(BEFORE THE MESSAGE, WE WANT TO POINT OUT THAT DAF PIONEERED THE IMPORTANCE OF WIVE'S ISSUES AND THE DIFFERENT SET OF PROBLEMS THAT YOU COURAGEOUSLY FACE- WITH NO HELPLINE OR SUPPORT...

DAF WAS FOUNDED WITH WIVES AS BEING JUST AS IMPORTANT AS EX-PLAYERS AND THE MISSION OF CHANGING THAT INJUSTICE AND PROVIDING UNIQUE SERVICES TO ASSIST WIVES AND FAMILY MEMBERS..

DAF HAS HAD ON-STAFF FOR YOUR USE A PROMINENT AND RESPECTED

PROFESSIONAL LICENSED MARRIAGE FAMILY THERAPIST -MFT--

NO ONE ELSE HAS GONE TO THE EXTENT TO HELP WIVES OF NFL RETIREES AS DAF-

--PLEASE KEEP US IN YOUR HEART --

NFL RETIREE'S WIVES HAVE ALWAYS BEEN VITAL TO OUR MISSION

AND WE THANK YOU WIVES FOR YOUR STUBBORN SUPPORT)

---AND NOW, THE CHRISTMAS MESSAGE FROM BRENT BOYD----

Fellow NFL retirees AND YOUR WIVES AND LOVED ONES,

Dignity After Football (DAF) would like to thank you for your continued support and wish you and your's a very Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, and a great New Year.

we would also like to thank the members of the media and the United States Congress who have had the courage to expose the shameful acts of the NFL and NFLPA. We pray for your integrity and persistence. Our's is a group who will suffer mightily without your attention. God Bless you all.

DAF would also especially like to acknowledge and thank our brothers and sisters in this fight for dignity- all the other NFL retiree Advocacy groups and individuals. They do the tireless and selfless work of saints... we may all attack from different angles, but we are united as one team, with one goal as our focus. Thanks to all of these heroes.

We have a lot of work still to be done- unfortunately too many of you know exactly what I am talking about and are suffering needlessly as you read this. To accomplish your relief, we MUST unite into one democratic group, with the large loud voice of ALL NFL retiree's and your wives behind it.

so, again, thank you all for supporting me and DAF, we wish you nothing but the best in the future and a happy holiday season now.

and most of all,- to you the ex-player, your wives and families--- may you have a life with DIGNITY.

Gratefully,

Brent and Gina Boyd

www.dignityafterfootball.org

775-560-7746

Dec 21, 2008

Hear Dr. Eleanor Perfetto, Sylvia Mackey, Alan Schwartz of NY Times

on Public Radio's "On Point"

here are comments from host Tom Ashbrook

When the lights are up and the crowd is roaring, it’s all glorious mayhem in the National Football League. The power, the plays, the crunching hits and tackles.

But when the lights go down, the crowds go home, and careers end,

it’s often NFL wives left to pick up the battered pieces.

The toughest wounds to deal with: brain damage from repeated poundings and concussion on the football field. Retired players dealing with depression, memory loss, dementia. Big men reduced to helplessness.

This hour, On Point: NFL wives on the long trail of concussion on the field.

You can join the conversation. What do you think when you hear the crack of helmets on the football field? What about the brains, the men inside those helmets — and their wives?

-Tom Ashbrook

click here to listen to the program

Dec. 18, 2008

Wives and meetings with Goodell-

an issue PROUDLY first brought foreward by DAF

THE ISSUE 1ST BROUGHT ON WAS

BY OTHERS WHO WERE

WANTING ONLY THEIR ATTORNEY LET IN,

asking "why not let our attorney in?"

ONLY DAF ASKED "WHY NOT THE WIVES?"

