A letter to Harry Carson and his Response

Dear Harry:

I just read the email you sent to retired players regarding your 2006
Hall Of Fame induction speech and other issues, and I want you to
know how proud the retired players are that you used the HOF
platform to draw attention to the plight of former players. You
mentioned that you read something me and Sam Huff had written to
you prior to the 2006 Hall of Fame induction ceremony and that
it helped to inspire you to use a part of your induction speech to
bring attention to the situation.

As I said then, and I'll say again:

........."For the Hall of Famer that has the courage to make
statements like these in front of the whole world, they will
forever be remembered by their peers, their fans and their family
as a hero who thought more about others than they thought about
themselves."

Harry, you will always be remembered for the courage it took to
be the first to speak out on these issues at the HOF Induction
Ceremony! It was not the politically correct thing to do, but
it was the right thing to do....... and it has inspired many more
to join in the efforts to help the retired players that worked
so hard to make the NFL and the NFLPA what they are today.
Hopefully, some future inductees will follow in your footsteps
and use the power of that special moment to honor the sacrafices
of a largely forgotten generation of football players.

The momentum that has been generated by our ability to
communicate over the Internet has helped immensly, but it will
never replace the power that comes from speaking to a live
audience in front of the whole world. Your speech was an
insipration to all retired players and has motivated many former
players that might not have spoken up in the past. The function
of leadership is to produce more leaders, not more followers
and that will be part of your legacy. President John Quincy Adams
said "If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more,
do more and become more, you are a leader."

You took a day that was set aside to honor you........ and also
used it to honor those that came before you. Your actions have
pushed us all to work harder. Thank you for your continuing
efforts through the NFL Alliance, to help those that came before you.

"If I have seen farther than others, it is because I was standing on the
shoulder of Giants" (and colts, bears, eagles, panthers, ravens,
broncos, dolphins, rams, etc.) - Issac Newton

Jeff Nixon
Buffalo Bills Alumni