The Bears are projected to have nearly $55MM in cap space this offseason, but they might have difficulty spending it if a new Illinois workers’ comp bill is passed. The bill, which the McCaskey family (owners of the Bears) is spearheading, would deprive injured workers – including professional athletes – of health care beginning at the age of 35. That isn’t sitting well with NFLPA executive director De Smith, who plans to discourage free agents from signing with the Bears if the bill passes.
“I will tell you from the bottom of my heart that this union will tell every potential free agent player, if this bill passes, to not come to the Bears,” he told 670 The Score on Friday (via Chris Emma of CBS Chicago). “Because, think about it, if you’re a free agent player and you have an opportunity to go play somewhere else where you can get lifetime medical for the injury you’re going to have, isn’t a smarter financial decision to go to a team where a bill like this hasn’t passed?”
Continued Smith: “This bill being sponsored by (senate Republican minority leader Christine Radogno) is being designed to target professional athletes and take away their right to health care that every worker in the state of Illinois is entitled to. The Bears’ owners are behind it as well, to beat the expense of the players who actually do all the work. They’re pushing the bill.”
As of now, the majority of permanently injured workers in Illinois can claim compensation benefits until the age of 67. The Bears aren’t on board with pro athletes receiving those benefits, though.
In a statement issued to 670 The Score, the team said: “We join the four other major professional Chicago teams in monitoring and supporting changes to the system that protect athletes’ rights under the workers’ compensation system while acknowledging athletes are not competing professionally until age 67. Nothing in the wage differential language under consideration impacts the right for any athlete to receive just compensation for partial or permanent injury, medical benefits or to file a claim itself.”
The Bears are “just being cheap,” per Smith, whose opinion could prove detrimental to the club if it attempts to delve into free agency in March.
On the flip side, Bears general counsel Cliff Stein told Patrick Finley of the Chicago Sun Times that the bill won’t have any impact on the team’s ability to attract free agents.
“There is no realistic fear there,” he said “We have a really strong relationship with agents, and we’re very transparent. Anytime any question would come up, we would show all the facts.
“The truth of the matter is, agents aren’t really going to listen to what Smith says in that regard.”
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Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
God damn it. Why does Chicago have the worst ownership situations (McCaskeys and Reinsdorf) in all of sports? They’re generally cheap, aren’t transparent, and take fans for granted. This past year has been a sh– show for the three franchises (Reinsdorf has the Sox too) controlled by these guys. Figure it the F out.
Yeah, I’m gonna have to say Woody Johnson, James Dolan, and whoever owns the Islanders have Chicago beat by a fair margin.
Seriously, The Cubs & Blackhawks finally got their ownership together, but the Bears, Bulls, & White Sox are just horrid.
Read more into it.. It’s more about a law that says they would have to pay them adjusted wages if they get hurt cant play anymore and need to get a ‘real’ job… which means thy would pay them the difference of what their salary is and what it would be if they were still playing….The law says you have to pay that until they are 67.. But that’s because that’s normal retirement age.. But athletes don’t play that long.. They want there to be a pro athlete clause that cuts it off at 35… Which I think is fair…. And btw all 4 teams in Chicago are in favor of it.. Including the Cubs…
If all team’s become a member of this they can believe the Fan’s will leave and no team’s will be able to play because without Fan’s No Money Will be made….#BEARDOWN#BULL’S#CUB’S#BLACKHAWKS _SOX
And how many fans will truly cease all action? It would not happen.
It’s ridiculous that taxpayers cover this cost.
Taxpayers don’t pay workers comp. It’s on the employer. That’s why the McCaskeys are spearheading it. Billionaires screwing their employees if they get hurt on the job. It’s cheap and disgusting.
De smith must be out of his mind to think a player should get workmans comp all the way to age 67. For the athletes who make league minimum those are the individuals maybe needing this more than your multi millionaire athletes. It’s not just the bears backing this change to happen it’s all of Chicagos major sports teams. Players will still have full coverage until the age of 35, which most players don’t play much past that age at a high level anyhow, unless they are freaks of nature. The players playing past 35 usually have made boatloads of money. so is this really necessary to pay an athlete until 67 years old? No it’s not. This is in place for the working class individuals who are unable to work because they blew out there back or get paid off and need the difference in salary to support there families.
Screw the McCaskeys.
link to chicagotribune.com
What the hell is with the Mccaskey’s? They are so f$’&:-n cheap. Sell the Bears Team to a family that knows about football. Get rid of TED PHILLIPS, and Mr. McCaskey bows down to his mommy that ownes the team and knows nothing. I hope when she’s gone, the the team will be sold. But most of my dreams don’t come true. God, what do you think Pace and Fox think about what they got into. They want a winning team but, don’t want to spend, screw the players after 35yrs old, even though 99% of the players get hurt. Part of the game. I CAN’T SAY THIS ENOUGH, I HOPE THEY SEE THIS, SELL THE TEAM ASAP. I BET THERE IS A PERSON THAT WOULD OVER PAY JUST TO GET ALL OF YOU OUT. FOX AND PACE ARE TRYING TO GET A GOOD TEAM PUT TOGETHER, BUT IF THEY DON’T WIN THE SUPER BOWL NEXT SEASON THEY WILL GET FIRED? I BET THEY WOULD MAKE MORE MONEY AT THE UNEMPLOYMENT OFFICE, THEN WORKING FOR THE Mccaskey’s.
SELL IT ASAP, GD
For the people defending this, no wonder working people get screwed over in this country. So because they make more than you, they don’t deserve protections that every other worker gets? Disability payments would cover you if you were a ditch digger or a CEO. So why is it different in your mind for these guys because there are a whole lot more jobs besides athletes who don’t keep doing what they do after a certain age. That’s about the most asinine anti-worker stance I’ve ever heard. So if a football player has irreparable brain damage, just suck it up. Never mind if they were more than likely one of the ones that hardly made millions of dollars and still have to live with a hip impingement or debilitating back or CTE. It’s not like the NFL is stepping up to the plate and taking care of them. Sometimes people in this country and their disdain for others really kind of suck out loud.
Considering all the issues football faces this is definitely a non issue. I think Smith is a fool for taking a stand on this issue
Most commenters don’t seem to understand this bill. Most states have this in place already. The NFLPA doesn’t get this. Illinois is going broke with the old law and many other problems.