health-care, I would be fine if the NFLPA argued that they wanted that to be part of all future contracts. Seems like a reasonable request. But I'm not a fan of retroactively "demanding" it. Perhaps the current NFLPA could/should make it part of future negotiations. Again, I'd be fine with that.
Not a fan of being paid for doing a "job"... and then coming back later and saying they want more.
I don't think that there is anyone who doesn't know at least some of the risks involved with playing this violent game. Yet thousands of young men still aspire to it today- just as they did 50 years ago. There may be some things that players didn't know (i.e. CTE stuff), but I think we all played the game with the understanding that there would be consequences for it.
I have mixed feeling about this. It somewhat bothers me that they are only looking out for the HOFers -- on one hand, they continue to be ambassadors of the game but on the other hand football is the ultimate team game. However, the bigger problem in my mind is that if you accept that the HOFers deserve something for helping to build the league and continue to be ambassadors of the game -- what do you do about someone like OJ Simpson? I am all for additional medical benefits for all former NFL players who meet a minimum time in league threshold. But to earn a salary, it should be a team by team decision what former players (HOFers or otherwise) who continue to be ambassadors for the particular team and get paid for doing so. So, there would be a pool of money for each team to for their own select ambassadors. Players like OJ (or even T Owens) are not helping the league at all -- so why should they be paid a salary?
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