NFL retirees pushing for inclusion in labor talks

Associated Press

MINNEAPOLIS

Carl Eller doesn’t want to be one of the bad guys, not when the NFL seems so close to getting back to work.

The Hall of Fame defensive end, one of Minnesota’s fearsome Purple People Eaters, is nonetheless unhappy about how he and his fellow retirees have been treated as NFL owners and current players negotiate a new deal to split more than $9 billion in revenue.

That deal, of course, will include retirement benefits for the former players.

Eller and other retirees have sued both the NFL and the NFL Players Association, complaining that they’ve illegally been left out of the latest talks after taking part in court-ordered mediation sessions earlier this year. They say both sides have also conspired to keep benefit levels and pension payments low in the new collective bargaining agreement.

As loudly as they’ve raised their concerns, they’re not interested in derailing a deal.

“We’re not looking for a fight. We’re just looking to make things right. If football stops on our account, we don’t want to be left holding the bag. We just want what we’ve earned,” Eller said. “Here’s the point where we are: We don’t want to do anything to hurt the game. We love the game. We support the game. In fact, we know what we want to do is support the Hall of Fame game, because that’s ours.

“We will use every tool in our tool bag to get our rights,” Eller said. “We are following the law, so don’t prosecute us or blame us for following the law. These are serious things that we’re after. It could be life or death for some players, so it’s essential that we get this. We’re not doing this just for more money. We’re doing this just because lives depend on it.”

Nolan Harrison, the NFLPA’s senior director of retired players, declined to comment specifically on the retirees’ accusations because of the pending litigation. But he said retiree benefits are being taken seriously.

Many of the pioneers of the NFL have paid a lifelong physical price for playing a high-impact sport, and their push for better care has gained steam and public support in recent years.

“The present players really don’t care about the former players,” said Hall of Fame tight end Mike Ditka, the former Bears and Saints head coach. Not at all. Whether the owners do or not, I don’t know,” he said. “They would have to show it, and right now, nobody’s shown a whole heck of a lot.”