Retirees Look for New Start at NFLPA

In the April 13, 2009, issue of Street and Smith's Business Journal, Zuckerman Spaeder partner Cy Smith discussed the election of the new executive director of the National Football League Players Association (NFLPA) in an opinion column. His article, "Retirees Look for New Start at NFLPA," urges the new executive director to reverse existing NFLPA policies and provide adequate support to retired and disabled players.

In 2007, Mr. Smith helped the family of the late football great Mike Webster win a multimillion judgment in retroactive benefits and other relief from the Bert Bell/Pete Rozelle NFL Player Retirement Plan. The case was the first-ever win against the NFL pension plans, and paved the way for public, media, and federal legislative scrutiny of the benefits available to retired players. Mr. Smith testified on this subject on June 26, 2007, before the U.S. House Judiciary Committee and appeared on HBO and ESPN to discuss the NFL’s pension plan.