LKelley67

When Hurricane Katrina slammed into Louisiana, Warrick Dunn was so disturbed by the devastation in his home state that he wanted to do something extraordinary to help. So the Atlanta Falcons' notably philanthropic running back challenged his fellow NFL players to give $5,000 apiece _ a gesture that would have raised more than $8 million if everyone had chipped in.
A year later, Dunn has been able to donate $381,000...

New Orleans running back Deuce McAllister, who has been prominent in the recovery effort, praised those who gave while expressing no hard feelings toward those who didn't.

"You can always say that not enough is being done," he said. "But you've got to put everything in perspective and look at what each individual has going on in his life. If someone finds the time to give something or do something special for these people, we're definitely thankful for it."

BUT STILL-
it (the $5K contribution) represents about 76 players making the full donation _ not even enough to fill two rosters in a 32-team league where the average salary was $1.4 million last season.

a lot of these dudes spend $5K on their hair-dos and grillz weekly. C'mon dis a job site where some of ya bling bling comes from homies.

more-
http://www.baynews9.com/content/40/2...0New%20Orleans

GuySajer

Maybe this game will opne a few more eyes around the country about the condition of the city. Plenty of people think that NO is just fine and it is only a small part of the city that is still in bad shape.
It's a good thing this game is two undefeated teams. NO/Atl is not a big draw outside of the South. If NO played NYG orChi, there would be even more media attention.

BJSim

This is a sad state when millionares don't give a dime while millions of middle income joes give tons. I know I gave til it hurt, and I know a few of my friends who gave a lot more than they would have if I wasn't a Saints fan. I feel the league (players) were very disrespectful to give only 4.5% of what Dunn was hoping to raise.

I hope the NFL pays for a few adverts for continued relief efforts within the area.

LKelley67

Your 4.5% amplified it. I started kicking the numbers around and realized all the more why this should be a national news item. Players like Dunn and Bush should be praised but the non-contributors need to be rightfully embarrassed.

total NFL salaries= $2.37bil (1.4mil x 32 x 53)

His goal was to get .003369 of that. That is the equivalent of asking someone with $50K a year income to donate $168.

What he got was .00016 of total NFL salaries. That would be the equivalent of someone with a $50K a year income to give $8.

For all the United Way PR the NFL does to make themselves look so benevolent the players need to be called on the carpet about this disgrace. How about a little give back to the people who are without houses and buying tickets to pay for your salaries.

The writer of the article is Paul Newberry but I cannot locate a specific email addy to respond to. It was carried on ABC News so I am going to respond in email here-

support@abcnews.go.com

and say DON'T LET THIS STORY STOP HERE, THEY NEED EMBARRASSING