Dave Duerson’s Bankruptcy and Andrew Stewart’s Case Against the NFL Retirement Plan

Stir into the stew of the second stage of the consideration of Dave Duerson’s suicide this Miami New Times report on the recent posthumous settlement of his bankruptcy:

“Dave Duerson’s Assets Were Worth a Grand Total of $19,500 at Death,” http://blogs.miaminewtimes.com/riptide/2012/03/dave_duersons_assets_were_wort.php

(Deadspin.com first pointed to the Miami New Times story.)

Also take a look at former pro footballer Andrew Stewart’s progress report on his lawsuit against the Bert Bell / Pete Rozelle NFL Retirement Plan:

“Andrew Stewart: We ARE All Dog Food to the NFL,” http://davepear.com/blog/2012/03/andrew-stewart-we-are-all-dog-food-to-the-nfl/

These two threads intersect at Duerson’s presence on – and absent from – the board of the retirement plan, which rules on ex-players’ claims for disability benefits. Duerson served on the board and rubber-stamped many rejections. He didn’t pass on Stewart’s file, because Duerson was not at the August 2010 board meeting at which the Stewart appeal was heard. The NFL gave Alex Marvez of FoxSports.com, and then me, conflicting and confusing explanations of Duerson’s whereabouts through this period, six months before his February 2011 suicide.

Irv Muchnick

Concussion Inc.’s ebook DUERSON is available on Amazon Kindle at http://amzn.to/wGbxHd, or as a PDF file by sending $1.49 via PayPal to [email protected].