I have been listening for the last month about this NFL veterens wanting better health care or more money and the Union saying no.

It is my personal belief that if the NFL has the funds to take better care of the former players that they should. Mike Ditka is saying that the league spends 20million on fighting medical claims of foormer players. How greedy is the NFL and how much does this hurt the image of the NFL and the Union for not representing the players.

Just give the players the help they need and deserve, these guys didnt make millions and the player now have them to thank for even having a league to play in,

Maybe you are right.

I think they are talking about guys from the 50's and 60's and 70's. Before all the big contracts. Those are the guys that the NFL needs to help. All these multi-millionaire boys club prima-donnas can fend for themselves.

The NFL union, sounds like any other union, or employer, with a health plan. Dollars vs. health of workers is the inevitable conflict.

The NFL has to be flush with money. On the surface, it seems crazy that they would not be adequately funding the retired players health care. It isn't talked about much, but I'm pretty sure a significant number of players are physical wrecks by the time they get done playing--and a lifetime of shoulder, knee, foot, and back surgeries, and attendant treatment has to be very expensive. Also, many players are, or will become, obese, and that usually brings with it a laundry list of other health problems.

As to whether this will tarnish the NFL's imagine, I think it largely depends on how much, or in what way, NFL fan media covers the story. The story is much too complex for talk radio and there's no readily identifiable enemy.
I doubt any other media (e.g., ESPN) will be too critical of the NFL in any way.

To all the shoulda, couldas: no, they aren't all going to "plan ahead" for health care. For one, how do you predict such a thing? For two, who's going to insure them except the NFL? For three, these are young guys, who seldom ever think about that stuff or if they do, figure they're more or less invincible. For four, the NFL profits big time from these guys putting their bodies on the line. They should take some responsibility for it.

Maybe the union should go put a get a Health care plan of their own just like any other business. I mean these guys are making a ton of money. Mandate a small percentage go to a health care plan. Isn't that part of being in a Union? One of the benefits of employee of AT&T where I work joining the union was better and cheaper insurance. Although I am not a union employee. I did take a bunch of training to understand how the CWA works and the benefits of it. BTW, I am in a professional position with the company therefore exempt from the CWA.

Wiltz,

It is the head of the players union Gene Upshaw that is denying the veterens any help. He says it is not his responsability to take care of the old timers. Yes we are talking about the folks who played in the 50-70's before they had a union and when most had to have a second job to survive. I dont know that I am for the NFL raising the pention fund but I am absolutely for them giving the vets medical for life 100% medical. These guys did not make millions or even 100's of thousands and some are homeless just help them a little.

Champ I am not a bleeding heart by any maens but people do need help. Not everybody has you will power and life focus, to be extremely succesful and secure a future that is already paid for.