“You don’t care about these kids,” Garrett Bush gives a BRUTAL reality check around Damar Hamlin’s situation
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Garrett Bush gives a harsh reality check
The Damar Hamlin situation has given us a harsh reality check. As the safety for the Buffalo Bills fights for his life in the ICU, the ugly side of being a professional athlete has once again reared its head. For years, the NFL has had cases of athletes suffering gruesome injuries which have completely changed their lives and impacted them negatively. While injuries to the head are the worst, CTE is the most prominent. However, once the athletes are done playing or unable to take the hits any longer, nobody cares or asks them about their situation.
In light of these issues, Garrett Bush spoke his heart out recently on his podcast, Barbershop, bringing the brutal truth of this grim situation to light. “He’s 24 years, he’s got a contract for $160,000, and he earns $825,000 this year… guess what he’s been in the league 2 years…that means he’s not invested, if he never plays another down in his life, he doesn’t get another cheque from the NFL. Let’s be clear about this, you gotta play for 3-4 years before you even sniff a pinch. All these heartwarming prayers and condolences do nothing for that mom.”
In referring to Damar Hamlin‘s mom, Bush elaborates, “She has to go home and look at her son and he might need extensive care for the rest of his life… the NFL will tell you, ‘We’ll look out for people like him.’ No, you won’t.” Bush then addresses the NFL’s disability policy which is rather shocking.
Related: “He’s ok,” Zac Taylor reveals his conversation with Tee Higgins after collision with Damar Hamlin
Garrett Bush is furious over the way retired and injured NFL players are treated by the league:
The NFL’s disability policy has taken a major step back. After the last collective bargaining agreement, the amount offered under the policy was reduced from $22,000 to $4,000. That is a major step back. The league has an extensive screening policy as well. It has its own private board of doctors, neurologists, and other medical experts who take a detailed look at the request of players when they apply for benefits under the disability scheme.
Even if a player is classified as disabled by the United States Government and is eligible to avail of the social security schemes, it does not automatically mean the NFL will also allow them to avail of benefits under the disability policy. “Since the CTE settlement, only 6.5% of the settlement has been paid according to the admin’s website and 60% of the claims have a qualifying diagnosis but have not been paid,” Bush brings up some facts.
“My question to you, the NFL is when do salaries become guaranteed? If you know these young men are going out there and these young men could die on that football field, I don’t give a damn what your thoughts and prayers are. Do the right thing…this is a savage sport and men are dying every week.”
After a player is injured and cannot play any longer, his career is over, and from a financial standpoint, it becomes hell. “You’re not going to pay that man’s tuition for his kids, you’re not going to give him no disability money. All you do is collect big cheques..y’all don’t care about these kids. These young black kids is putting on the line and you’re telling them what they put on the line ain’t worthy because you know why, because you don’t want to pay for somebody that’s broken and battered because it costs you money. It is all about money.”
Bush believes it is high time that owners are held accountable, as they are worshipped when their teams succeed. “All this stuff, you ain’t talked about what this boy will go through, this kid could be damaged for the rest of his life and we talk about making up games.” Garrett Bush’s comments are astonishingly true and it is ridiculous that these players have to beg for something like basic healthcare benefits. Hopefully, this situation improves, and the NFL begins to treat the players better.
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Sumedh Joshi
(2235 Articles Published)