A New Year's Resolution for Former Pro Football Players
Dear Alumni:
As an advocate for former NFL players, I often find myself in a position of fighting against the NFL and the NFL Players Association. Sometimes the battle has extended to criticizing active and former players that are supporting those organizations and the positions they take with respect to the Collective Bargaining Agreement, lawsuits and other issues that affect us.
If I have personally offended anyone, please forgive me.
I'd like to think that I've been fair and balanced in my articles, but I can't expect to please all of the people – all of the time. I have my share of critics. Even though I do my best to back up everything I say with research and facts, in the final analysis – it's just my opinion. Every former player must make up their own mind when it comes to deciding what they should or shouldn't do - and what they think is best for them and their families.
In addition to helping ourselves we need to look at the big picture and see what we can do to strengthen the position of all retired payers. We all have role to play. For me, it's getting information into the hands of former players and pushing for better pensions and benefits. I will never stop in my effort to empower the men that have laid the foundations of pro football and I hope that you won't either. Let's make that one of our New Year's resolutions.
Sharing our ideas and opinions via the internet and social media have been a powerful force in getting our message out, but not every former player owns a computer or receives information or emails through the world wide web and therefore it is imperative that we reach out to them through our personal relationships and the organizations we have joined.
I don't care if you are associated with the NFL owners, NFL Alumni, NFL Players Association, Gridiron Greats, Fourth and Goal, Dave Pear's Blog, Retired Football Players Association, Retired Players Congress, Dignity After Football or any other group that supports former players; Let's all agree that we will try our best to reach out to the guys that are have not been part of our pro football fraternity.
I'm not sure if we realize how powerful we can be when we come together on an issue that is important to us, but we have seen proof of what can happen when we do. I don't know if retired players will ever be united under one banner - one organization, but that's ok, it doesn't prevent us from doing the right thing for some of our less fortunate brethren who need some assistance.
In all of my correspondence with former players, I typically conclude with the salutation - Your Alumni Brother. Why? Because, I truly believe that we are "Our Brothers Keeper". There are many former players that need help, but for one reason or another they don't know where to get it.
Let's make a resolution to help them get it!
As always.......Your Alumni Brother,
Jeff Nixon
