NFL - NEWS & NOTES

This is something that has been growing with exposure over the past couple of seasons, but the union is supposed to be protecting the players so they should have been on this years ago.

If the retirees and hall of fame players want to point the finger in any one direction they should be calling out the union before anyone else.

This should have been the unions number 1 priority since its inception.

 

There is one thing that all of us who have given our thoughts on this have overlooked.

Health insurance for life doesn't necessarily mean until the player dies. Assuming they have paid into Social Security while they were playing (or otherwise paid for their services), every one of them is elligible for Medicare at age 65. Granted, they would still need suplemental insurance and prescription drug coverage, but if I can afford it . . . why can't they?

 

A lot of retired NFL'ers and HOFers, probably have the medical conditions necessary to meat the criteria of receiving help.

 

I'm not confused...I even posted a link to an article that illustrates my point on this subject. I didn't say someone that made tens of millions should be obligated to pay for COBRA....I didn't advocate someone else paying for them. Respond to my actual words...not what you want my words to be. This won't go so poorly for you if you did that.

My point on COBRA is it's a ridiculous cost....it's also temporary and optional. COBRA isn't a solution to anything.

The only thing I'm advocating is that ex-players have access to healthcare through the league they played in when their bodies got beat to hell and back. I think it's totally fair and reasonable if they have to pay something for it...it doesn't need to be free.

And not every ex-player is going to need coverage from the league. But some do. And that should be important to both the NFL and the NFLPA.

The average NFL player aren't the overpaid, self centered prima donna's the average fan thinks they are. This is especially true of players from the past....from a time when NFL salaries weren't at the ridiculous levels they are now.

I never said they absolutely wouldn't. I said they may not...because in some cases they may not. Again...I even posted a link about it. Did you bother to read it? Reading is fundamental...you should try it. It's useless without comprehension though, be warned.

I don't appear to be the frustrated one here. An ex-player that has a nice car and home doesn't equate to squandering money. The players in the story aren't the ones I'm supporting here....I'd only support them if they were voicing their concerns for ex-players that don't have a voice at the moment. I don't agree with them asking for a salary either.

I'm not entitled to win any argument...and I don't think there is going to be a loser or a winner in this one. But at the very least I haven't put words in your mouth you didn't say...you've done that to me. Try arguing without needing to do that, just once.

I can only go off the words you type....if you type one thing but mean another...that's on you. I'm a literal person.

But, the actors guild can and does provide insurance for actors that stop acting....there are self pay options as well as pension credit options that comes with extended spousal coverage as well.

So your blanket, absolute statement in caps here isn't totally true. What a shocker...you got something wrong.

See, you even admit to being frustrated.

I'm glad you don't have the time to explain stuff because I would hate for a less educated person to read what you write and actually think it's true. I very well understand capitalism. And socialism. And a lot of other isms.

The NFL is a closed system. It's not a publicly traded company. It's a group of privately owned companies. In essence it's a trade association...something you would find in Rhine capitalism. It's socioeconomics at it's core. They also redistribute wealth...a socialist method.

But please....keep pretending to be the expert here.

 

Speaking from personal experience here . . .

When applying for Medicare (part A and B) for the 1st time at age 65, pre-existing conditions are not a factor. The cost of any supplemental plan obtained may be affected, but pre-existing conditions can't be used to deny converage.

 

That's true, but I was referring to even younger ex-players. Im 56 and because of disabilities ive had a Medicare Card for the past 5 years as my primary.

 

Matthews doesn't really give you anything beyond what Agholor, Ertz and (presumably) Dallas Goedart will give - a presence in the middle of the field. I'm not saying it's a BAD move, but thought they needed a stretch-the-field guy more.

 

i wanted gordon or dez bryant !

 

Antonio Brown returns to work...

Ordinarily, it’s not news when a football player shows up for a day that includes football practice. But when one of the highest-profile players in the sport didn’t show up for work on Monday, apparently without an excuse, his return becomes newsworthy.

