Article: Ditka hangs up on Duerson

[Angus]

Ditka hangs up on Duerson

By Don Pierson
Tribune pro football reporter

June 12, 2007, 10:12 PM CDT

A stormy radio exchange between Mike Ditka and Dave Duerson over the NFL Players Association's treatment of needy former players ended abruptly Tuesday when Ditka hung up on his former safety, who had frequently interrupted him.

"I just don't want you to embarrass yourself in front of Congress," Duerson, a trustee on the retirement board that oversees disability cases, told his former coach in reference to a House Judiciary subcommittee hearing June 26 on the NFL benefits system.


Appearing on WMVP-AM 1000's "Mac, Jurko and Harry" show, Ditka listened to Duerson defend the NFLPA for more than six minutes uninterrupted, including a reference to Ditka's recently increased pension of $7,857 a month. He was then asked to respond.

"It's very intellectual, a lot of numbers, a lot of stats there," Ditka said.

Then Duerson interrupted, "You called me a liar yesterday."

"Wait, wait," Ditka said. "Did he ask me, or is he asking you?"

Ditka then said he didn't believe former player Brian DeMarco was allowed to touch his NFL 401(k), containing more than $150,000. DeMarco, 35, appeared at a news conference Monday at Ditka's restaurant and said his applications for disability benefits had been ignored.

Duerson said he knew for a fact DeMarco could use the 401(k) account to access money.

"Time out, time out," Ditka said. "You want to keep talking? Because I've got to get on a plane."

Duerson told Ditka he was late in the game, the same charge he made in a Sunday Tribune interview.

"I'm late in the game in what?" Ditka said. "That is ridiculous. You can dislike me and say anything you want to, but you can't say that. It's just not fair.

"All I'm saying is I'm trying to help these guys, trying to get them some money. Does it come from the players association? Does it come from the owners? I don't know. If it doesn't come, don't worry, fellas, it's no skin off your [nose]. … You can tell these corporations we try to get it from, 'These guys are portraying a hoax on you. These guys really aren't injured.' "

Duerson's statement that the game is so much better off today because of union action brought a sarcastic response from Ditka.

"No kidding," Ditka said. "And it's because of what? All these great players."

Ditka called the union's $2.4 billion benefits package a "strike fund." When Duerson insisted it wasn't a strike fund, the two talked over each other for a few seconds until Ditka hung up.

Duerson stayed on the show and later said: "I applaud Mike for what he set out to do, which was for a small band of Hall of Fame players. But if he's looking to effect change, do it across the board for the entire body."

Before Duerson came on the show, Ditka was asked to respond to Duerson's assertion in Sunday's Tribune that the coach didn't care about his players' injuries.

"If my other players believed that, it would hurt me," Ditka said. "I'm trying to help guys who are hurt. I'm not trying to blame the NFLPA or (Executive Director) Gene Upshaw or anybody else. Trying to discredit Brian DeMarco, I don't understand."

Duerson closed on a conciliatory note.

"I'm glad this conversation is taking place," he said. "We can't do enough for retired players."

http://chicagosports.chicagotribune...2espn,1,3196525.story?coll=cs-bears-headlines

 

[Hostile]

Wow. I have a feeling this is going to be a hot button topic this year.

 

[ThreeSportStar80]

Ditka isn't helping the matters...

 

[Royal Laegotti]

Since congress is getting involved in this, I hope this doesn't open the door for them to get involved in changing the overall sport of football, by either shutting it down one day or changing it so drastically that it won't even be fun to watch, so they can pride themselves in preventing injuries and having more say in another aspect of our lives.

I just wish the NFL and the former players would learn to handle this without getting the gov't involved, it makes me nervous.

 

[AbeBeta]

Ditka isn't helping the matters...

When he trots out a guy like Demarco who is making some questionable claims then it shows he really isn't doing his homework at all.

 

[slick325]

"Before Duerson came on the show, Ditka was asked to respond to Duerson's assertion in Sunday's Tribune that the coach didn't care about his players' injuries."

I wonder how many coaches that may apply to during any given season. Parcells was notorious for leaving names off the injury list or having an issue with a player not being able to play on gameday. All coaches past and present are guilty of this.

 

[AbeBeta]

I wonder how many coaches that may apply to during any given season. Parcells was notorious for leaving names off the injury list or having an issue with a player not being able to play on gameday. All coaches past and present are guilty of this.

