Even with a bulky back brace tightly strapped around his waist, Jim Kelly walked around the practice fields at the University of West Georgia on Thursday with a little extra pep in his step.
While working at the Gridiron Greats youth football camp, Kelly, who recently had major back surgery, moved around well in part because of the recent positive news emanating from the NFL’s labor talks.
Former NFL players with the Gridiron Greats, an organization founded by former Green Bay great Jerry Kramer in late 2006 to help retired NFL players, hope that the positive vibes will lead to better benefits for retired players.
“My work is to spread the word and make sure that people understand that all of the guys that played before us need assistance,” said Kelly, who guided the Buffalo Bills to four consecutive AFC championships and was inducted in the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2002. “I’ve been very fortunate because I played in an era when the money was pretty good. But there are guys that played in the ’60s and ’70s that can not afford insurance.”
From helping William “The Refrigerator” Perry with medical and financial assistance to fight Guillain-Barre syndrome to providing groceries and paying utilities bills, the group has helped several retired players through the charitable non-profit organization.
Kelly sees the collateral damage from the physical game each year when he returns to Canton, Ohio, in August for the annual induction ceremonies. “I see the guys walking around with their canes and you hear all of the horror stories,” Kelly said.
One player told him about not being able to go to the chiropractor because his insurance company would not cover the bill.
“You feel bad for them and you just hope that the younger kids that are playing today understand that and want to do something about it,” Kelly said.
The NFL and the trade association agree that retired player benefits should be improved and addressed in the next collective bargaining agreement. Both sides issued a joint statement Wednesday that has fueled some optimism.
“Discussions between NFL owners and players under the auspices of Chief Magistrate Judge Arthur Boylan took place again this week and will continue,” the statement read. “At the request of Judge Boylan, both sides have agreed to maintain the confidentiality of the substance of the talks.”
Thurman Thomas, a 2007 Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee, hears some of those same stories when he returns to Canton, too.
“About three years ago, I was talking to Bart Starr, he’s one of the pioneers of [modern-era] football,” Thomas said. “He was like, ‘I get like $300 a month.’ I was like, ‘I can’t pay my light bill with that.’ You’re talking about Bart Starr.”
Thomas contends that of the four major sports, former football players have the lowest pension fund.
Chris Mohr, a former punter for the Buccaneers, Bills and Falcons (1989-2004) and Ken Irvin, a former defensive back with the Bills, Saints and Vikings (1995-2005), helped with more than 180 kids at the camp. Irvin, a native of Rome, played at Pepperell High before playing in college at Memphis.
The former players are closely watching the NFL labor talks.
“I’ve been around so long that I can assure you that both the owners and the players want to get it done,” Irvin said. “The sad reality is that it’s a business between the players and the organizations.”
Kelly, who works for the Bills as an team ambassador, can relate to both sides in the labor battle.
“Hopefully they can work it out,” Kelly said. “We are pretty optimistic. ... The owners are willing because they see it too. I know the players and some of the people with the players association understand that, too. [DeMaurice] Smith also knows, so hopefully we’re heading in the right direction.”
Kelly and Irvin know that in a few years they could need assistance.
“I’d really would like to see the health benefits be a lot better, especially for some of the guys before me,” Irvin said. “At the time I played, I kept myself in relative good shape. But as I get older, I’m starting to feel the aches and pains from all those years of playing. I would just like to see some of those older players reap some type of health benefits and insurance.”
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