NFL MVP and Two Pro Bowl Players Support Turley on Retired Players' Issues

Current Kansas City Chiefs offensive lineman Kyle Turley was a guest on The Jim Rome Show today, December 4, 2007. Turley spoke about his participation in "Gridiron Guardian Sunday", when he will donate his entire game check from the December 23, 2007, Chiefs - Lions game to the Gridiron Greats Assistance Fund. The assistance fund provides financial assistance and coordination of social services to retired NFL players. In a letter to be distributed within all NFL locker rooms, Turley has asked other players to join him in donating a portion of their game checks on "Gridiron Guardian Sunday". On The Jim Rome Show, Turley revealed a trio of high profile current NFL players he has spoken with who will join him in support of retired players' issues. The players he named are 2006 NFL Most Valuable Player LaDainian Tomlinson, Chicago Bears six-time Pro Bowl center Olin Kreutz, and Minnesota Vikings five-time Pro Bowl center Matt Birk. "I've got a tremendous response from guys around the league, guys I've contacted, personal friends. They are all in support of this issue. We just played the Chargers over the weekend, LaDainian and a bunch of the linemen came up to me and they are going to be in support of this issue. Many guys feel strongly about this, Matt Birk in Minnesota, Olin Kreutz in Chicago. The names are starting to come out," Turley told host Jim Rome. Both Turley and Birk have been outspoken critics of current NFLPA Executive Director Gene Upshaw. Turley added, "This is an issue the NFL needs to fix."