It is against the NFL rules to leave a name off the injured list. The injured list pertains to whether a player has practiced or not and how likely they are to play in the game. Anyone who misses practice goes on the list. So BP wasn't leaving names off the list. Those guys were practicing.

 

[slick325]

It is against the NFL rules to leave a name off the injured list. The injured list pertains to whether a player has practiced or not and how likely they are to play in the game. Anyone who misses practice goes on the list. So BP wasn't leaving names off the list. Those guys were practicing.

I am aware of that. My apologies. Let me clarify, Parcells knew they were injured, the players knew they were injured but they also knew the consequences of not practicing or playing injured. See Jacob Rogers.

 

[ZeroClub]

Ditka isn't helping the matters...

He's always been a bull in a china shop, for sure. (He always has been)

He certainly isn't the guy to negotiate a settlement, but he has done a fine job of bringing attention to the issue.

 

[miamicowboy21]

Ditka got schooled in the interview. Duerson clearly knew his stuff. These players need to attend these meetings and find out what's going on.

I found it a joke that the owners didn't want to give players pre -1960 a retirement package. Duerson made sure those players were taken care of.

Just get these guys the money, and get them taken care of.

 

[randy932]

Ditka isn't helping the matters...

Of course he is. if it wasn't for him, we wouldn't be hearing about it, congress wouldn't be interested, etc, etc. Ditka is abrasive but he has gotten people talking. Duerson is talking out both sides of his mouth. The players could give up 2% and never miss it. It would be enough to fund these guys an emergency fund and provide lifetime insurance.

 

[Cochese]

Of course he is. if it wasn't for him, we wouldn't be hearing about it, congress wouldn't be interested, etc, etc. Ditka is abrasive but he has gotten people talking. Duerson is talking out both sides of his mouth. The players could give up 2% and never miss it. It would be enough to fund these guys an emergency fund and provide lifetime insurance.

And you expect them to do this out of the kindness of their hearts? You have to be kidding.

 

[Chocolate Lab]

Tim Brown was on 103.3 last week talking about this, and I have to say that I was very impressed with his intelligence and knowledge on this subject. (I'd never thought much of Brown on those weekly Fox shows during the season.)

He said this is a tough issue because there are so many more players in this game than in any other. Think of 50 players on a team times however many teams there have been. He said there is something like 150,000 former players that are eligible for benefits, and while it sounds easy to give them more money, when you start multiplying that out, it becomes a huge number of dollars.

He also said that any former player eligible for benefits can go to the Mayo Clinic and get any procedure they need done for free. Knee replacements, hip replacements, anything -- all for free. He said that amazingly, many older players don't even know they have that option because they simply don't pay attention or read about their benefits.

But when it comes to handing out pure cash, that's something all up to the current players, because they are the ones in charge. The NFL can't make them do it, because it's a union issue.

 

[adbutcher]

And you expect them to do this out of the kindness of their hearts? You have to be kidding.

What is being lost in all of this is a plan that many working people have been adhering to for a very long time. The players should pay into a VIP/401K/etc and the league should match a certain amount. Imo it is not fair to ask the players to foot the bill.

It is easy for an outsider to spend someone else’s money by saying they should give up 2% or whatever. Suppose someone came to your job and said that we are going to deduct 2% from your paycheck to handle retirement for someone that worked at your company 15/20 years ago, I betcha the majority here won’t like that. It appeared that some of the past players and I would imagine some of the current players spent/are spending too much time in the present instead of thinking about what comes after.

 

[AbeBeta]

Of course he is. if it wasn't for him, we wouldn't be hearing about it, congress wouldn't be interested, etc, etc. Ditka is abrasive but he has gotten people talking. Duerson is talking out both sides of his mouth. The players could give up 2% and never miss it. It would be enough to fund these guys an emergency fund and provide lifetime insurance.

2% isn't going to fund lifetime insurance. No way. You are talking about medical coverage for far too many people. With 2% of each players salary we are talking maybe 60 million a year (assuming each team has about 100 mill in salary each year).

There are 32 teams, each with 53-60 guys who get NFL service credit each year. That's about 2000 guys in the league right now. Given the number of players that would need coverage. Let's say 20,000 former players for a nice even number, that would project to about $3000 per former player per year. The last report I saw placed the cost of insurance for regular people at about $7,000 a year.

