Chiefs' Turley to Donate Paycheck to Retired Players Fund

It's good to see a football player with a strong sense of giving back.

Kansas City Chiefs offensive lineman Kyle Turley, a nine-year veteran, will donate his full paycheck for the Dec. 23 game against the Detroit Lions to an organization that helps former players in dire medical and financial need.

With the donation -- about $25,000 after taxes -- to the nonprofit Gridiron Greats Assistance Fund, Turley becomes one of the first active professional football players to openly criticize the leadership of the NFL Players Association for what he sees as the union's failure to provide adequate assistance to aging NFL veterans who are struggling.

Photo of Kyle Turley by Julie Scheidegger/US PRESSWIRE

"I have to come out against these neglects even if it means my opportunity to play football next year ends because I get blackballed," Turley told the Los Angeles Times. "What I've seen with these retired players infuriates me."

Turley added that he hopes the donation will prompt other active players to turn over their game paychecks on Dec. 23, a day called "Gridiron Guardian Sunday."

Turley will earn $720,000 this year while playing offensive tackle for the Chiefs.

A game check is equal to 1/17 of a player's yearly salary, so Turley's pretax contribution will amount to about $42,000.

"It's not the money that's important," Turley added. "It's about building awareness among today's younger players about a problem that exists."

Rarely has a player in any sport been so forthright.