Compare MLB Don Fehr vs NFL Gene Upshaw pension comparison

SMALL AMENDMENT: THE TAGLIABUE/UPSHAW TRIP TO EUROPE WAS IN MAY 2006 BUT HIS OWNER "LOCKOUT" "WORKSTOPPAGE" HYPE FOR 2008 THE YEAR HIS EMPLOYMENT CONTRACT ENDS, IS RIGHT ON TARGET.

NEW EDITION: Here is a comparison of Major League Baseball's pension plan to our Bert Bell/Pete Rozelle NFL Player Retirement Plan. This gives us a concrete way to figure out where we really stand. Upshaw and NFL spokesperson Greg Allieo have begun telling the media that "We pay out nearly $5 million a month of benefits" which in itself relates to nothing, well MLB pays out "nearly $7 million a month of benefits."

Note: Upshaw's $11.2 million contract runs out in 2008 so he is telling the media (Boston Globe, Philladelphia Dailey News) there is going to be a "bitter" lockout in 2008 and the NFLPA needs a heavy strike fund. The great labor peace he brought about in March 2006 is already over and the active players have to begin preparing for the inevitable 2008 labor battle the owners are going to start. I thought only 2 owners voted against the CBA.

Upshaw and his buddy Tagliabue don't have to be traveling together to cook up a little strategy for Upshaw? The Pres is more important and gains power during War time like 2008 labor battles, but with all this new peace and harmony Upshaw will have to stir up or correograph something sort of like the 2006 CBA negotiations.

Again...If you guys have any suggesstions or more information to add email it to me.

Donald Fehr makes $1 mil and the NFL active players pay Upshaw $3 mil to produce half what Fehr produces for the MLB players. Think about that active players you pay 3 times as much for half the results.

1) Total Pay out annual benefits MLB $80.9 mil* vs. NFL $50.58 mil
2) Average annual benefit MLB $34,890 vs. NFL $14,451
3) Monthly benefits paid (nearly) MLB $7 mil vs. NFL $5 mil
4) 10 yr player at 62 gets MLB $175,000 vs. NFL $32,000
5) Percent total salaries in benefits MLB 5.5% vs. NFL 2.2%
6) Participants included (21% diff.) MLB 7,560 vs. NFL 9,560
7) Active players covered MLB 1,200 vs. NFL 1,800
8) Investment income MLB **** vs. NFL $54.7 mil
9) Assets available for benefits MLB $1.083 Bil vs. NFL $1 Bil ***
10) Current liabilities MLB $2.3 billion vs. NFL $1.04 billion
11) Ave player salary MLB $2.8 mil vs. NFL $1.25 mil
12) Median salary MLB $1.1 mil** vs. NFL $631,675
13) Exec. Director Salary MLB $1 mil vs. NFL $3 mil
14) Both plans are defined benefit plans despite the misinformation given out by the NFLPA. Both Plans mark form 5500 page 2 item 8(a) Characteristics Code, as 1B and 1G the same.
15) Number monthly benefits checks MLB 2,319 Vs NFL 3,500
16) Both Plans meet the minimum funding requirements of ERISA.

· *If NFL paid out $80.9 mil as MLB does the average annual benefit would be $23,114 instead of the sub-poverty level benefit of $14,451.
· **Florida Marlins median salary $1.1 mil, Yankees median salary $5.8 million.
· ***Upshaw said in a May 16, 2006 telephone conference call that the “net assets available for benefits had grown from the $841,761,127 in the financial statement to over $1 billion now.
· **** MLB's investment income appears to be more than NFL's.