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NFL Players Retirement

Take It And Like It And Don’t Blog About It

The NFLPA does not want to hear any complaints about its pension policy from retired players.

Freedom of expression. It sounds good on paper, especially when that paper is the U.S. Constitution. Unfortunately for retired NFL players, that privilege is being taken away.

Apparently, many retired players have been keeping blogs (news to me) that contain a lot of posts about inadequacies with how the NFLPA treats former players. A memo that was sent out by the NFLPA’s director of retired players on March 30 declares that “any retired chapter deemed guilty of conduct detrimental to the union’s best interests” can be dissolved by the union and that chapter’s president may be removed [NFLPA rebukes critical retirees]. It may be interpreted that this was a direct strike at knocking down the blogs.

First of all, as a blog writer/editor myself, I am very angered by this event. I believe that everyone has the right to express their opinions. While the NFLPA is a union, and no one has a right to be a part of it, I think that this measure is way too restrictive in its nature. Retired players flatly think that the current pension benefits suck. Let them speak their mind.

With the NFLPA lending a blind eye to its retired players, there is an even greater cause to demand agent action early in one’s career. Agents need to be influential in planning a player’s post-sport career early in their clients’ lives. Once retired, clients may continue to need assistance from their agents. It is sad that the NFLPA seems to not care about its retired members enough to even let them voice their own opinions. As agents, we must always keep our ears open and listen to any problems that our clients may be experiencing. This is one area that the NFL needs to improve upon.

-Darren Heitner

By Darren Heitner

Darren Adam Heitner, Esq., is a preeminent sports attorney and the founder of Heitner Legal, P.L.L.C., a Fort Lauderdale-based law firm specializing in sports law, contract negotiations, intellectual property, and arbitration. He earned his Juris Doctor from the University of Florida Levin College of Law in 2010 and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science, magna cum laude, from the University of Florida in 2007, where he was named Valedictorian of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. Admitted to practice in the state bars of Florida, New York, and the District of Columbia, as well as multiple federal courts, Darren also serves as a certified arbitrator with the American Arbitration Association.

As an adjunct professor, Darren imparts his expertise through teaching Sports Law at the University of Florida Levin College of Law and Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) at the University of Miami School of Law in the Entertainment, Arts, and Sports Law LL.M. program. His scholarly contributions include authoring several books published by the American Bar Association, such as How to Play the Game: What Every Sports Attorney Needs to Know, and numerous articles in prominent publications like Forbes, Inc. Magazine, and Above the Law. His thought leadership in NIL has earned him recognition as one of the foremost experts by The Wall Street Journal, USA TODAY, and On3, and he has been lauded as a “power player in NIL deals” by Action Network and a “top sports trademark attorney” by Sportico.

Darren’s passion for sports law led him to establish Sports Agent Blog on December 31, 2005, initially titled “I Want To Be A Sports Agent.” The platform, created as a New Year’s resolution, has grown into a cornerstone of the sports agency community, offering in-depth analysis of industry trends, legal disputes, and agent-player dynamics. His commitment to the field is further evidenced by his representation of numerous athletes and sports agents, as well as his prior role as an Adjunct Professor at Indiana University Bloomington, where he developed and taught a course on Sport Agency Management from 2011 to 2014.

Darren’s contributions have been recognized with prestigious honors, including the University of Florida’s 40 Under 40 Award, the University of Florida Levin College of Law’s Outstanding Young Alumnus Award, and designation as the best lawyer in Fort Lauderdale by Fort Lauderdale Magazine. He remains an active voice in the sports law community, sharing insights through his weekly NIL newsletter and his X posts, engaging a broad audience on legal developments in sports.