THANK YOU TO ALL THE WIVES OF NFL RETIREES

WHO ARE SO ACTIVELY INVOLVED IN DAF

-YOUR CONTRIBUTIONS ARE INVALUABLE-

WE KNOW YOU WIVES HAVE A DIFFERENT SET OF ISSUES AS YOUR HUSBANDS,

WE HAVE A FAMILY THERAPIST ON STAFF JUST FOR YOUR QUESTIONS,

WE KNOW THAT WHAT EFFECTS YOUR HUSBAND EFFECTS YOU AND YOUR FAMILY-

AND WE AT DAF HAVE BEEN FIGHTING AND ADVOCATING

FOR YOU WIVES FOR YEARS NOW

OTHERS WERE ONLY CONCERNED ABOUT ATTORNEYS

OF ALL THINGS, NOT WIVES, BEING

LET INTO MEETINGS---

WE AT DAF ALONE

MADE

PHONE CALLS ASKING IF THE BAN ALSO APPLIED TO WIVES,

ESPECIALLY WIVES WHO HAVE HUSBANDS

WITH DEMENTIA OR ALHEIMERS

HERE ARE TWO EXCERPTS OF EMAILS THAT CAUGHT

THE MEDIA'S ATTENTION,

1ST IS A "FAKE LETTER" SUPPOSEDLY WRITTEN BY GOODELL-

BUT WRITTEN BY US-

(EMAILED NOV 4, 2008)

"from DAF- a special note to NFL retirees from Roger Goodell:

"Dear NFL Retirees,

We could have announced this Saturday's meeting in Chicago weeks ago,

just as we could easily release to you our intended schedule for the remainder of this year's meetings today.

However, in doing so, we run the risk of higher attendance,

as well as the frightful prospect of having in attendance those

who are actually affected by the issues to be discussed.

We have already disallowed spouses to attend in place of their dementia diagnosed husbands.

But yet we remain steadfastly fearful of fielding some actual tough questions, questions that may contain real facts

and to see living examples to back them up.

So you will be kept in the dark until further notice.

You see, had we announced the meeting this Saturday Nov. 8th weeks ago,

it would have been more convenient and affordable for you to attend.

It would be the "right" and merciful thing to do. (we don't roll that way...)

By operating THIS way, only NFL retirees who have the financial means to travel at the last minute will be able to attend.

Sans attorneys. Obviously the demographics of this un-lawyered jet-set group are more

favorable to us

and, frankly,

a lot less grumpy than the thousands of you who are suffering mightily from your NFL injuries,

poverty level pensions, and from our insistence on denying you your rightful disability benefits.

I mean, who wants to face THAT crowd, am I right?"

(end excerpt)

THE SECOND EMAIL THAT THE MEDIA READ BUT NOT THE LOUDEST ADVOCATES TODAY--

(EMAILED NOV. 8, 2008)

"Fellow NFL Retirees and your loved ones:

We at Dignity After Football (DAF) are diligently working to improve our fate as NFL retirees and trying to ensure the NFL and NFLPA live up to any promises made, as are many other distinguished groups and individuals.

Today I am asking for your help in gathering some statistical and anecdotal information following today's meeting of NFL retirees and Roger Goodell in Chicago.

We need the help of both ex-players AND your wives/loved ones.

If you attended today's meeting, please email me ASAP at bboyd62@aol.com.

Your replies will be kept confidential (remember I turned in over 600 heartfelt personal letters from NFL reitirees to the U.S. Congress and not ONE word from any letter has been leaked or used for promotional purposes. Also, since Day One, all of our emails from DAF have been sent "blind copy" in order to protect your identity.)

Specifically, we need immediately the following info:

1 - Who attended the meeting, whether ex-players, NFL execs or NFLPA representatives, or others, etc

2 - How do you feel the meeting went? What was discussed?

3 -We are of upmost concern that the wife of ANY former player was denied entrance, but even more specifically-- -were any wives who's husband is diagnosed with dementia denied entrance? Did you wives even know about this meeting, were you given advance notice? If you knew of the meeting, would you have attempted to attend? Or if you did know, were you discouraged from attempting to attend by the NFL's notice given that no wives or family members would be allowed? We need to know all of this please.

4 - Did they say when or if the next meeting will be held? Was a schedule of future meetings released?

5 -Lastly, please feel free to give any other comments you have about today's meetings or suggestions for future meetings.

Thank you for your help and participation. Your information will go a long way to improve the lives of NFL retirees- while they are still living! As opposed to the NFL/NFLPA's longstanding policy of "Delay, Deny, and Hope We Die". Thank you for reading and thanks in advance for your emails.

