RPA NewsroomWelcome to the RPA Newsroom. Here you will find the latest updates on RPA announcements and press releases, Union meeting updates, 2011 Lockout news and updates on the 2011 court proceedings.
11/30/2012
RPA Teams up with Center for Disease Control for National Influenza Vaccination Week (NIVW).On Friday November 30, 2012 NFL Retired Player Association (NFLRPA) Member and Hall of Famer Fred Biletnikoff of Oakland Raiders is personally supporting CDC by going to his local CVS to get his annual vaccination... Click here for the entire Press Release 5/3/2012Junior Seau PassingCarl Eller, President of the NFL Retired Players Association says All of the members of the NFL Retired Players Association mourn the unfortunate death of Junior Seau. Junior Seau will be missed by all who either played, or who enjoyed the games he played in. Without a doubt, Junior will be remembered as one of the greats who always gave his all on the field. His death will be a reminder of why the NFL Retired Players Association fought so hard during last years Collective Bargaining Agreement to address the specific issues that are so pertinent to the retired player. Eller is mindful that he is still awaiting decision on the class-action case against the NFLPA, where he asserted that the NFLPA short-circuited monies that were meant for the retired players. Eller says it is important that the courts see this as an opportunity to correct a situation that has gotten totally out-of-hand. This situation can only be remedied by putting the care and safety of all NFL players, both current and former, under one independent organization. Eller advocates that the NFL Retired Players Association be that conduit for improvements that need to be made. Eller went on to say, I am hopeful as well as encouraged that my appearance last week at the annual NFL Director of Player Engagement meeting in Philadelphia was well received and the outlook for our programs look very promising. I believe it is a giant step toward resolving many of these NFL player and retirement issues. 2/8/2012NFL Retired Players Association Announces Partnership with the Centers for Disease Control (CDC)Cambridge, MN Carl Eller, President and Founder of the NFL Retired Players Association, is pleased to announce the partnership with the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) to raise awareness on the dangers of concussions and other types of traumatic brain injuries (TBI). The national Kick-Off Event will be held today in Cambridge, MN and will be covered by KARE-11. Traumatic Brain Injury TBI is a serious public health problem in the United States. Each year, traumatic brain injuries contribute to a substantial number of deaths and cases of permanent disability. Recent data shows that, on average, approximately 1.7 million people sustain a traumatic brain injury annually. Heads Up: Concussion in Youth Sports
The NFL RPA will also be working in partnership with the CDC on other initiatives to raise awareness for other infectious diseases and issues which affect the retiree population. The NFLRetired Players Association is dedicated to providing powerful national advocacy and collegial support for retired professional football players, their families and the community at large. The NFL RPA's specific area of focus is player health and wellness. The NFL RPA provides financial assistance for members suffering from football related illnesses. Additionally, the NFL RPA lobbies nationally for more comprehensive medical benefits for retired athletes. 7/19/2011Eller Invited to New York to Meet with NFL and NFLPACarl Eller, President and Founder of the NFL Retired Players Association has been invited to New York to meet with the NFL and NFL Players Association regarding retiree benefits in the collective bargaining agreement. To read the full article click here 6/20/2011Retired Football Players June 20th Press ConferenceThanks to Jennifer Thibeaux and her crew, we now have the full video of our June 20th 2011 Retired Football Players Press Conference held at the Washington Press Club. To watch the entire Press Conference held in Washington D.C. on Monday June 20, 2011 - click here. 5/16/2011Union Press Release - 5/16/2011Carl Eller NFL Retired Players Association President calls Union Conference a Huge Success! Carl Eller, President and founder of the NFL Retired Players Association, (Representative in the Class Action suit against the NFL) held a Union Conferencein Minneapolis, MN on May 15, 2011. The Union brought together the largest collective group of representatives of retired NFL players ever assembled and unanimously supported the class action litigation brought by retired NFL players against the League and its member clubs that is now pending before Judge Susan Nelson in Federal Court in Minneapolis. Download the full press release here -
2/4/2011 The Future of the NFL Press ConferenceCarl Eller, President of the Retired Players Association, will be holding a press conference at the Union Pacific Railroad aboard a vintage passenger car, located at 2112 E. Randol Mill Road, Arlington, Texas on February 4, 2011 at 7:30am. The title of the press conference will be The Future of the NFL. Super Bowl XLV will be the last game played under the current collective bargaining agreement. The Union Pacific venue is highly symbolic because it reminds us of the significance of the past, and the role it plays in this years Super Bowl. This analogy can be applied directly to the plight of the retired players and their messages of reform to the NFL and the NFLPA. Eller, a former Minnesota Viking Defensive End and Pro Football Hall of Famer, will assert that the NFL and the NFLPA have for years, tried to minimize the value of the retired players and undermine their contributions to the history and prosperity of the league. The NFL and NFLPA have proven to be repeatedly ineffective and unwilling to administer benefits to the retirees. The NFLPA is currently outmatched and will be blindsided by the NFLs negotiating team. Mr. Eller will be sharing his insights into the current state of the NFL, the NFLPA, and the implications of operation without a collective bargaining agreement in place. Current players, including rookies in this years draft have no idea of what is at stake in the negotiations and that they risk losing billions of dollars at the bargaining table. This of course will affect the current players, who will soon be, and some already are, but do not know it, retired players.
