Ditka, Upshaw doing battle over health of former players
Former player and coach Mike Ditka is making it known these days that he’s upset with Gene Upshaw – who many current and former players loath – and the NFL Players Association for the way they refuse to take care of former players. Teamed with Joe DeLamielleure, Ditka recently spoke about the issue at a restaurant in Chicago and introduced former offensive lineman Brian DeMarco, who is unable to work because of several football-related injuries.
“This is unacceptable,” Ditka thundered at a news conference organized by Gridiron Greats at his Chicago restaurant.
“We are past having committees. It’s about right versus wrong. Do the right thing. Just do the right thing.”
While the health of former players vs. the NFLPA has always been an issue (especially when the topic of concussions are brought up), this particular battle with Ditka is interesting because of what former Chicago Bears safety Dave Duerson recently told to the Chicago Tribune:
“[Ditka] was not one who [cared] about the players or their injuries when he was coaching. He was very disrespectful of guys who got hurt and now he’s trying to champion for a couple of guys. The fact of the matter is he’s way off base and he’s late in the game.”
If Duerson is spot on about the way Ditka used to be, than the former coach is being hypocritical. However, how many other current and former coaches have/had the “tough it out” attitude with their players? In all their bikering, these guys can’t miss the point that there are former players like DeMarco who are walking around crippled because of the way the game left them. It seems like there are more players coming out (like Ted Johnson of the Patriots) saying that their former coaches ignored their health concerns so they would play. This situation is likely to get uglier before it gets better.
Why did Duerson even make those comments? I’m willing to bet every coach who was a former player has had to make some difficult decisions regarding injuriries. And Duerson may be one of the players that gets help down the road from the issues raised by Ditka. Coaches have to rely on information from the medical staff of their teams, which are hired by the owners. Now if a coach is ignorning the physician’s recommendation and forcing a player back into a game, that’s compeletely different. If the doctors deem a player fit to be in a game, it’s the coach’s job to get him out there.
The more I see players in the 50′s and 60′s and the difficulties they have in everyday life because of what football has done to their bodies, the more I buy into how they need to make as much money as they can, as quickly as they can.
I agree.
We as fans usually want to hammer a guy because he leaves a team for more money, but when you think about how nothing is guaranteed in sports and how certain careers only last 8-12 years, SOME players are justified to seek out as much money as they can. Now, in a situations where a player signs a contract and then wants to back out for more money just a year later (T.O.), then I have a hard time siding with the athlete.
It’s all relative. People like to put the dough that athletes make on pair with what an everyday “Joe” makes, but you almost have to look at the sports world as another universe…
Anthony…I agree. However, I think the union should pony up some cash for the former players who set the stage for the players of today. They make millions and their worried about getting millions in retirement?? Maybe the union should help some players manage their money so they’re not broke when it’s all over.
T-Bone,
I agree and that’s why I said “SOME” players. Let’s face it, there’s plenty of athletes out there just banking off their athletic talents alone and don’t give a damn about the players who came before them.
I think it’s sad that there are plenty of former athletes out there that gave their all to the sports they played in, yet owners and guys like Upshaw in the NFLPA aren’t willing to help these players out once they can’t make money off them anymore.
Like Ditka eluded too – it’s just wrong.
All points made are are good………For whatever Ditka’s reason is for coming out now I don’t think it’s ever too late to stand up. This guy was a hard headed player and coach who was never accused of being brilliant. He was part of the industructable age, you played hurt and coached the same way.
Duerson played for Ditka and if anything he was a quiet guy. I don’t remember him saying anything bad about Ditka so why now?
Botton line is that some players didn’t do as well as others and they need some help.
So do it
How hard would it be to insure these guys for reasonable health care? 15-20K per guy should get them a Cadillac plan – especially because the carrier could milk it for bonus points.
Yeah – This is all simple to me. Why don’t they have a plan like every other major business or company. A lot of these old-timers are running out of money paying for medical bills. They didn’t make millions back in the day – they only made thousands.