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George Martin criticizes DeMaurice Smith
George Martin criticizes DeMaurice Smith
NFL Alumni leader has a rift with NFLPA chief Aaron Wilson
NFL Alumni president George Martin was sharply critical of NFL Players Association executive director DeMaurice Smith.
“When you don’t have a conversation with the recognized leader of the NFL alumni, how can you say you have the best interests of retired players at heart when you won’t even sit down and talk to their leadership,” Martin told the Newark Star-Ledger. “That to me flies in the face of that rationale.”
This isn't the first time Martin has clashed with Smith.
And Martin said that Smith has refused to meet with him, breaking promises to get together.
“I’ve never been given the opportunity to sit down with him and talk about some of the similarities or some of our objectives,” Martin said. “I really resent the fact that that opportunity hasn’t been presented to me despite his pledge to do so. You have to be a man of your word. You have to have the integrity. I think that calls into question where Mr. DeMaurice Smith resides.”
Martin, whose organization is funded by the NFL, said he has met with NFL commissioner Roger Goodell at least 20 times.
“When that’s the only open door to you, when that’s the only receptive door to you, you have a tendency to take full advantage of it,” Martin said. “We’ve done that and we are doing that. It seems instead of DeMaurice Smith following suit and saying let’s do likewise, he has criticized those meetings—which I think is deplorable.”
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Looks like Gene Upshaw's legacy lives on.
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Originally Posted by
Dagan81 
Looks like Gene Upshaw's legacy lives on.
yep its really baffling, and as the elected official for the retired plyers really disrespectful
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Originally Posted by
dabears54 yep its really baffling, and as the elected official for the retired plyers really disrespectful
The apple doesn't fall far from the tree. DeMaurice Smith is drawing his power and prestige from the sector that butters his bread, and that is the current players. Surely someone can unseat Smith like, say, Mike Ditka or Joe DeLaumilleure (sp?) and lead the NFLPA and get something done for retired players.
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Originally Posted by
Dagan81 The apple doesn't fall far from the tree. DeMaurice Smith is drawing his power and prestige from the sector that butters his bread, and that is the current players. Surely someone can unseat Smith like, say, Mike Ditka or Joe DeLaumilleure (sp?) and lead the NFLPA and get something done for retired players.
think the retired players also have themselves to blame also for part of this..just researching this, and think some comes from upshaw being such a prick, but now there is at least 4 different 'retired players" unions and groups fighting for rights.. you have the Dikta group, gridiron greats and have the 'retired players assoc"( headed by carl eller- which will soon allow fans to "join for $99 i kid you not)) and have the "nfl alumni group"( headed by george martin).. so hard to figure who is really speaking for the retired players
http://www.nflalumni.org/
The NFL Alumni is comprised of two distinct non-profit membership organizations, the NFL Alumni Association and NFL Alumni Foundation. The NFL Alumni serves its retired player members and their families through the NFL Alumni Association and supports youth and community charities through NFL Alumni Foundation.
http://www.nflretiredplayersassociat...emberships.asp
Retired Players Association
The Retired Players Association is dedicated to providing powerful national advocacy and collegial support for retired professional football players, their families and the community at large.
http://www.gridirongreats.org/
Gridiron Greats Assistance Fund is a nonprofit NFL football charity providing medical and financial assistance to pioneers of the game who are in dire need.
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High Fives / Like - 1 High Fives, 0 Dislikes
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Originally Posted by
dabears54 think the retired players also have themselves to blame also for part of this..just researching this, and think some comes from upshaw being such a prick, but now there is at least 4 different 'retired players" unions and groups fighting for rights.. you have the Dikta group, gridiron greats and have the 'retired players assoc"( headed by carl eller- which will soon allow fans to "join for $99 i kid you not)) and have the "nfl alumni group"( headed by george martin).. so hard to figure who is really speaking for the retired players
http://www.nflalumni.org/
The NFL Alumni is comprised of two distinct non-profit membership organizations, the NFL Alumni Association and NFL Alumni Foundation. The NFL Alumni serves its retired player members and their families through the NFL Alumni Association and supports youth and community charities through NFL Alumni Foundation.
http://www.nflretiredplayersassociat...emberships.asp Retired Players Association
The Retired Players Association is dedicated to providing powerful national advocacy and collegial support for retired professional football players, their families and the community at large.
http://www.gridirongreats.org/ Gridiron Greats Assistance Fund is a nonprofit NFL football charity providing medical and financial assistance to pioneers of the game who are in dire need. Which do you believe to the most legitimate?