Please forward this to all ex-players on your email address book. Remember.... United We Stand--Divided We Fall

Brent Boyd

www.dignityafterfootball.org

bboyd62@aol.com

775-560-7746

(end of email)

Dec 11, 2008

DAF Logo used by Examiner

NFL and union will cough up $100

a month towards Medicare supplement

4 comments December 9, 3:17 PM

by Paula Duffy, Sports Examiner

Dignity After Football logo (in Examiner)

Don't get me started on the latest magnanimous gesture of the NFL. And I say that with all the sarcasm I can muster.

The league has been humbled by the plight of retired players who have a difficult time making ends meet, keeping a roof over their heads and getting necessary medical care. They believe that most of that care is related to the toll on their bodies from their years in the NFL.

We have heard Mike Ditka speak on the subject as well as former Packer great Jerry Kramer. Wives of retired players like Sylvia Mackey have taken center stage at times to raise awareness about the condition of their husbands.

The league and its union have pitted the active players against the retirees by insisting that the money for needy older men must come from the the salary cap numbers that apply to those on NFL rosters today. That has caused undue stress between the active union members and the men who claim they gave up their bodies so that the youngsters can make millions a year. It's not pretty.

The former head of the NFL Players Association, the late Gene Upshaw was from that older generation of former players and the animus that existed between him and some of his former teammates was palpable. The league and union, in the last few years have established some programs to address the needs of players with dementia and those who require joint replacement.

But the biggest issue for the retired players who are approaching or already at the age of 65 has always been medical coverage. In its latest move to try and satisfy that vocal group, the union and league announced a monthly stipend for all players over the age of 65 and who are fully vested in the pension plan. It is to be used towards a Medicare supplemental plan. If you know anything about the cost of medication today, that small stipend doesn't get you very far. But as the league likes to say, it's better than anything that other sports organizations offer their retired players well after they have retired.

What they never seem to want to address is the difference between the shape of one's body after a career, no matter how long, in the NFL vs. say Major League Baseball.

http://www.examiner.com/x-426-Sports-Examiner~y2008m12d9-NFL-and-union-will-cough-up-100-a-month-towards-Medicare-supplement

Dec 2, 2008

Players Inc trial

OPENING STATEMENTS

thanks to lead attorney Ron Katz for selecting info for you to read-

today, here is Day 2 of the trial

Read the great Opening Statement by Peter Parcher!

--Also, Clifton McNeil begins his testimony

click here for transcripts

Dec 1, 2008

SF TRIAL TRANSCRIPTS

THANKS TO LEAD ATTORNEY RON KATZ--

DAY ONE OF TRIAL

JURY SELECTION

CLICK HERE FOR TRANSCRIPTS

Nov 26, 2008

BRENT BOYD APPEARS LIVE

ON BLACK ATHLETES SPORTS NETWORK

(BASN)

FOOTBALL REPORTERS ONLINE SHOW

LEGEND LEONARD MARSHALL AND

LIFFERT HOBLEY ALSO APPEAR

CLICK HERE TO LISTEN TO THE SHOW,

BOYD APPEARS AT ABOUT THE 50 MINUTE MARK

Nov 25, 2008

INDIANA UNIVERSITY STUDENT PAPER WRITES

ONE OF BEST EVER REPORTS ON NFL RETIREES' PLIGHT.

ABOUT BRENT BOYD, AND ANDRE WATERS' SUICIDE

"CARRIED OFF IN A COFFIN"

(excerpt)
What would it be like to play God? The NFL might know.

If I were God, I would do three things: end world hunger, cure all forms

of cancer

and give Brent Boyd $960,000 dollars.

Boyd is a former offensive lineman for the Minnesota Vikings.

He only played seven seasons, but he should have played more.

To say Boyd was smart is to say that Helen of Troy was average-looking....

And while the health of its former players have declined,

the NFL has skyrocketed in dollars and demand.

It has the highest revenues of the four major sports, earning nearly $6 billion a year.

The NFL's latest contract, which will run until the end of 2011,

will bring in $3.7 billion a year for television rights alone.

But they won't pay Boyd a dime more than $1,550 per month.

He deserves the minimum $4,000 that retired players receive if they can prove

that their disabilities stem from football-related injuries.

If I were God, Boyd would receive $960,000 -- for the 20 years the NFL has ignored his paralyzed pleas.

The NFL turned its back on Waters, too. The repercussions of concussions

were too much for him. He finally gave in, as Boyd's teammate had once put it,

the only way an NFL player can.

