Do no harm: Who should bear the costs of retired NFL players’ medical bills? (1 Viewer)

[Alan]

Man I hate to say it but amputation and a fake leg is probably the best for him.

Back on track - Anyone that says taxpayers should pay for it needs a boot up side the head.

 

[sbadeaux]

Well

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.

Some college programs make mucho money. lSU radio network makes more the the Saints radio network. They did an interview with Skip Birkman on WWL and they were talking about how LSU made more in Advertsising revenue than the saints. I know that was during the down Years after Jim Mora and before Payton but still impressive.

 

[JeauxDat]

The way I see it is, they get this huge salary for the risk they take. Yes it's a sad post career after football with all those injuries but they knew the consequences before stepping on the field.

 

[Cajun Mike]

The Players Union should have bargained for lifetime medical care. Take away 15 million from Godhell he certainly hasn't earned it. Don't blame just the players, the owners don't care as long as they make money. We as fans want our spectator sport also, so we are part blame too. Artificial hips, knees and other assorted injuries are expensive to treat constantly!

 

[RebSaint]

I find it interesting that some are so dead-set against any tax-payer funded money going to former players, but are quick to get behind tax-payer funded stadiums and stadium upgrades.



Not advocating either, but if we're willing to help pay for the buildings and their upkeep and upgrades for owners, I think it's only logical that the players who play in those venues should be treated for similar consideration.

 

[xardoz]

Most contract employees cover their own expenses after services rendered for $.

 

[markingramfan]

Players know what they sign up for when they play this sport but don't pay no mind when their getting these big money contracts so they should be held accountable....besides I know they have good health insurance

 

[Randy Jones]

So we're having this conversation again. Most of you apparently want to argue principle over the law. Workers' compensation is the law. Repeal the law if you don't like it, but it is the law. Workers' compensation is paid by employers as an insurance like disability. Many injuries or medical complications occur long after medical science understands the science involved. That is why there are many claims granted 10 to 30 years after the employee leaves service with that employer.

However, I must observe that most of you are just wasting your time expressing your opinion here because you know diddly poo about workers' compensation law. So go ahead and talk yourself silly, but understand this, many employers are financially responsible for injuries to their employees regardless of whether the risks were known by one or both parties at the time of employment.

Come at me if you will for being harsh to you posters, but unless you are a labor lawyer your opinion is just another one of the uninformed and not helping anyone.

 

[dtc]

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?

The NCAA, High Schools and even little leagues have insurance policies in place and players are covered every which way.


If a person plays in the NFL and in their very first game has his neck broken and is paralyzed what happens? If it was an undrafted free-agent like, say... Pierre Thomas - what do we do? Cut him and give him a half mil for injury settlement or does WC pay for it?

The league and players union should step up and procure a special insurance policy for these guys.

 

[Rod-138]

Good post, Randy. I've made that point a few times now on this board and to some people during discussions, but it's like people can't separate reality from make believe land.

Reality is the answer is simple : this is a workers comp issue and they should consider its eligibility for payment. After that, if its denied, well then it's like the same as if you or me hurt our knee at home. Who is responsible, who will pay? We will


Some of you seem extremely jaded and opinionated about the legitimacy of workers compensation insurance and I encourage you to do some research about case acceptance rates vs denial rates. Just because your deadbeat uncle's claim was denied doesn't mean they deny everything and ask questions later.

I worked for a WC firm for about 6 years and nearly every case is accepted and paid in full. I hated the company and have no reason to lie for the industry, but I saw the claims acceptance / denial ratios, including the saints, and they make the naysayers sound very, well, ignorant of reality.

Truth is we don't know the facts of this specific case and the reason his knee claims were denied, but it wouldn't take long to figure out if we had all of the information.

 

[Rod-138]

Remember this is based on law. Your little league team having an insurance pool for injured kids is great, but NFL players are workers, and law states work related injuries fall under comp. we chose this option, people, voters, workers.

It's a good option for most businesses and please understand, it is not optional, there is no thing the NFL should or shouldn't do. This is the law, they are a business, they must report injury claims to their WC provider per statute whatever it is.

There is no amendment saying if your business is popular and super risky, then you have to provide a special insurance no other business has. This is da law bros. it's like saying the OJ verdict was wrong so we should scrap the entire system.

Should we ? What about all the verdicts that served their purpose. And if we should scrap the system, then we have to vote on that through legislation. We the people, not the NFL, get it?

 

[renegadewa]

Didn't it say in the article that this guy had a degree? That usually come with some semblance of intelligence so not planning ahead and not making arrangements for injuries and medical attention rests squarely on the players shoulders!! No one can tell me that they .................."didn't know"!!

They played a game knowing full well that injuries don't happen every now and again................injuries happen in EVERY game!!

I truly feel bad for some of those guys but they should have taken care of business when they were making the bank that could have set them up for life after football!!

 

[Randy Jones]

Didn't it say in the article that this guy had a degree? That usually come with some semblance of intelligence so not planning ahead and not making arrangements for injuries and medical attention rests squarely on the players shoulders!! No one can tell me that they .................."didn't know"!!

They played a game knowing full well that injuries don't happen every now and again................injuries happen in EVERY game!!

I truly feel bad for some of those guys but they should have taken care of business when they were making the bank that could have set them up for life after football!!

What anyone knew or didnt know has nothing to do with this. When are you people understand this. Its about the law.

 

[Swimmer]

I know that brain trauma is the hot topic for retired players right now, but the rest of the body takes a huge beating too.


also - that dude's knee is straight up nasty

You can't imagine Earl Campbell at age 40. We belonged to the same club. His body was mutilated and he suffered severe panic disorder (brain) where most commit suicide - seriously. It was painful to watch him try to walk. Daryl Royal (Coach) took Earl under his wing and rounded up the UT alumni to support and rehab Earl.

 

[mikaloyd]

Get a job!