We aren't talking about insuring "regular" people here either. We are talking about high risk people. Former players are likely in the highest risk category. Many have conditions that will require expensive surgeries, etc.

The cost for this would be huge. We'd likely be talking about 15-20% of player's salaries. Not 2%.

 

[adbutcher]

2% isn't going to fund lifetime insurance. No way. You are talking about medical coverage for far too many people. With 2% of each players salary we are talking maybe 60 million a year (assuming each team has about 100 mill in salary each year).

There are 32 teams, each with 53-60 guys who get NFL service credit each year. That's about 2000 guys in the league right now. Given the number of players that would need coverage. Let's say 20,000 former players for a nice even number, that would project to about $3000 per former player per year. The last report I saw placed the cost of insurance for regular people at about $7,000 a year.

We aren't talking about insuring "regular" people here either. We are talking about high risk people. Former players are likely in the highest risk category. Many have conditions that will require expensive surgeries, etc.

The cost for this would be huge. We'd likely be talking about 15-20% of player's salaries. Not 2%.

This ain't gonna happen in my opinion nor should it.

 

[WoodysGirl]

What is being lost in all of this is a plan that many working people have been adhering to for a very long time. The players should pay into a VIP/401K/etc and the league should match a certain amount. Imo it is not fair to ask the players to foot the bill.

from the NFLPA Players Benefits

Post-Career Financial Plan
Financial security for players during and after their football career is a goal of the NFLPA. That's why the NFLPA has negotiated a solid package of programs to help players at different career stages. Together these four plans create a post-career financial plan for players.

There are two things used to calculate these benefits: credited seasons and benefit credits.

Credited season
Benefits in these plans are generally based on "credited seasons." A credited season is any season in which a player is on one of the following lists for at least three regular-season or post-season games:

active
inactive injured reserve
physically unable to perform/football.
A player also will get credit for a "credited season" if he is released injured and paid the equivalent of at least three game checks.

STEP 1: Severance Pay Plan
If a player is released during this Collective Bargaining Agreement and has at least two credited seasons in the league, he'll receive $10,000 for every year he played 1993-1999, 2000-final League year. If a player had a credited season between 1993-1999, he will receive $5,000 for each year played 1989-1992. Credited seasons for severance pay prior to 1989 are governed by the 1982 CBA.

Click on the PDF link below for the Severance Procedure

STEP 2: NFL Player Annuity Program


Players with four or more credited seasons are eligible for this program.
Therefore, an eligible player should receive approximately $65,000 in an Annuity Program contribution for 2005.
Players may elect to receive a distribution at age 35 or five years after his last credited season, whichever is later.


STEP 3: NFL Player Second Career Savings Plan
Players are eligible to contribute to the plan and receive a club contribution if they have two (2) credited seasons. First year players (not including practice squad players) may contribute to the plan.

2001-final League year: $2 for each $1 player makes in saving contributions; maximum club contribution is $20,000.

The minimum club contribution for the 2001 season through the final League year is $3,600, if a player elects not to contribute his own pre-tax savings

Players can choose among nine investment fund options. Those options include
:

a stable value fund
a value fund
an international fund
an index fund
a bond fund
a balanced fund
a small cap value fund
a small cap core fund
a growth fund

Players can withdraw the money in their accounts at age 45 or later.

For more information on the savings plan, contact the NFLPA Benefits Department.


STEP 4: Bert Bell/Pete Rozelle NFL Player Retirement Plan

Benefits Credits Retirement plan benefits are based on "benefit credits." Players earn a benefit credit for each credited season according to the following table. The amount of money a player will receive each month upon retirement at age 55 is equal to the sum of benefit credits for all of a player's credited seasons.

Credited Season Benefit Credit
Before 1982 $200
1982 through 1992 230
1993 and 1994 240
1995 and 1996 285
1997 330
1998-final League year 425

Example: An Active Player for three or more games of the 1996 through 1999 seasons. His Benefits Credits total $1,465 ($285 + $330 + $425 + $425 = $1,465). The player will, therefore, receive $1,465 per month when he begins to receive his pension benefit at age 55.

Players may be eligible to collect a pension benefit beginning at age 55.

When a player retires or leaves the league, he will receive a letter from the NFLPA Benefits Department telling him what he is eligible to receive.


