PFT: Retired players’ complaint takes aim at Drew Brees

[cowboyjoe]

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2011/07/06/retired-players-complaint-takes-aim-at-drew-brees/
Posted by Mike Florio on July 6, 2011, 8:45 PM EDT

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We’ve been trying, unsuccessfully to date, to get our hands on the new complaint filed by a group of retired players against the NFL, the named plaintiffs in the Tom Brady antitrust action, and NFLPA* executive director DeMaurice Smith.

The folks at CourthouseNews.com have seen the 64-page document, and they’ve pointed out one specific portion that takes aim at Saints quarterback and Super Bowl XLIV MVP Drew Brees.

In support of the argument that current players aren’t committed to taking care of the retired players, the lawsuit echoes this quote from Brees: “There’s some guys out there that have made bad business decisions. They took their pensions early because they never went out and got a job. They’ve had a couple divorces and they’re making payments to this place and that place. And that’s why they don’t have money. And they’re coming to us to basically say, ‘Please make up for my bad judgment.’” The retired players claim that this quote constitutes “antipathy for NFL retirees” from Brees.

 

[joseephuss]

Sounds like Brees has antipathy for retirees who made poor decisions, not retirees in general.

 

[kmp77]

Or you can read it as the retirees want to keep making bad decisions and keep getting more money. "I suck at life! Keep rewarding me!"

 

[superpunk]

Tell it, Brother Brees....you won't be forced to subsidize their idiocy. church!

 

[Hostile]

Sounds like Brees has antipathy for retirees who made poor decisions, not retirees in general.

Brees has shown antipathy for anyone who does not agree 100% with what he is doing. His comments towards the owners a month or so ago was lauded as gospel truth on this forum by a lot of people.

Prediction...few if any of those people, will comment on these comments he makes now.

 

[SDCowboy]

I'm getting sick of hearing about Brees period. Does this guy suddenly think he is the league now?

 

[cowboyjoe]

I'm getting sick of hearing about Brees period. Does this guy suddenly think he is the league now?

when you win the superbowl as QB, your acknowledged as the league in a sense. Just like when Aikman won in 92 and 93, big time status for him, or brady in 2000 series, and people label brady as elite qb in league now.

 

[Galian Beast]

His comments are spot on. I'm not sure how anyone could argue with them.

 

[Fletch]

His comments are spot on. I'm not sure how anyone could argue with them.

I agree with his comments.

 

[gmoney112]

I agree with his sentiments when it's directed at the audience he intended.

However, players in the 60's and 70's didn't make their entire career what Brees makes in a year and didn't have the safety precautions they have now. Hell some of them didn't even make what is now the vet minimum in their career so his comment comes across as a little clueless.

 

[WoodysGirl]

Sounds like Brees has antipathy for retirees who made poor decisions, not retirees in general.

I agree.

Brees has shown antipathy for anyone who does not agree 100% with what he is doing. His comments towards the owners a month or so ago was lauded as gospel truth on this forum by a lot of people.

Prediction...few if any of those people, will comment on these comments he makes now.

Having an opinion doesn't mean he's showing antipathy to others opinions. I agreed with his comments then (which have nothing to do with this thread) and I agree with his comments in the OP.

There are some retirees who have made bad decisions. I'm not sure they should get rewarded for those decisions with more money, but maybe better post-NFL career resource assistance.

 

[THUMPER]

Brees makes an assumption about some players but those are not the guys at issue anyway. The retired players are looking for better medical coverage for health problems that are related to playing in the NFL. The problem is that the league/union have not properly addressed those issues nor come up with an adequate means of evaluating and compensating those players.

None of the retired players involved are looking for the current players to pay for their "bad decisions", they just want the league/union to take responsibility, which up to now they have mostly evaded, for the health of the very players that make today's money possible.

Drew Brees is rapidly becoming one of my most disliked players.

In the words of John Candy in "Uncle Buck": "Take this quarter, go downtown, and have a rat gnaw that thing off your face!"

 

[RoyTheHammer]

Yea! Shame on Brees for speaking his mind.. and the truth.

I know some people can't handle blunt honesty, but you can't argue anything the guy has said.

 

[ScipioCowboy]

So how is Brees differentiating between those retirees who fit his generalization and those who don't?

 

[Hostile]

Having an opinion doesn't mean he's showing antipathy to others opinions. I agreed with his comments then (which have nothing to do with this thread) and I agree with his comments in the OP.

There are some retirees who have made bad decisions. I'm not sure they should get rewarded for those decisions with more money, but maybe better post-NFL career resource assistance.

I agree in principal. If I made this kind of money, I would be set for life and so would my children. The players of the 1960's and 1970's cannot say that. I believe Roger Staubach's highest salary ever was under $300k. I doubt very much if I were a football player in the 60's and 70's that I would be set for life even if I owed no alimony or child support to multiple wives and children as Brees suggested. Especially if I had put my body through the rigors these guys did. Helmets especially have improved since those days WG. Post concussion syndrome is very real.

I think the current players do not quite grasp that. Perhaps Mr. Brees can tell me how much Dave Duerson made in his NFL career, which post dated the 60's and 70's, how he squandered it away, and by not taking care of himself, pulled the trigger on his life long before he actually pulled that trigger and ended his life.

Actually, Dave Duerson was quite successful owning some McDonalds restaurants, but when he sold them and tried to start a new business it failed. He didn't squander his money at all.

I am sorry, but I do feel sorry for a lot of these guys. I think Drew Brees comments were way out of line.

 

[ScipioCowboy]

I am sorry, but I do feel sorry for a lot of these guys. I think Drew Brees comments were way out of line.

Depending on their context, it's akin to assuming that a mother on welfare is only using public assistance to help finance her crack addiction.

 

[JohnnyHopkins]

This type of elitist thinking is why Sean Payton chooses to hang with other team's quarterbacks in the offseason!

 

[joseephuss]

when you win the superbowl as QB, your acknowledged as the league in a sense. Just like when Aikman won in 92 and 93, big time status for him, or brady in 2000 series, and people label brady as elite qb in league now.

I'm confused. Is Brady not an elite QB?

 

[Hostile]

I agree with his sentiments when it's directed at the audience he intended.

However, players in the 60's and 70's didn't make their entire career what Brees makes in a year and didn't have the safety precautions they have now. Hell some of them didn't even make what is now the vet minimum in their career so his comment comes across as a little clueless.

Bingo!

 

[Everlastingxxx]

Depending on their context, it's akin to assuming that a mother on welfare is only using public assistance to help finance her crack addiction.

Brees is speaking about their past and how some wasted their money not what they are going to do with new money.