Waters was carried off in a coffin, having done as he was told.

click here for Indiana U story "Carried off in a Coffin"

Nov. 24, 2008

JEFF NIXON WRITES LETTER TO NFL RETIREES

RE:GLA'S AND LICENSING

PLEASE READ!!

an excerpt:

"Obviously, the revenue generating capacity of current superstar players

and Hall of Fame players is greater than that of most players both active

and retired, but all of them would acknowledge that football is a team sport

and that their achievements on the field could only be made possible

by the hard work and contributions of their teammates.

When the NFLPA first issued the GLA's, I thought that

they were finally recognizing this fact.

Unfortunately, they did not follow through with their end of the agreement.

please click here to read Jeff Nixon's important letter

Nov. 19, 2008

A Developing EA Sports Scandal?

Players, Inc. helped Electronic Arts buy rights to the likenesses

of nearly 150 Hall of Famers for far less than those rights are worth.

by Peter Keating

ESPN MAG'S PETER KEATING

WRITES ABOUT HOW EA

SCREWED HOF'ers

OUT OF MONEY IN A BELOW-MARKET-VALUE

SECRET DEAL

- IT ALSO PUT THE COMPETITION OUT OF BUSINESS

We sent an email with the attachment containing

all the pertinent emails, courtesy of

Ron Katz...

if you missed that email, let me know and I will send it to you

write me at bboyd62@aol.com for a copy

click here for Peter Keating's ESPN Article

Nov. 16, 2008

"THE SMOKING GUN LETTER"

as called by lead attorney Ron Katz,

this is one of the most important pieces of evidence

in the SF trial between retired NFL players v NFLPA/ Players Inc

This is a letter from Players Inc (NFLPA) Asst. VP Lashun Lawson

to Electronic Arts (EA) - the makers of the Madden video games,

warning them not to use actual "real" retired players,

but to scramble identities instead,

in order to prevent having to pay the retired players

Remember, Madden games have 143 "vintage" teams,

made up of you retirees from decades past, and only 32 "current" teams

please click here to read this letter

Nov 15, 2008

RON KATZ, LEAD ATTORNEY, SENDS

DIGNITY AFTER FOOTBALL

A COPY OF THE CLOSING ARGUMENTS-

IN HIS WORDS---

"Fyi attached is closing argument that generated $21 million in punitive damages"

After the Jury found for the Plaintiff's, the next and last hearing was on Punitive damages.

The jury had already awarded $7.1 mil, but would they add to that figure with Punitive damages

to set an example for ALL Unions not to behave in this type of malicious misconduct?

Or would they award nothing additional?

This is Ron Katz argument that added the additional $21 mil in punitive damages

to the existing $7.1 mil, giving us a total of $28.1 mil-

a VERY strong message sent by the jury, thanks to Katz' closing comments

click here to read Katz' closing argument

Nov.14, 2008

RON KATZ' STATEMENT TO NFL RETIREES

WE HAVE RECEIVED COUNTLESS EMAILS SINCE WE RELEASED

THE LIST OF MEMBERS OF THE CLASS ACTION SUIT-

MANY ARE ASKING, "WHY WASN'T I INCLUDED? WHY WERE SOME OF MY TEAMMATES WHO

PLAYED ONLY A YEAR INCLUDED; WHAT WAS THE CRITERIA FOR BEING INCLUDED; AND MOST IMPORTANTLY,

WHAT WAS THE CRITERIA FOR GETTING A GROUP LICENSING AGREEMENT (GLA) TO SIGN FROM THE NFLPA

IN THE FIRST PLACE? IS IT TOO LATE TO ADD MY NAME? ETC

IN ORDER TO HELP REPRESENT RETIRED PLAYERS, WE AGAIN CONTACTED LEAD PLAINTIFF ATTORNEY

RON KATZ

AND ASKED HIM TO PROVIDE DAF WITH A STATEMENT ADDRESSING THSE QUESTIONS

WE THANK MR. KATZ FOR HIS PROMPT REPLY, AND FOR ALL HIS

DEDICATED WORK IN WINNING THIS CASE

REMEMBER, WE WERE NOT PART OF THIS CASE, WE ARE JUST

HELPING IN COMMUNICATIONS WITH RETIREES AND ACTING AS YOUR REPORTERS

AND NOW, THE STATEMENT FROM RON KATZ TO DIGNITY AFTER FOOTBALL-------

, " to Brent Boyd,

The list of those who signed GLA's that were effective between February 14, 2004 and February 13, 2007

was provided to the class action law firms by the NFLPA. The class action law firms

then retained a professional

mailing firm to send first-class letters to those 2074 players on the list,

who then had until August 15, 2008

to opt out of the class.