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Originally Posted by
Dagan81 Which do you believe to the most legitimate?
based on money donated and programs has to be the NFL alumni group...and just IMo seems the 'retired players assoc" just made recently...can't find anything from 2010 or before on it..
My guess is demaurice smith behind it, and "resents" the NFL alumni assoc because gets funding from the NFL, and the "enemy" but that seems childish
Last edited by dabears54; 06-15-2011 at 08:43 AM.
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Originally Posted by
dabears54 based on money donated and programs has to be the NFL alumni group...and just IMo seems the 'retired players assoc" just made recently...can't find anything from 2010 or before on it..
My guess is demaurice smith behind it, and "resents" the NFL alumni assoc because gets funding from the NFL, and the "enemy" but that seems childish
In terms of activity, I would imagine that Ditka's group "Gridiron Greats" would be the most proactive group since they raise money to actually help retired players.
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Originally Posted by
Dagan81 In terms of activity, I would imagine that Ditka's group "Gridiron Greats" would be the most proactive group since they raise money to actually help retired players.
they get the most publicity, but below is one giving the most $$$
http://www.nflalumni.org/PlayerAdvoc...yBenefits.aspx
BTW here is another:
http://www.ifvconference.com/blog/tag/gridiron-greats/
CONFESSIONS OF A STRADDLER
I attended the Independent Football Veterans Conference in Las Vegas last week with conflicted feelings. I am a former professional football player, having played for the San Diego Chargers for ten years and the Oakland Raiders for two years. In that capacity, I am a member of the NFLPA Retired Players Section and send additional financial contributions to its Players Assistance Trust (PAT). I also maintain membership in the NFL Alumni and send additional financial contributions to its Dire Need Fund. I also am a supporter of Mike Ditka’s Gridiron Greats.
A fair question to ask ourselves: Why is it necessary to have so many organizations all professing to have the same common goal of improving conditions for retired players? We should not — we should have only one organization, but I will get to that later.
Before I address that question, I want to present an overview of the Conference from the perspective of a person who has attended many conferences and served in executive positions, having been President of the Retired Players Section of the NFLPA in the mid-80’s and having been the Founder and Past President of the Hall of Fame Players Association. This Veterans’ Conference was the most instructive and meaningful conference I have ever attended. I read a recent posting by Bob Grant regarding the Conference wherein Bob stated: “I am sorry to hear it did not come off well.”
THE IDEAL: MERGER OF NFL ALUMNI & NFLPA RETIRED PLAYERS
If I were an executive of the NFL, I would shake my head in wonder at the fragmentation of the retired players. We need one voice. Many players do not have the time, money, or patience to belong to two organizations, let alone three or more. We are in a unique position; no longer are we in the historic clash between employers and employees; now, we are in a clash against both our former employers and our union because we need their joint cooperation to obtain equitable benefits. We need to make peace with the NFLPA and to have the NFL Alumni as the surviving organization because of the value of its trade name and logo. The Alumni can become a division of the NFLPA with at least two votes. The licensing of the trade name and logo would produce sufficient revenue for us to be financially independent and also raise money to assist retired players that have needs not covered by existing programs.
Wishful thinking, yes, but if we can speak with one voice, the next retirement we can herald would be the retirement of the Independent Football Veterans because the IFV would no longer have a mission.
Until we reach this nirvana, I am going to support all three organizations
contin in link
Last edited by dabears54; 06-15-2011 at 09:13 AM.
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Originally Posted by
dabears54 It sounds like the NFLAA doesn't do enough to spread word about itself. They need more publicity.
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