It holds the greatest names in football history, not only players but coaches, franchise owners, and front-office personnel. The Pro Football Hall of Fame is one of the most important halls in sports history. That is why the Hall of Fame committee used its platform to boycott a regulation by the National Football League.
The HOF committee wants the league to provide all 180 members with free healthcare and $300,000 in salary per year.
On Sept. 18, board member Eric Dickerson and others individuals sent a signed letter to the National Football League demanding the retraction of the yearly HOF ceremony. The signees went as far as threatening with a boycott.
“We believe we deserve more. We write to demand two things: health insurance and annual salary for all Hall of Famers that includes a share of league revenue,” wrote Dickerson and the signees.
The committee is protesting because they feel exploited for their names without a fair share of the profit. The NFL made $14 billion in revenue in 2017 and the 180 members hardly saw the benefits.
There are a couple of reasons why I would disagree with the demands and claims of the HOF committee. First reason, these players have been paid for their service. Actually, they are very well compensated in my opinion. Now, of course, as an athlete when making a lot of money people try to swindle you and trusting people with handling your money is tricky, but why should the NFL overextend itself? If this was the case, then every company would have to continue paying their former employees for the rest of their lives. For a company to do that it wouldn’t make sense.
The second reason? Some HOF athletes have great jobs like Shannon Sharpe, Ray Lewis, Brian Urlacher, and Terry Bradshaw. It would be excessive spending if the NFL did pay them an additional $300,000 and free health care.
Regardless of my disagreement, I can see the other side where HOF athletes have given dedication and time to the NFL. They have given the league a legacy that has been instilled in the sports culture across the country.