BOYCOTT THREAT
Pro Football Hall of Famers demand health insurance and share of NFL revenues.
A group of Pro Football Hall of Famers led by Eric Dickerson is demanding health insurance coverage and a share of NFL revenue or those former players will boycott the induction ceremonies. In a letter sent to NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, NFLPA executive director DeMaurice Smith and Hall of Fame President David Baker — and obtained by The Associated Press — 21 Hall of Fame members cited themselves as “integral to the creation of the modern NFL, which in 2017 generated $14 billion in revenue.”
Among the signees were Dickerson, who is listed as chairman of the newly created Hall of Fame Board the group has formed, Jim Brown, Joe Namath, Lawrence Taylor, and Sarah White, the widow of Reggie White.
“The time has come for us to be treated as part of a game we’ve given so much to,” the letter states. “Until our demands are met, the Hall of Famers will not attend the annual induction ceremony in Canton.”
The strongly worded letter called out the league for paying Goodell $40 million, saying “there are better uses for that money.”
Kurt Warner, whose name is on the letter, released a statement on Twitter that said he wasn’t made aware of the letter and his name was mistakenly put on it. He said he supports the efforts for better benefits for all retired players but doesn’t believe in boycotting the Hall of Fame.
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