NFLPA: Representation, Retired Players Questioned

President Bush: Is the NFLPA Retired Player Department Revelantary?

We’re back and we’re ready to bring you more “Reasons We Do What We Do” for retired players as we countdown the days before the NFLPA Meetings in Hawaii. With only 10 days to go, our #10 Reason “We Do What We Do” is No Representation. When it comes to the NFLPA’s treatment of retired players we’re always left with more questions than answers. However, there is one question that needs to be answered sooner rather than later and our good friends RetiredPlayers.org posed it an article published yesterday. You can read the entire article HERE.

“Is the NFLPA Retired Player Department Relevant?” It’s an important and thought provoking question that every retired player should be asking themselves and more importantly their fellow brethren. Here’s some facts taken from the article that might make it a little easier when answering this question. 

• Less than 175 of the NFL’s 13,000 retirees attended the NFLPA Retired Players Convention in Puerto Rico in 2008.
• Andre Collins, the director of the retired players department of the NFLPA, did not attend a single session of  the three week class action trial regarding retired player licensing. 
• NFLPA Retired Players Steering Committee President Jean Fugett was also absent from the trial.
• NFLPA has done little to provide a platform for retired players to foster a relationship with current players.
• While at the NFLPA’s current player meetings in Hawaii, it will appear that Fugett represents all 13,000 retired players in reality he only represents the less than 175 NFLPA Retired Players members who voted in the Steering Committee election in Puerto Rico.
• Despite being asked by many retired players, Fugett has made it known that he will not discuss the lack of communication between current and former players.
• Fugett has also stated he would not ask current players or the NFLPA to drop the appeals process of the retired player’s lawsuit.
• Despite objections, Fugett and the NFLPA selected the retired players who would attend this year’s meetings in Hawaii without input from local chapters.

So what do you think, “Is the NFLPA Retired Player Department Relevant?“