Injury Protection Benefit
The injury protection benefit has been improved. It will pay 50% of a player's contract salary up to a maximum of:

$225,000 in 2002
$250,000 in 2003 and 2004
A player may qualify for the Injury Protection benefit if he suffers an injury which prevents him from being able to play in the last game of that season, or which requires surgery. Such injury must continue to prevent the player from playing football by the time of the pre-season physical examination of the following season, and result in the player's contract being terminated by his club.

If a dispute arises thereafter as to whether or not the player should have passed the pre-season physical examination, the player should get an examination of his injury by a second opinion physician within 14 days of his contract termination. Then, evidence of the second opinion physician's examination, as well as other medical evidence, may be used in a non-injury grievance filed to enforce the player's right to this benefit.


Disability Benefits
If a player retires or stops playing because he is injured, disability benefits are critically important and are provided as part of the retirement plan. The following list shows a summary of annual pension disability benefits under the new program by type of disability.

Line of Duty Disability
If a player incurs a substantial disablement arising out of League football activities (but he is not totally and permanently disables), he may be eligible for "line of duty" disability benefits.

Minimum benefit: 100% of benefit credits but not less than $1,000/month.
Duration of payments: 7-1/2 years
Application time: must apply within 4 years of leaving NFL
Workers Compensation: No off-set

Total and Permanent Disability
Total and permanent disability falls under three categories:

Active Football
Benefit provided for a player who is disabled as a result of NFL football activities and shortly thereafter results in a total and permanent disability (unable to work at any occupation).

2003-Final League Year: $224,000 per year


Active Non-football
Benefit provided for a player whose disability does not result from football activities but does arise while an active player and results in a total and permanent disability.

2003-Final League Year: $134,000 per year


Football (Degenerative)
Benefit provided to take care of a player well into the future. If a vested player becomes disabled from football activities and results in a Total and Permanent Disability before the latter of age 45 or 12 years after the last Credited Season.

2003-Final League Year: $110,000 per year

 

[THUMPER]

Tim Brown was on 103.3 last week talking about this, ...

Think of 50 players on a team times however many teams there have been. He said there is something like 150,000 former players that are eligible for benefits, ...

There is nowhere near 150,000 former NFL players.

For most of the league's early history (1920-1960), there were fewer teams and only @35 players per team. Figure 14 teams X 35 X 40 years = 19,600. Now the average career for a player is around 3.5 years so let's divide by that and we come to 5600. Let's round that up to account for a shorter career for that era and make it 7000 (being VERY generous).

Since 1960, and counting the AFL, there were 24 teams when the Seahawks and Bucs joined in 1976 (fewer than that in the early 60s but we'll give it the benefit of the doubt) and rosters were at around 40-45 players during that time but we'll go with 50. So 24 X 50 X 16 years / 3.5 = 5486. Again we'll round up to account for whatever and make it 7000.

We are up to 14000 players for the first 56 years of the league.

Now, from 1976 - 2006 is 30 years. We'll go with 30 teams at 60 players (active rosters plus practice squads) & divide by 3.5 and we come up with 15,429. We'll round up again and make it 18,000.

That totals to only 32,000 former NFL players. Even throwing in another factor for guys who were drafted but didn't make the team or something and making it 35,000, it is still nowhere near the 150,000 that Tim Brown threw out there.

To reach his number, there would have to have been 32 teams with 60 men each for 78 years and every player would have played only a single season.

Oops.

Did I read that right, is Ditka really making $94000+ a year in retirement? Wow!

 

[WoodysGirl]

There is nowhere near 150,000 former NFL players.

Not to dispute your numbers, because I wouldn't dare try to calculate them. But maybe if you take into account the one year wonders and the amount of roster turnover a team can have. It's not about the actual numbers a team can have per year. It's about how many players come through the team facilities in any given year. 150k may be an exaggeration, but I can't see that it's too far out there.

 

[burmafrd]

You only help out players whose medical problems were caused by playing football. Its a hard line to hold to but that is the way it should be. MOST former players will not have need for it. Odds are that only a small percentage of players will NEED it. Guys who only played a couple of years are not going to get messed up badly-usually. Looking at all the extreme examples- they are almost all players who started and played extensively for years. with $60 million- you could probably get high risk medical insurance from a national HMO for maybe $20,000 a year per player. That would cover 3000 players. Probably way more then will need it. THAT is the point- this coverage should only go to players that NEED it.