Steelers receiver Antonio Brown has indeed returned to the team on Wednesday.

It remains to be seen what, if anything, he’ll say about his unexpected absence, or about his suggestion on Twitter to a former Steelers employee that, if the team thinks Brown’s numbers flow from playing with Ben Roethlisberger, the Steelers should “[t]rade me” and “let’s find out.” Chances are Brown will once again complain about the scrutiny that he has faced in recent days, the latest example of the “hey everybody look at me! . . . what the hell are you looking at?” dynamic in sports, where those who crave (and profit from) attention want it only on their own terms, and devoid of any negativity.

Brown’s fortunate that it didn’t happen sooner for him. Odell Beckham Jr. found himself in the crosshairs of criticism early in his career, due in part to the market he plays in. Think for a moment about the manner in which the New York media (and fans throughout the country) would be reacting the things we’ve seen from Brown in recent days, from the threat to an ESPN writer to a rambling “they’re just jealous”-style rant on Friday to Brown’s antics on the sideline on Sunday to his Monday “trade me let’s find out” tweet to his Monday no-show.

Relative to OBJ, Brown has gotten a pass. He won’t be getting one now, especially if he continues to do and say things that will invite others to call him out. (PFT)

 

Leonard Fournette expected to practice Wednesday, T.J. Yeldon isn’t...

Jason Peters set to play, Jay Ajayi day to day...

 

No he doesn't but if it's for a 1 or 2 week term just for bodies it may be for the best. Ideally would like a deep threat.

And OMG I type in "deep t" and Google suggests throat. I swear I never look that up. I have more sophisticated tastes.

 

$300,000 for all living Hall of Famers PER YEAR! ouch. If deceased, their widows still get some cash? Dickerson is a little crazy here. there's gotta be a better solution here...?

 

Here's some more information for everyone in this discussion:

Health Reimbursement Account: This is already in place and provides the following certain aspects kick in with certain # of accrued years.

Eligible retired players receive support throughout their lives from a range of resources tailored to promote their long-term well-being. These include:

