Blood Equity

Produced by Roman Phifer, a three-time Super Bowl champion and an assistant coach for the Denver Broncos, and directed by Michael Felix, this documentary looks at issues faced by many professional football players after their careers end, focusing in particular on how the athletes' union—the National Football League Players Association (NFLPA)—seems to be working with team owners against disabled ex-players in regard to securing post-career healthcare coverage and financial assistance. For every Howie Long or Troy Aikman who leave the sport for highly successful careers elsewhere, too many other players fall on hard times when their bodies begin deteriorating after years of gridiron abuse. Perhaps the saddest and cruelest story here involves former Pittsburgh Steelers center Mike Webster, who was repeatedly denied benefits by the NFLPA to help cover his mounting healthcare bills from his football-related injuries; he died near-destitute in 2002 at age 50. Blood Equity brings in a number of football legends to offer commentary—including Mike Ditka, Tony Dorsett, Daryl “Moose” Johnston, Willie Wood, Cyril Smith, and Donnie Green—but NFLPA executives and team owners are conspicuously absent, making this documentary rather one-sided. Nonetheless, the film offers a chilling look at the less savory aspects of superstar sports. Recommended. Aud: C, P. (P. Hall)