I wanted to take some time to share with my NFL brethren my personal observations of the state of the retired player community and some of the issues that affect it. I respectfully ask that you read the following very carefully.
Like many others I’ve followed the groundswell of the vocal displeasure of former NFL Retirees for a number of years. As a sometimes member of the New York media I’ve had many opportunities to take part in interviews by various sources (like Sports Illustrated and ESPN) to discuss the issues of NFL disabilities to the public. I strongly feel that the Internet has been the best friend for retired players because it has given former players a way to connect and share their stories with one another. Through my interactions with many of my old teammates and guys I’ve played against as well as reading various emails from you all I felt a connection to join the fight to do whatever I could to help my brothers.
When I was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame on February 4th 2006 I welcomed the news with very mixed emotions. After being denied the honors for so many years and then finally making it the honor really didn’t mean that much to me. My wife who was one of my biggest supporters wanted to know why I wasn’t happy about making it. I remember telling her that I could not be happy making the Hall of Fame if I couldn’t do something to help all of the retired players who were in distressed and needed help. I’ve always felt good about my experiences and accomplishments as an athlete but I wanted to try and use the honor to draw attention to other issues. Quite frankly I grew tired every year of watching the NFL and the Hall of Fame wheel out the old-timers and putting them on display and then touting them as the best of Professional Football but yet not stepping up to the plate to take care of it’s own. While I should have been happy to finally make the Pro Football Hall of Fame and get it behind me I was embarrassed, very disappointed and pissed at the treatment of former players who I thought should have been held in higher regard. It made sense to me that if no one cared about elite players like John Unitas or Mike Webster, no one was going to give a fuck about Harry Carson! I knew I needed to use the platform to make a statement for retired players.
Weeks and days before the induction ceremony I read many emails but there was one by Jeff Nixon of Buffalo that stuck with me. Jeff asked the Hall of Famers to make a statement on the plight of retired players. I was going to do it anyway but Jeff’s mail and those of my brother linebacker Sam Huff inspired me to use part of my induction speech to bring attention to the situation. I had also been interviewed by several other sources (NFL Films) that edited out any comments regarding the plight of retired players. On the day of the induction ceremony I knew I had 10 minutes to say anything I wanted and could not be edited. I used the first part of that time to implore the NFL and the Player’s Association to “take better care of all those players who have made the league what it is today”. It was never my intent to embarrass anyone but to basically call it the way I saw it.
As a result on April 30th, 2007 I was invited to meet with new NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell to discuss a wide range of issues including the issues of the retired players. During that 1 on 1 meeting we did explore many of the issues of the retired players but I told him that I thought it would be best to meet with a group of players to discuss those issues. At the time I did not personally feel comfortable acting on behalf of all of the players around the country. Out of that meeting the “NFL Alliance” was born. Several organizations affiliated with the NFL as well as various former players from around the country made up the organization. The organizations that took part were the NFL, the Pro Football Hall of Fame, the NFL Alumni and the NFL Player’s Association. Over the past year here is a small list of former players who have attended the meetings: Merlin Olsen, Billy Shaw, Cornelius Bennett, Willie Lanier, Ron Mix, Brig Owens, Ron Johnson, George Martin, John Wooten, Daryl Johnston, Jack Kemp, Steve Largent, Jerry Kramer, Tim Brown, Leonard Marshall, and myself among others. There are two things I clearly can say about all of these former players; none asked to be a part of the “Alliance” but all feel an obligation to act in the best interest of all retired players! I say this because several former players including myself have come under fire by some of those retired players who have their own agendas. Our job as members of that Alliance is not to promote agendas but to use the opportunities available to help development new programs to help all players and their families.
At the present time, I can’t say that we are exactly where we need to be but I can clearly say that in less than a year much progress has been made! Here are some of the programs that have been instituted.
Medical Programs:
- Joint Replacement Program - $17,000,000 have been placed in a fund to help players get knee, hip and shoulder replacement surgery. Medical facilities around the country have been chosen to provide care for former players in need. For any player who need any of these procedures along with rehabilitation afterwards they can do so through the Alliance.
- One of the programs I admire about the Actor’s Fund is The Actor’s Home in New Jersey where many of those in that industry can live out their final years with a certain degree of dignity. One of the programs that have been initiated by the Alliance is an Assisted Living Program where former players can do the same; live out their lives with dignity. There are several sites and programs around the country where players can qualify and lift the burden from their families.