Admission to the press conference is free, but seating is limited. There is a $35 charge at the door for the breakfast. Only those that have a confirmed seat will be admitted. Please contact to RSVP by Tuesday February 1, 2011 in order to receive your confirmation by Thursday February 3, 2011. No exceptions. The Press Conference guest list is limited to 40 participants who will be admitted on a first come, first serve basis according to the following format. Available Invited 20 Media, International, network, local TV, radio, digital 5 NFL Executives and team representatives 5 NFLPA, NFLA, Gridiron Greats, Fourth & Goal, Dignity After Football 5 Players and Player Agents 5 Professional and Dignitaries 5 Sponsors 12/4/2010RPA President to Present at International Boxing and the Brain Conference in PhilippinesCarl Eller, President of the Retired Players Association, will be presenting at the American Academy of Professional Ringside Physicians Conference in Manila, Philippines on December 4-5, 2010. [...]
Mr. Eller, a nationally acclaimed NFL Hall of Fame player, will be sharing his insights into the current state of the National Football League (NFL) and their ability to provide effective retirement and disability benefits for their retired players. For years, the NFL has turned a blind eye to the known impacts of repeated head trauma and has summarily rejected disability claims, including those relating to Alzheimers, ALS, dementia and depression. The NFL has only recently begun to acknowledge the significance of repeated head trauma and the relationship between those and other degenerative illnesses. While the NFL and the NFLPA has made some strides in recent years to improve the player care, there are still significant gaps.
8/1/2010Football Legend Carl Eller to Present Spirit of Canton Volunteer Organization AwardRPA President Carl Eller, Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2004, will present the first Spirit of Canton Volunteer Organization Award (Spirit of Canton Award) during next weekends Hall of Fame Enshrinement Festival. Lem Barney, Hall of Fame Class of 1992, will also announce the formation of the Retired Players Association, and legendary player [...]
The award acknowledges and honors volunteers who have made outstanding contributions to the sport of professional football and to their communities. It also serves to educate the public about the importance of professional football in our American heritage. The first award will go to select Hall of Fame Volunteers who have generously donated their time and talents to support the work of the Hall of Fame. The ceremony will be held Saturday, August 7, 2010, at 11:00 a.m. in the Minnesota Vikings Tent, 2121 George Halas Drive, Canton, OH. |
||
 |
||
To help ensure the health and safety of young athletes, the CDC has developed the Heads Up: Concussion in Youth Sports initiative to offer information about concussions to coaches, parents, and athletes involved in youth sports. The Heads Up initiative provides important information on preventing, recognizing, and responding to a concussion.
The highlight of the presentation will be the announcement of the Retired Players Associations heath care program SecuriCare, a national network of clinics and hospitals in pending partnerships with the Mayo Clinic, Johns Hopkins Hospital and Scripps Clinics. This network has collective assets that will bring billions of dollars of medical care and technology to the retired players. The Retired Players Association has already helped hundreds of retired players with severe and debilitating medical problems and is now rolling the program out to retired players nationally. SecuriCare will provide the retired NFL players a cohesive, easy-to-use, network of thousands of expertly trained and skilled medical professionals. This will create a prestigious health care network which is quite possibly the worlds best health care plan and is far superior to anything provided thus far by the NFL or the NFLPA. 
RPA President Carl Eller, Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2004, will present the first Spirit of Canton Volunteer Organization Award (Spirit of Canton Award) during next weekends Hall of Fame Enshrinement Festival. Lem Barney, Hall of Fame Class of 1992, will also announce the formation of the Retired Players Association, and legendary player Deacon Jones, Hall of Fame Class of 1980, will make the closing remarks.
