Where is our Retired Players Steering Committee?

Dear Alumni:

Our NFLPA Retired Players Steering Committee needs to get to work on developing how we come to a consensus on issues that affect retired players and how we present them to Gene Upshaw as a unified group. It will be very difficult for Gene to make a unilateral decision about the disability plan and pension plan, if our entire NFLPA retired players members are telling him - AND THE OWNERS - what we want. The reason I mention the owners in this process is that there are still some very understanding and influential owners that do not want to see the History (retired players) getting screwed over by a system that is heavily weighted toward giving money to current players that know nothing about what has happened to get them to where they are today. Our Steering Committee needs to develop a democratic process for building a consensus. How can this be done? Well, for starters we need to strengthen our communication system. We already have a Blueprint in place. Bruce Laird and the Baltimore Chapter have set up a Google Group for all retired players to communicate our points of view. This should probably be replicated by the Steering Committee. Secondly, we need our own Web Site (not-the NFLPA Web site) where we can go to get accurate, up-to-date information on what is happening on all fronts. This Web site can also be used to poll members, take surveys and most importantly DEVELOP A PLATFORM for reaching our goals and conveying our message to the Media, Gene Upshaw, the owners and the current players! We must start now, and take a proactive position. I would suggest that the Steering Committee and President's of all Retired Players Chapters get involved now! The Chapters are the first way to build consensus on an issue. For example, The Steering Committee sends out an email to Chapter President's asking them to survey their members to see what position they take on an issue, the Chapter votes on it and sends the results of the vote back to the Steering Committee, the Steering Committee gathers the vote, poll, or survey from all Chapters and uses the information to make a final decision. At that point an individual member of a Chapter should not take a different public stance on that issue in the Media. We can still share our views with other people, but we need to stay united in our "Public Message". So what about members that are not affiliated with a Chapter because none exists in their area? They should be able to provide their input (or weighted vote) directly to the Steering Committee. And what about non-members? If you don't pay your dues, you don't get to vote, simple as that. You can still have a voice and provide your two cents, but if your views are in opposition to the consensus of the NFLPA Retired Player Members and the Steering Committee, it should be rebutted.

Building a consensus is not easy.....and there will be members that disagree with some of the final decisions that come out of a democratic process, but if we do it openly and honestly, it will make everyone feel better about the way it was done. Right now we have a dictatorial process. It would be nice to go to Gene Upshaw the next time around and say this is what WE THINK is good for us! We can't wait until the next time the NFLPA negotiates a new CBA, and we can't do this all in the course of 3 days at the Retired Players Convention. This needs to be a continual dialogue. The Steering Committee needs to provide leadership on this process....now!

Sincerely,

Jeff Nixon
Buffalo Bills Retired Players Chapter