A couple weeks ago we noted that NFL Alumni president George Martin couldn’t get a meeting with NFLPA* executive director DeMaurice Smith to talk about the needs of retired players. That’s not the case anymore.
Martin sat down this week with Smith and NFLPA retired player advocates Nolan Harrison and Cornelius Bennett.
“I was very pleased that we as similar individuals who are retired NFL players eventually came together and talked about some of the things relevant and pertinent amongst us,” Martin told Alex Marvez of FOXSports.com and Sirius NFL Radio. “While I don’t think the results were what any of us would have anticipated, it nevertheless represented a good first step in us coming together and having dialogue. I think that’s the most important thing.”
Martin has been a longtime critic of active players, whom Martin sees as neglecting the retired players who paved the way for them. The active players working out a deal with the owners that improves retired players’ benefits to a level that will satisfy Martin is a long way off. But at least they’re talking.