Letters: The price of playing pro sports

Re “A workers’ comp blitz may cost NFL,” Feb. 1

So it turns out that these poor NFL players who were paid handsomely during careers that basically involved banging into one another for sport now need further compensation. According to The Times, more than 1,000 former pro athletes filed claims in California before a September deadline.

Workers’ comp — the first widespread system of which was created by Otto von Bismarck in Prussia a century and a half ago to care for injured workers who otherwise had no means of paying for care — certainly has evolved.

Aren’t high pro athletes’ salaries enough compensation for risky work? What a lovely sport football is.

Erica Hahn

Monrovia

I read with interest your article on former NFL players and other pro athletes filing workers’ comp claims in California.

I stand firm in believing that NFL athletes as well as other professional athletes should receive workers’ comp. After all, some athletes’ injuries have hindered them from moving forward in life.

As a matter of fact, my nephew was forced to retire at an early age because he received a serious concussion while playing pro football.

Barbara Hobbs

Inglewood

Are former NFL greats Dan Marino and Boomer Esiason great role models or what?

By filing last-minute workers’ comp claims, their actions offer a strong example for our young athletes and send them a loud and clear message: The greatest sport of all isn’t the one you voluntarily chose to play that gave you incredible amounts of money and fame in return; rather, it’s gaming the system.

Susanne Stevenson

Rancho Santa Fe

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