Interesting that Al Davis, a guy that is generally despised by the media and especially in the Bay Area, is the one guy that stands out in terms of helping aging players.

Although there’s always a remote chance of unforseeable, unrecoverable disaster striking, for the vast majority – no matter what your profession – when you net hundreds of thousands – or millions – annually, the only way you can wind up broke is by being a fool.

Also I have a question for James Hill,
what wrestlers died from heart failure due to steriods?

I quote the late Chris Farley, “Da Bearssss… Ditka… Sausage… Ditka… sausage… beersss… Ditka.”

Then again, I do appreciate what Mike Ditka does for retired players. The older players are my heros, and it’s good to reward a player who inspired the masses towards greatness.

Ditka is doing the right thing, but he’s going to the wrong source.

Further, I expect to see a rash of player deaths start in about ten years… along the lines of what happened to Waters (brain related) or what’s happened to a number of pro-wrestlers (heart related due to steroid use).

People make choices. If you want to play professional sports for a living, you’re aware of the health risks, you have to choose what’s most important.

Heck, that’s why so many athletes, when given the choice between professional baseball and football, choose baseball. They want to have some life to live after they’re done playing.

The Owners just shrug and say they are free agents and are responsible for their own retirement plan.