“NFL Is Representative of the Worst Business Practices”: 1 Day After Blockbuster Super Bowl, Lakers Icon Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Lashes Out

Fans and celebrities packed Phoenix arena for Super Bowl LVII on Sunday to witness the biggest event of the NFL season. The Kansas City Chiefs and Philadelphia Eagles had hearts racing as they battled into the night. At the end of the day, Patrick Mahomes’ astounding heroics led to his second title and the biggest football league on the planet completed yet another successful chapter.

It seems all is not well at the NFL however, as former players have come out with major allegations against the league. Writing in his Substack, veteran baller Kareem Abdul-Jabbar blasted the NFL for its poor conduct regarding stars who put their physique on the line for the sport.

Football is one of the most exciting sports and also serves as major entertainment in the USA. Two sides give it their all through the year in the hope of making it to the final stage. With all the show and buzz though, many forget the true risks. Players go through intense physical exertion every time they hit the ground. In a sport that has one bulldoze the other, the damage sometimes lasts way beyond one’s playing years. Recently, the NFL saw one such horrifying accident when Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin collapsed on the floor.

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Many others suffer from severe post-career physical and mental injuries. To protect such athletes, the league provides disability payments to those who qualify. A group of former stars, however, is suing the league alleging mismanagement with regard to disability pay. Grave accusations have been made against the NFL for having denied payments to injured athletes. Reacting to the lawsuit, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar revealed his stand backing the players.

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar blasts the NFL for horrific conduct against players

A group of 10 NFL players has filed a lawsuit against the league for its mismanagement of disability pay. It includes former star Willis McGahee and has listed out some disturbing practices in the league. The players are accusing the league of keeping doctors on payroll and okaying incorrect reports to deny injury claims. In McGahee’s case, doctors denied any impaired cognitive function while other medical professionals included it in their reports. A vocal advocate for justice Kareem Abdul-Jabbar was disgusted.

In his Substack, the Hall of Famer wrote, “The NFL is representative of the worst of business practices: inherent racism in hiring coaches, malicious neglect in protecting players from repeated serious injuries, and now cheating them out disability pay.”

As an athlete, Abdul-Jabbar is well aware of the risks. The six-time champion had a long and successful career in the NBA. Playing in arguably the more ruthless of eras, the legendary Los Angeles Lakers center surely endured several bang-ups, and in the NFL the scales are considerably heavier. Players suffer injuries that are far more serious than those from most other sports. Broken bones and effects on mental health are not uncommon. Players step on to the field knowing that the entire opposition is willing to run them over for a score. Unfortunately, life after the NFL comes with several complications for many talented players.

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The provision of disability pay is offered by the league for these understandable reasons. The claim in the present lawsuit ranges from an annual $65,000 to $26,500. NFL commissioner Roger Goodall who is also targeted in the suit claimed at a press conference that the decision would depend on the doctors and the joint board concerned. In two similar cases, federal judges have held the NFL accountable in the past. Pitifully, it seems that such practices still persist.

Abdul-Jabbar wants fans to support the players in their fight. Perhaps he will pave the way for a new player-fan synergy that is more conscious of the perils of mismanagement in the world of sport.