- Cardiovascular Screenings/Living Heart Program have been instituted by Dr. Archie Roberts and Dr. Jeff Boone. I took part in the screenings at the Mayo Clinic in Scottsdale prior to Super Bowl 42. I can say that it was a very comprehensive examination that every former player should take advantage of. In terms of dollars it’s in the range of a $5000 medical exam that is free to former players. In terms of knowing what’s happening with your body to perhaps perform preventive maintenance the examination is priceless!
- We are currently working to secure medical insurance for all former players. In the meantime Prescription Insurance Assistance is available through Cigna to all vested players and their dependents.
We are currently in a 120 Day window (beginning April 1st) of several program changes that every retired player should know about:
- Recognition of Social Security Disability Award – (Highlight) If a player qualifies for Social Security benefits he automatically qualifies for total and permanent disability under the Bert Bell Plan.
- Disability Benefit Modifications – (Highlight) Minimum benefit for players awarded Inactive and Permanent disability increases to $40,000.
- Reopening Application Period for Disability Benefits for Certain Retired Players – (Highlight) For those who elected to take Early Retirement Benefits they now have 120 days to readdress the issue.
Many of us are feeling the lingering long term effects of concussions we sustained having played Professional Football. I personally was diagnosed in 1990 with Post Concussion Syndrome so I’ve educated myself on the condition and have learned over the years how to manage the condition. Many of you are now dealing with headaches, blurred vision, an inability to remain as focused as you were once able to be and perhaps a certain amount of forgetfulness. Those who are now having problems should take advantage of the new Neuro-Psychological examination to determine how extensive blows to the head when they played might have had an impact later in life. I’ve gotten several calls from former players who have indicated that they have been in distress neurologically. I submitted myself to be examined on March 5th here in New York in a program developed by Dr. Elliott Perlman. I know that many of you might not hold Dr. Perlman in very high regard but the exam is not administered by him, it’s administered by others specializing in Neurology and is monitored by Wayne State University in Michigan. When I sort help in 1990 I had to pay dollars out of my own pocket but here is an opportunity to get help through the Alliance if you feel a need.
The “88 Plan” is one that was instituted prior to the creation of the Alliance but here is another program we as former players need to discuss with other players and their families who might be experiencing Dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.
At the February 28th Alliance meeting in Washington the subject of pensions was finally addressed. It is our understanding that any discussion of pensions has to be addressed as part of the future Collective Bargaining Agreement. As a former player I feel insulted that as a body we as retired players need to go to the current players with hat in hand to secure better pensions. We all know that football is the most dangerous sport in this country and it takes more out of us physically than any other sports. We are now learning something that has always been there but will never be acknowledged by the NFL and the Player’s Association that concussions sustained by players do not just go away but can linger for a lifetime.
My purpose for this correspondence is to get into the hands of former players an understanding of what is going on that you might not read in the newspaper or receive via the NFL or the NFLPA. We have to develop a better way to disseminate information so there is no misunderstanding of what is being done on behalf of the retired players. When new programs to benefit former players and their families are instituted everyone should know about them in real time not weeks later. Here’s a prime example: I was talking to a former Giants teammate a couple of days ago who had knee replacement surgery a couple of months ago. My team mate knew nothing about the joint replacement program until I told him about it. As former players we really have to band together now more than at any other time for this reason.
Another reason for this correspondence is encourage former players to connect with one another and band together. Personally I don’t care about retirees having a hatred of Gene Upshaw or any individual agendas our various groups have. We can accomplish so much more as one united group than splinter groups all over the place. I indicated earlier that the former players who have been meeting as part of the Alliance have been advocating on the behalf of all retired players. Ultimately I feel that we as retired players need our own organization independent of current players. We need individuals who are going to be accountable to retired players and the issues that concern all of us. Those individuals need to be nominated and elected by all to insure that when they do get a seat at the table dealing with the issues those on the other side will know that they have the full backing of all retired players and their families.
Regardless of who you are or where you stand on the issues much has been done in less than a year. If you don’t think so please consider the lack of progress or even the lack of meaningful dialogue prior to this time last year. Again, we are not done! Much more is coming down the tracks but we have to do it together!
Sincerely,
Harry Carson
NY Giants 1976 - 1988
