NFLPA Holiday Gift: Free Lifetime Membership for Former Players!
I have to admit, I was pleasantly surprised when I opened an email from the NFLPA Former Player Services Department and saw their offer of a free lifetime membership.
If you didn’t already receive the email regarding this, I have copied it here:
Please keep in mind that we are not members of the NFLPA.
At the NFLPA website under the FAQ’s tab, they ask the question “How does collective bargaining in the NFL work?" They remind us that “the Retired players are not part of the bargaining unit and, therefore, the NFL Management Council is not legally obligated to bargain in good faith over any improvements in already-earned player pension benefits. Despite this fact, in every negotiation during the past 25 years, active players have spent their leverage at the bargaining table to insist that benefits be increased for players retired from football.”
Let’s hope that they continue to insist that pension benefits be increased. I like the fact that they have eliminated the $100 annual membership fee, but if I had to guess, I would say that another increase in the pension would be at the top of most former player’s gift list.
I really do appreciate the free lifetime membership, so don’t accuse me of looking a gift horse in the mouth. By the way, that saying comes from the fact that horses' teeth grow over time, and checking their length is a way of gauging old age - so if you happen to get a free horse, don't check to see how old it is. That's just bad manners.
There are a lot of former players that are now long in the tooth. Many of the older former players are still concerned about the way the Union has treated us, but even so, most of us are thankful that the active players have gone back and retroactively increased our pensions in all of the CBA’s since 1993.
The NFLPA acknowledges that they are giving this gift of a free lifetime membership in recognition of our service and sacrifice. Well said.
On behalf of all former players, I want to thank the following staff and administrators at the NFLPA Former Players Services Department:
Nolan Harrison, Senior Director; Andre Collins, Director, PAF Executive Director; Dee Becker, Assistant Director; Tyrone Allen, PAF Director; Lorenzo Kaufman, Senior Manager; Caryl Banks, Manager, Professional Athletes Foundation; Leslie Isler, PAF Coordinator; Nathan Johnson, Assistant and Amber Edwards, Membership Services Coordinator.
So what are the benefits of membership in the NFLPA Former Player Services?
In addition to being eligible for attendance at certain events, we will also receive discounted services offered by numerous companies. You can see the list of benefits on the NFLPA website at the following link: Former Players FAQs. When you get to the site, click on the tab - What Benefits will I receive?
Now that the NFLPA has provided free lifetime membership for all former players, I think it's time for the NFL Alumni Association follow suit. I think the owners can afford it........don't you?
May the Force be with you……………enjoy the Holidays!
ATTENTION - IMPORTANT UPDATE: I am not sure if the annual dues payment has been eliminated. There is some confusion on this point. I can't reach anybody at the NFLPA office - they are on vacation until December 28, 2015. I'm not sure why they would say "free" unless there was some type of payment that was necessary in the past. If anyone has information on this, please let me know asap.
