Being for the Benefit of Crippled Players

I have never understood the disregard that each current crop of players and NFL leaders have for the retired players. Especially considering that current players are one play away from being retired players. Many former players are so broken down that they can not work and are essentially uninsurable on their own. It's the nature of the sport that players become old at about the age that most people are just kicking their careers into gear. Football players are way too young to be old.

I suppose that my greatest disbelief is due to a retired player leading the players association's disregard for the retired players for so long. The late Gene Upshaw was the players association president for three decades. Perhaps money made him forget where he came from. Upshaw was paid about 10 million dollars/year. He was a fool when he claimed that he only represented the interests of the current players. His own former teammates were breaking down and he didn't care. Upshaw wasn't the only voice in the room but his was an important one. It's a big pile of money. There's enough to share. Some of the current players will be former players soon. They might see things a bit differently in a few months. They can do something about it now.