Eric Dickerson Speaks on 'Miscommunication' With Jerry Rice and Kurt Warner Over Hall of Fame Boycott

Hall of Fame Board Chairman Eric Dickerson offered more details on the threat of a boycott, including how much Hall of Famers should make in salary each year, and issues with Jerry Rice and Kurt Warner.

September 19, 2018

Pro Football Hall of Fame Board chairman Eric Dickerson went on Twitter to explain why he thinks Hall of Famers should make $300,000 a year and receive health insurance. He also blamed himself for the "miscommunication" when two of the player signatories on the original letter to commissioner Roger Goodell—Jerry Rice and Kurt Warner—did not agree to a boycott of the induction ceremony if their demands weren't met. Rice and Warner both distanced themselves from the letter and calls for a boycott through separate statements on Twitter.

First, Dickerson explained what happened with Rice and Warner, who both want insurance and salary for Hall members, but weren't willing to boycott induction ceremonies for leverage in those negotiations:

“[T]his is typical NFL pitting players against each other,” Dickerson said, “whether it’s retired players versus Hall of Famers or whether it’s players who are on the Hall of Fame board versus players supporting the cause. At the end of the day, the NFL’s strategy is simply to take attention away from the major issue at hand, which is that the NFL is past due on doing right by the players.”

When some, including former NFL player and ESPN personality Mike Golic, took umbrage with the threatened boycott for Hall of Fame members, instead of all retired players, Dickerson explained that the ultimate goal is benefits and a pension for all retired players:

Then, the hall of fame running back elucidated on why $300,000 a year isn't as ridiculous as you'd think, considering the NFL reportedly took in over $14 billion in 2017:

Here's a friendly reminder that Roger Goodell—who has never been concussed while doing his job—makes $40 million a year.