Disability program leaves NFL retiree hurting and angry

(22 Nov 2023)
RESTRICTION SUMMARY:

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ASSOCIATED PRESS
Picayune, Mississippi - 15 November 2023
1. Wide of Boo Williams trying to get out of bed
HEADLINE: Disability program leaves NFL retiree hurting and angry
ANNOTATION: Former Saints tight end Boo Williams needs surgery, medicine and doctors but he can’t afford any of it.
2. Various of Williams stretching, lighting candles, walking around house
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3. SOUNDBITE (English) Eddie "Boo" Williams, former NFL player:
"Getting up in the morning is real hard. It's like got hit by a truck and my neck hurts really really bad and my back and that's the main part that I have it's my back. I tore my Achilles years ago playing ball, my lumbar, my back and my neck. I know I have to have surgery on my neck. I know I have to have surgery on my back. I knew this years ago while I was playing."
ANNOTATION: The 44-year-old was recently awarded $5,000 a month by the NFL’s disability benefit plan.

ASSOCIATED PRESS
Chicago, Illinois - 27 August 2004
4. STILL of Williams being tackled
ANNOTATION: But Williams says the league has repeatedly mishandled his claims and should really have paid him $500,000 or more over the past 14 years.

ASSOCIATED PRESS
Picayune, Mississippi - 15 November 2023
5. Wide of Williams walking through back yard
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6. SOUNDBITE (English) Eddie "Boo" Williams, former NFL player:
"We drive the league and for them to turn their back on you when you're finished and act like it's nothing. You know, that's the frustrating part."

ASSOCIATED PRESS
Metairie, Louisiana - 16 November 2023
7. Various drone aerials of train moving
8. Various shots of railroad

ASSOCIATED PRESS
Picayune, Mississippi - 15 November 2023
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9. SOUNDBITE (English) Eddie "Boo" Williams, former NFL player:
"I was being denied from the NFL for trying to get my benefits because your body hurts so bad and I was feeling so much things going on in my head but I didn't know what was wrong with me and I found myself on the railroad tracks in 2011 trying to kill myself in Metairie."
10. Various tight shots of Williams smoking cannabis.

ASSOCIATED PRESS
Picayune, Mississippi - 15 November 2023
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11. SOUNDBITE (English) Eddie "Boo" Williams, former NFL player:
"That's why I smoke my weed so I can be calm and I can be you know kind of painless for a moment."
12. Various of Williams walking into restaurant, eating, talking with people
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13. SOUNDBITE (English) Eddie "Boo" Williams, former NFL player:
"So I try to stay even keeled that's why I moved here in the country I moved to Picayune."
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14. SOUNDBITE (English) Eddie "Boo" Williams, former NFL player:
"If you don't stop someone from mistreating you they're going to mistreat the next person. I just can't sit by and continue to let them do this to other people, because if I let them do it to other people who's going to stop them?"

ASSOCIATED PRESS
New Orleans, Louisiana - 18 November 2001
15. STILL of Williams scoring a touchdown
ANNOTATION: NFL doctors who worked on Williams’ case didn’t respond to messages for comment left by the AP.
STORYLINE:
Former Saints tight end Boo Williams needs surgery, medicine and doctors to make the pain in his injured neck subside.

But he can't afford any of it.

The 44-year-old was recently awarded $5,000 a month by the NFL’s disability benefit plan.

But Williams tells The Associated Press the plan and the league have repeatedly mishandled his claims and should really have paid him $500,000 or more over the past 14 years.
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