With the Bad Comes the Good

We all know the saying "with the good comes the bad," right? Well does it have to be good before it can be bad? Or can a situation be bad, and turn to good? Kind of like saying what goes up must come down. But does that mean something can't start down and rise up? Just a thought.




Anyways, with all the saddening talk of Sean Taylor that has been dominating sports airwaives this week, we've missed a couple bright spots. Kansas City Chiefs O-Lineman Kyle Turley is stepping up and donating an entire game check to the 'Gridiron Greats' organization. He has challenged every player to donate at least a portion of their game check for this week to the cause. He has confirmed at least 20 players thus far, and is sending out a letter to every player in the league. Mike Ditka and Gale Sayers head the 'Gridiron Greats' organization which has petitioned the NFL and the NFLPA to increase disability benefits to not only current players, but former players as well.

This, ideally, helps former NFL players who are suffering from, and the lasting effects of, injuries sustained during their playing days. Some of these men don't have the means to pay for medical bills. The NFL, and the player's association doesn't want to give up more money than they already do to their former stars, and founding fathers of the game. There are players who have suffered, among many other things, concussions and have so many problems from chronic pain, to depression, to the point where a number have killed themselves. These former players suffer from injuries that leave them unable to join the work force. That shouldn't be a problem, because they made so much money playing ball, right? Well when you factor in the number of surgeries and other procedures that they need just to stay alive, some of these guys get completely wiped out financially.

Take Mike Webster, for example. He's a hall of fame center that played on the Steelers. He died, homeless, in 2002. He suffered from extreme mental illness which is attributed to injuries he suffered during his playing days. There are hundreds of stories similar to this one.

I'll be out on this Kyle Turley quote, which really hits the nail on the head:

"We make a lot of money playing this game and it's because of the guys that played before us. Are we going to wait until guys die? Are we going to wait until guys commit suicide before we make a difference and change this thing? If this system doesn't get fixed, no matter how much money you make ... you are a serious surgery away from being broke."