A 144-page report released by the Congressional Research Service on Wednesday echoes what retired football players have been saying for years: The disability plan run by the NFL and its players union is broken and requires a major overhaul.
House Judiciary Committee chairman John Conyers said his panel will hold additional hearings on the disability plan and explore possible legislation.
"I commend the NFL and NFLPA for having taken some affirmative steps since our last hearing, but in my view they still fall short of the goal line," said the Michigan Democrat. "This report identifies major concerns about the long-term health of NFL players that demand further attention."
A House Judiciary subcommittee requested the report after conducting a hearing on the disability plan in June 2007.
"I'm very gratified that Congress took a thorough look at our issues and validated the criticisms we've made of this flawed system," said Brent Boyd, the former Minnesota Viking who testified about his debilitating injuries at that hearing.
The report notes that former players say accessing health benefits is a frustrating and difficult process. It also concluded that the NFL's health-care system is plagued by a variety of conflicts of interest, since team physicians must balance players' health concerns with pressure from coaches and owners who expect athletes to play when they are hurt.
The report also says that the injury rate for NFL players was nearly eight times higher than that of any other pro sports league. Despite the dangerous nature of the game, neither the NFL nor the Players Association maintains data on the number of players forced into retirement because of injuries.
The NFL said in a statement that it has already taken several steps to address the medical needs of its players in conjunction with the Players Association.
"We appreciate chairman Conyers' recognition of the positive steps that we have already taken with the NFLPA to address the medical needs of our players. Earlier this month, additional significant improvements in our medical and disability benefits took effect. We look forward to reviewing the report and to continuing our efforts to identify additional opportunities to enhance the health and safety of our players and the benefits available to our retirees and their families."
A Players Association spokesman did not return calls for comment.
Former Chicago Bears coach Mike Ditka, a vocal critic of the NFL's disability program, said he welcomed congressional intervention.
"There are a lot of problems with it," said Ditka, a member of the board of directors of Gridiron Greats, a Green Bay-based nonprofit group that provides social services to former players. "They have to fix the system."
