Do no harm: Who should bear the costs of retired NFL players’ medical bills?

[birdog]

Not the taxpayer, for sure.

And why not the taxpayers?.....after all, we wanted him to play, we were cheering him all along, until he destroyed his body & health. heck, the gov. is throwing money away left & right.....its about time to do something useful....

 

[Lurkaholic]

They should set up a fund that pays for health insurance for former players until they are 65. A percentage of all current player salaries should be taken by the union to account for half the costs while the NFL should pay the other half. The fund pays 33% costs for one season played, 66% for two seasons, and 100% for three and above, since that is where they seem to draw their line at veteran status.

 

[renegadewa]

And why not the taxpayers?.....after all, we wanted him to play, we were cheering him all along, until he destroyed his body & health. heck, the gov. is throwing money away left & right.....its about time to do something useful....

You are kidding.....................right??

The NFL wouldn't be the NFL and the owners wouldn't own teams if it wasn't a money making proposition. And why shouldn't the players themselves bear part of the cost? They knew what they were getting into when they signed to play a game that destroys the human body!!

Why is it anyones responsibility to educate these guys on how to live life and put something away for when retirement comes for them at an age when most of us are still and will be breaking our backs for a long time to come??

Drew Brees caught flack for saying it best when he said that bad decisions and a lifestyle that they could not afford is why most of those guys wind up with nothing.

And you think the taxpayers should bear that cost??.....................you're kidding..................right??

 

[St. Geezy]

The problem I always have with these cases is that it completely dismisses any potential liability to the NCAA, high school, or playground leagues. These guys have played football their entire lives, why is the NFL solely at fault?

 

[wizard1183]

Hmmm well let's see... How'd Joe Namath pay for his plastic knees? I guess they'd go that route. But maybe the players union should step in. But at what point is the cut off date?

 

[12Stang]

Price you pay to play , gimme league minimum salary for 8 years and id be retired and gladly pay for my own health coverage. They should have to sign a waiver to play in the NFL accepting the risks of playing football professionally.

 

[jrdbrn]

They should pay their own bills with their own insurance. Just as I do and most Americans.

 

[jrdbrn]

Price you pay to play , gimme league minimum salary for 8 years and id be retired and gladly pay for my own health coverage. They should have to sign a waiver to play in the NFL accepting the risks of playing football professionally.

I'm sure it will get to that point in the near future.

 

[cajunrevenge]

The players union should pay for it. They are the ones responsible for negotiating a contract with the NFL that is in the players best interests. They easily could have asked for medical coverage even for ex players. They were more concerned with getting every cent they could from the owners. If the union says this situation was not foreseeable it really damages the lawsuit against the NFL.

I am all for helping the former players that made less than 1 million in their career. If they made a million bucks then they failed themselves by not saving it. The NFL is in no way obligated to protect the players from their own stupidity.

 

[Alan]

And why not the taxpayers?.....after all, we wanted him to play, we were cheering him all along, until he destroyed his body & health. heck, the gov. is throwing money away left & right.....its about time to do something useful....

What?

Dude I am sure that dropping $100+ on a weekend of football via tickets and concessions ALREADY paid into that "retirement" package.


I seriously need to open a business and charge people twice....

 

[not2rich]

Certainly the owners shouldn't help pay. Those dudes are struggling.

 

[not2rich]

The problem I always have with these cases is that it completely dismisses any potential liability to the NCAA, high school, or playground leagues. These guys have played football their entire lives, why is the NFL solely at fault?

You make a good point, but it loses strength if the evidence shows most damage occurs during pro careers. I don't know if that's actually the case - I'm just pointing out that should be a relevant factor.

Second, playground leagues and high schools aren't making the money the NFL does. The difference in money is like the difference between me and Bill Gates. Greater, even. I wouldn't be opposed to the collegiate system chipping in commensurate with the money a particular program makes from football. But I say the ones making real money off this sport should be the ones paying the expenses.

 

[tak]

Retired NFL players. Known inherent risk. If unknown then the NFL should pay. For example if the helmets were made of asbestos and the players didn't know it.

 

[not2rich]

Retired NFL players. Known inherent risk. If unknown then the NFL should pay. For example if the helmets were made of asbestos and the players didn't know it.

The retired players are claiming that the owners DID know the risks before they did. Surely you don't believe the players knew the risk before the owners did.