Lost in the midst of yesterday’s testimony before the House of Representatives Committee on the Judiciary is the fact that NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell reitirated previous statements that the league will not reduce or eliminate benefits if 2010 is an uncapped year. “THROUGH THESE AND OTHER BENEFITS, RETIRED PLAYERS WILL RECEIVE MORE THAN $100 MILLION IN 2009. AND I HAVE COMMITTED TO OUR RETIREES, AND I WILL REPEAT THAT COMMITMENT TODAY, We (NFL) WILL NOT REDUCE OR ELIMINATE FUNDING FOR THESE BENEFITS BASED ON THE STATUS OF OUR COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENT. AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO ACCEPT NEW APPLICATIONS FOR DISABILITY OR 88 PLAN BENEFITS.”
The topic of reduced benefits during an uncapped season or a year in which the owners opt out of the CBA became lightning rod earlier this year when NFLPA Executive Director DeMaurice Smith said owners would cut 80% of benefits to retired players in 2010. In response to Smith’s statements, Fourth and Goal President Bruce Laird,Harry Carson and NFL Alumni Chairman Lee Nystrom sent a letter to Commissioner Goodell requesting he explain the league’s intentions concerning retired player benefits in 2010. YOU CAN READ THE LETTER HERE.
Even with a signed letter from the Commissioner stating he would not reduce benefits, some within the retired players community remained skeptical. With Goodell’s reassurances on Capitol Hill Wednesday skeptics of the league’s commitment to not reduce benefits can rest easier. On Wednesday, not only did Goodell restate the league’s commitment to its retired players, he made those reassurances before a body of leaders far more powerful than retired players and even more powerful than the 32 owners that employ him. Goodell made those statements before a committee of the U.S. House of Representatives, a committee he fully realizes will hold him and the league accountable to their commitments.
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About Jeff Nixon
Jeff was a first team consensus All-American from the University of Richmond in 1978. He is 7th in NCAA history with 23 career interceptions. Played for the Buffalo Bills 1979-1984. Led the team with 6 interceptions in Rookie Year. Holds Bills record for 4 takeaways in a single game - 3 interceptions and a fumble recovery. Tied Bills record with four consecutive games with an interception. After 5 knee surgeries Jeff retired from pro football in 1985. He worked for 13 years (1988-2000) as the Youth Bureau Director for Buffalo and Erie County. He has worked for the past 11 years as the Youth Employment Director for Buffalo. Plays guitar and was voted best R&B guitar player by Buffalo Nightlife Magazine in 2006, 2007 and 2008.
he said in the year 2010, what about in the year 2011 and no cba. No benefits, willing to bet.