• Joint Replacement Benefit: The NFL provides as much as $5,250 per player to cover health care items or services directly related to knee, hip or shoulder replacement surgery. In addition, the NFL Player Care Foundation provides grants to assist eligible players in need up to and including the cost of the replacement surgery.
• Discount Prescription Drug Benefit: The benefit is a Discount Drug Card which provides immediate discounts for prescription drugs at more than 57,000 retail pharmacies nationwide, including all major chains.
• Life Insurance Benefit: Each eligible former player has term life insurance until he turns 55 in an amount of $20,000 plus $2,000 for each credited season in the league up to a maximum of $50,000.
• Assisted Living Benefit: Any former player is eligible for the Assisted Living Benefit which provides special discounts and preferred access in more than 500 communities around the country. There is particular care for those individuals with Alzheimer’s and other memory impairment diseases.
• Medicare Supplement: The NFL has contracted with insurers to make available a range of supplemental Medicare insurance plans to eligible former players ages 65 and older.
• Spine Treatment Benefit: All former players are eligible. The NFL has arrangements with top tier medical centers that have particular expertise to provide access, evaluation and possible treatment by top orthopedic surgeons across the country.
• Neurological Care Benefit: The NFL has contracted with top medical centers around the country that have special expertise to provide access, evaluation and possible treatment for all eligible retired players.
• 88 Plan: The 88 Plan provides benefits to eligible players with dementia, ALS and Parkinson’s disease. These benefits are the reimbursement or payments of medical or custodial expenses up to $130,000 related to these diseases.
• NFL Player Retirement Plan: This plan provides a vested player with pension benefits and offers survivor protections for his spouse and family. A player is vested after only three-to-four credited seasons depending on when he was in the league. Normal retirement age to begin receiving pension payments is 55.
• Legacy Payments: Under the 2011 Collective Bargaining Agreement, the NFL and NFLPA invested $620,000,000 to increase retirement benefits for players who were in the NFL prior to 1993. These players receive an additional monthly payment along with their pension as part of that agreement.
• Widow & Survivor Benefit: The Retirement Plan pays survivor benefits to widows and other beneficiaries of vested deceased players. Survivors begin receiving benefits on the first month after a player’s death.
• NFL Player Annuity Plan: The Annuity Plan which is funded by the clubs provides deferred compensation for eligible recently retired players at no cost to the players.
• NFL Capital Accumulation Plan: The Capital Accumulation Plan allows eligible recently retired players to allocate a club-funded account into a number of investment funds.
• Disability Benefits: The NFL Player Disability Plan provides three kinds of disability benefits: Total & Permanent Disability benefits, Line of Duty Disability benefits and Neurocognitive Disability benefits. A nationwide panel of expert physicians have been retained and are instructed to examine applicant players fully and fairly. The Plan’s Medical Director, who is a physician, also has been hired with the authority and responsibility to oversee the panel of doctors as well as act as a voting member of the Disability Initial Claims Committee.
• Long-Term Care Insurance: Players 50 or older are eligible to receive long-term care coverage at no cost to them if they meet the underwriting requirements of the insurance provider and are approved. This coverage provides financial support for eligible players if they require long-term medical assistance at home, in the community, in assisted living or in nursing homes.
• Neuro Cognitive Benefit: This benefit makes monthly payments to eligible players who have a mild or moderate neurocognitive impairment, as well as provides reimbursement toward the cost of medical expenses associated with that impairment. Players receive examinations from board-certified neurologists and neuropsychologists at top medical facilities.
• NFL Life Line: This 24/7 service is a free, independent and confidential phone consultation hotline available to former players, their wives and other family members who may need assistance with matters such as spousal and child safety, mental and physical health, lifestyle and transition in post-NFL life. Contact: 800-506-0078.
• NFL Players Assistance & Counselling Services: This Employee Assistance benefit is provided for both eligible retired and active players plus their families. It provides individuals as many as eight free counselling sessions a year for matters ranging from family/marital concerns to depression.
• NFL Player Tuition Assistance Plan: The Tuition Plan encourages eligible recently retired players to continue their education for undergraduate and/or graduate degrees. Business management programs may also be eligible for reimbursement.
• NFL Second Career Savings Plan: NFL clubs provide funding to supplement dollars contributed by active players for their use in retirement. Another provision of the Plan requires clubs to provide funds even to those active players who do not wish to contribute dollars of their own.
• NFL Players Health Reimbursement Account: The Health Reimbursement Account plan was created to help eligible recently retired players and their families pay out-of-pocket health care expenses during a period of their post-NFL years. This account is funded by the Clubs up to $350,000 per player.
• NFL Severance Plan: This program provides that eligible recently retired players who have as few as two years in the league will receive a lump-sum check approximately one year after their final NFL season.
• NFL Player Insurance Plan: The plan calls for health insurance to be made available free of charge to eligible recently retired players who have played in the league more than three seasons. These players receive five years of free health coverage for themselves and their families after they leave the league. The players then have the option to continue to pay for coverage for an unlimited number of succeeding years.

For those arguing they should offer the players an opportunity to continue their insurance by paying the premium...That is already a thing the league provides, including FIVE years of free insurance after a player retires.

 

Then he's perfect on the year so far !!!

 

but what Feely is saying isn't what Eric Dickerson is saying. Dickerson wants $300,000 per year Salary for every living Hall of Famer. Feely is talking about the Insurance Account.

 

Dickerson wants $300,000 per year salary AND free insurance for life for every HOFer, including benefits for spouses of HOFers for the remainder of their lives.

Others on here were talking about insurance for every player in the NFL for life, that's where the Feely tweet came in...

 

^^i hear dawg. $300,000 for every living HOF'ers was $95 million by itself each year. not counting the widows and insurance. crazy money.

 

At $95M you're basically talking about the average price of an NFL franchise EVERY OTHER YEAR !!!

And we're not supposed to think they're entitled ?