Kramer’s cause expands

Jerry Kramer was doing another telephone interview on an NFL hot-button topic – benefits for retired players – when a friend whose car had run out of gas stopped by his Boise home. Kramer offered his keys and rummaged through his garage to find an empty gas can.

If only solving the dilemma facing downtrodden retired players was as easy. Kramer has been at the forefront of helping players who have fallen on hard times since last year when he established the Gridiron Greats Assistance Fund, a non-profit project that occupies much of his time.

His involvement in the cause is a story in itself. Many know Kramer, the former University of Idaho great, lost his Super Bowl I ring only to have it show up 25 years later on an on-line auction in 2006. Confronted by Kramer, Mastros Auction returned the ring and agreed to auction his replacement ring with proceeds establishing a fund to assist retired players in need.

What many may not know is that Kramer was moved to get involved after seeing several ex-Green Bay Packers teammates struggle in their retirement years.

“It’s like somebody else was planning things a little bit,” Kramer said. “The media had been hearing rumors and all kinds of talk about the problems and we finally just came out and said it stinks and it needs to be worked on and changed.”

Kramer, 71, cites former Packers teammates Herb Adderley and Willie Wood as examples. Both were inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in the 1980s.

“Willie probably has had eight to 10 operations, on both knees, both hips, high back, low back,” Kramer said. “He was really struggling, and the other guy was Herb.

“We always had a lot of charity events and he was always there and he’s a hell of a nice man. All of a sudden he doesn’t show up. People are trying to call him and no answer, no return calls. He said he didn’t like to fly any more. When he reached 62, he was down to $126 a month (NFL pension). He said he was so disgusted and angry that he refused to wear his championship ring and Hall of Fame ring. He said he didn’t need the money like some guys do, but if he relied on his pension he would damn sure be in that position.”

Kramer’s Gridiron Greats has held donation drives and on-line auctions, including several events at the last Super Bowl.

“We had a press conference in Miami and it was successful enough that the commissioner addressed the question in his press conference the next day,” Kramer said. “We were in 155 newspapers the next day.”

The issue reached a boiling point last month when NFL Players Association executive director Gene Upshaw made controversial comments toward Joe DeLamielleure, a Gridiron Greats board member who had complained about the lack of benefits. Upshaw has defended the union, telling the Los Angeles Times earlier this month that the current labor agreement bolstered pensions for retired players, including a 25 percent boost for vested, pre-1982 players.

“Gene has been his own worst enemy,” Kramer said about Upshaw’s comments about breaking DeLamielleure’s neck rather than inviting him to dinner. “He opens his mouth and sticks his foot in it. Well, thank you very much, Gene. We’re going to get a lot of mileage out of it and people are talking about the problem.”

Kramer is pushing for a solution. He’s encouraged by Commissioner Roger Goodell’s public comments about forming an alliance to deliver immediate assistance to ex-players in need. He’s encouraged by the public outcry following Upshaw’s comments.

A New York restaurant owner donated $10,000, his 1,000-seat restaurant and food for a fundraiser this fall. An NBA owner gave $100,000. A Las Vegas hotel is planning an auction/poker night. Actor James Caan wants to organize a golf tournament/dinner in Los Angeles. Kramer and Garth Brooks have discussed a Super Bowl event and splitting proceeds between their respective foundations.

“I really think we’ve made some headway,” Kramer said. “If they (NFL and NFLPA) change their attitude I see a great deal of promise, but they can’t be in that 1950s attitude of deny and avoid.”

Kramer wants three issues addressed: increasing retired players’ pensions; simplifying and expediting the process for disability claims; and immediate help for those in desperate need.

“It’s not a legal issue – it’s a moral issue and an ethical issue,” Kramer said. “The NBA went back and picked up the players from the 1960s and ‘70s and Bob Cousy said it wasn’t something they had to do, but something that was the right thing to do.”

Kramer isn’t sure how many retired players need help but judging by the amount of calls he fields, he knows it’s substantial.

“I decided (after auctioning his ring) I wasn’t going to be able to raise enough money to fix the problems. My goal is 90-10 – 90 percent awareness and 10 percent cash-raising,” he said. “It’s bittersweet. It’s nice to be doing something about a problem, but it’s painful as hell to see these guys in the condition they’re in.”