NFL legends threaten Hall of Fame boycott unless league offers health insurance and annual salary

Sept. 18--Three New York football legends joined with their fellow Hall of Famers in demanding health care and a salary for all those enshrined in the Hall.

Joe Namath, Curtis Martin and Lawrence Taylor are among the players who sent a letter to NFL commissioner Roger Goodell, NFLPA executive director DeMaurice Smith and the president and executive director of the Hall of Fame, C. David Baker.

The letter -- obtained by multiple meida outlets Tuesday morning, including ESPN -- said that most of the living members of the Hall of Fame are planning to boycott next year's enshirenment ceremony in Canton, Ohio, unless their demands are met.

"We, the undersigned Pro Football Hall of Famers, were integral to the creation of the modern NFL, which in 2017 generated $14 billion in revenue. But when the league enshrined us as the greatest ever to play America's most popular sport, they gave us a gold jacket, a bust and a ring

-- and that was it.

People know us from our highlight reels. They see us honored and mythologized before games and at halftime, and it would be reasonable if they thought life was good for us. But on balance, it's not. As a group we are struggling with severe health and financial problems. To build this game, we sacrificed our bodies. In many cases, and despite the fact that we were led to believe otherwise, we sacrificed our minds.

We believe we deserve more. We write to demand two things: Health insurance and an annual salary for all Hall of Famers that includes a share of league revenue."

The players estimate that the cost of health coverage for all living Hall of Famers would cost the league less than $4 million per season.

As for getting paid, the players argue:

"Paying Hall of Famers an annual salary works out to about 40 cents for every $100 in annual revenue, a figure that will increase dramatically in the near future with legalized gambling."

The letter also calls out Goodell and his $40 million salary.

"Commissioner Goodell, there are better uses for that money."

The timing of the letter comes as the NFL begins planning its centennial anniversary.

"Until our demands are met, the Hall of Famers will not attend the annual induction ceremony in Canton. It's well-known that the NFL is celebrating its 100th anniversary in 2020, and while we are proud of our role in building this league, we don't believe 100 years of player exploitation is something to celebrate."

Eric Dickerson, who set the single-season rushing record with the Rams in 1984 (2,105), is leading the effort to organize the Hall of Famers.

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