Twelve players opted out.

The NFLPA decided who received GLA's. From the evidence, it appears that

the union made solicitations of retired members to sign GLA's from time to time,

both by mail and at meetings of retired players.

The class list is now a public record. If someone has a signed GLA for the relevant period

but is not on the list, the class lawyers will make the Court aware

of that and will ask that that person be included."

(end of statement)

Nov. 13, 2008

HERE IT IS, WHAT YOU'VE ALL BEEN ASKING-

"WHO IS INCLUDED IN THIS CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT?"

A Dignity After Football exclusive report

Here is your first look at the entire class list, given to Dignity After Football

today by lead Plaintiff Attorney Ron Katz (thank you, Mr. Katz)

we have received countless inquiries to see who was included.

I was NOT, for example.

We were not a part of this case, we just reported the facts to you.

Special thanks to Herb Adderly for being lead plaintiff and painfully

sitting and suffering thru the trial , with Dignity,

and thanks to attorneys Ron Katz and Peter Parcher

and their wonderful support teams.

Now, we have the pleasure of being the first to announce to you

the members of the Class Action suit v NFLPA/Players Inc.:

click here to see the full official list, see if you are included

Nov.12, 2008

New York Times reports on NFL retirees & NFLPA

Brent Boyd speaks to the New York Times

distinguished writed Alan Schwartz

"Court Verdict for N.F.L. Retirees Starts New Era"

by Alan Schwartz

"One retired player, the former Minnesota Vikings lineman Brent Boyd,

said on Tuesday that he hoped a new era of cooperation could be forged, p

articularly in the wake of the death of the longtime union chief Gene Upshaw in August. Upshaw,

whose replacement has not been selected, had been a lightning rod for criticism by retirees.

“I think definitely it will have ripple effects,” Boyd said of the verdict. “I’m hoping it will cause some fresh thinking

and cooperation with retired players instead of all-out war,

which is what we’ve been getting.”

click here for full NY Times article

or-

if that link forces you to a subscription,

click here for a copy

Nov.11, 2008

Los Angeles Times reports on Players Inc. verdict

(Greg Johnson reporting)

"If you do the math, it comes out to $13,000 per class member," said Ron Katz, the Bay Area attorney

who represented 2,062 former NFL players, including 17 Hall of Fame members.

"I think the former players are going to be very satisfied."

However, the lawyers and judge must still decide how to divvy up the award,

some of which will go toward paying attorneys.

Herb Adderley, the former Green Bay Packers great and Hall of Fame member

who initiated the class-action lawsuit more than two years ago,

said Monday that the financial award will

"help a lot of guys, and, hopefully, change the union's ways of taking advantage of the retired players."

Katz said that language in the counts that jurors found the union to be guilty of included such phrases as

"malicious and oppressive conduct with evil motive," and

"conduct that was outrageous and grossly fraudulent."

"I couldn't have said it better myself," Adderley said.

The jury's verdict "opens the door for Congress to revisit the many wrongful denials of disability benefits,"

said former Minnesota Vikings player Brent Boyd, who wasn't part of the class-action lawsuit but has been lobbying in Washington

for a federal investigation into how the union and league treat former players.

click here for full LA Times story

Nov. 10, 2008

4:50 p.m. Pacific time

Retired NFL Players Get $28.1M,

Including $21M in Punitives

Dignity After Football was the first

to report this great news to NFL Retirees-

visit us for the latest news and opinions

click here for story

Nov. 4, 2008

GOODELL ANNOUNCES MEETING WITH RETIREES

IN CHICAGO ONLY A DISGRACEFUL

5 DAYS IN ADVANCE

the meeting is in Halas Hall this Sat. Nov 8,

--the cowards refuse to give advance notice,

they don't want us to attend-

but gleam rave reviews for the meetings anyway

from media

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