George Martin resigns as NFL Alumni Association chief

By Nasir Qureshi May 6th, 2012 ( No Comment )

Washington: The leader of National Football League Alumni Association (NFLAA), George Martin, resigned from his position as president and executive director of the organisation on Saturday, FOXSports.com reported.

He had been under intense pressure since the website launched a probe earlier in this year, revealing financial management under his nose.

Martin’s resignation episode was confirmed by an NFLAA board member David Carter.

“We appreciate George Martin’s advocacy on behalf of the NFL alumni and their families, including his work on the Legacy Fund pension increases for pre-1993 players and his support for those payments going to the widows of pre-1993 players,” NFL spokesman Greg Aiello said in an email to the website.

The NFLAA had been supported by the loans of around $4 million from the NFL. However, it was censured for its failure in its mission to advance the retired players’ interests in spite of the fact that millions of dollars were being spent on it.

“George and the board (of directors) ran through $5 million,” said former Baltimore Colts defensive back Bruce Laird, who was on the selection committee that chose Martin for the job. “That’s not only sad, but it seems criminal. That’s a shame. There were guys who put their lives and souls to work to help retired players. Not only did George fail, but the board failed.”

“We are backing this man 150 percent. We are his teammates and we are doing everything that we can to help our team, the retired players’ community, be successful,” Harry Carson, a former Giants teammate of Martin, said.