Reports: Urbanski's wife says Goodell reneged on promise of financial help

[Ronnie Bass]

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=3250283

Kathy Urbanski, whose husband, Tommy, was paralyzed in a melee at a Las Vegas nightclub that involved now-suspended Tennessee Titans cornerback Adam "Pacman" Jones, said NFL commissioner Roger Goodell promised to help the family pay its mounting medical expenses, according to published reports.
She now says Goodell has reneged on his offer.

"Roger Goodell told me, 'You don't have to call us. We'll get in touch with you,'" Kathy Urbanski told the New York Daily News for a story published Sunday. "Now I realize he meant, 'Don't call us, we'll call you.'"

The Urbanskis' plight also was reported by the Las Vegas Review-Journal in recent weeks.

Tommy Urbanski was one of three people wounded in the shooting outside the Minxx Gentleman's Club. He still has a bullet in his spine from the Feb. 19, 2007, incident, which occurred during NBA All-Star Weekend.

Kathy Urbanski told the Daily News she and her husband received two calls from the league about its desire to offer financial help, but when the Urbanskis called back, they received no response.

Prior to Super Bowl XLII, Goodell addressed the Urbanskis' difficulties.

"I'm sorry about the tragedy the family is going through, but I don't feel we have any responsibility," Goodell said.

Goodell added that Kathy Urbanski agreed with him during their discussion

Is it me or the more stories come out about Goodell such as destroying the spy tapes and his condescending attitude towards Sen. Arlen Spector that he did nothing wrong and this now make you think perhaps the NFL has a real sleezebag running their league?

It sounds like he'll say the right thing at the right time and the wrong thing at the wrong time - like here. The story is old so now he might not feel obligated as when the media spotlight was on him and league right after the shooting.

 

[m i n o]

sounds to me the nfl has just the man they wanted for the job. it's ashame that goodell will be forever known as the man that turned the nfl into mlb.

 

[satz]

I have no idea what he is suppose to do.if i work in a company and hit someday with a car my company has to take over the responsiblity.

I have never even heard about this....does your company do that wow.

 

[DolFan31]

I have no idea what he is suppose to do.if i work in a company and hit someday with a car my company has to take over the responsiblity.

I have never even heard about this....does your company do that wow.

Ya but apparently he made promises and if she can prove that, well, its his fault for telling them they would be compensated and then not doing so.

 

[late again]

The whole article is a bunch of silliness. Why isn't it about whether or nor Pac Man is going to step up and help? If I were Goodell I would want to wait and see the outcome of any litigation between Urbanski and Jones. If Jones is held responsible why should the NFL basically "let him off the hook" by paying Urbanski's medical bills?

 

[Stringer Bell]

As a bouncer in a strip club, Urbanski assumed a certain amount of risk. His employer is responsible, and whomever is found guilty of shooting him is responsible.

PacMan Jones has not even been found guilty of shooting anybody.

Sounds as if Urbanski's wife is just trying to score a big payday and publicize this tragedy

 

[Ronnie Bass]

The whole article is a bunch of silliness. Why isn't it about whether or nor Pac Man is going to step up and help? If I were Goodell I would want to wait and see the outcome of any litigation between Urbanski and Jones. If Jones is held responsible why should the NFL basically "let him off the hook" by paying Urbanski's medical bills?

This has nothing to do with if the NFL should be held responsible for their medical bills but if Goodell is backing down on a promise he made to the family.

You might see this as a bunch of silliness but I see it has a bunch of sleaziness.

 

[late again]

This has nothing to do with if the NFL should be held responsible for their medical bills but if Goodell is backing down on a promise he made to the family.

You might see this as a bunch of silliness but I see it has a bunch of sleaziness.

It may very well be that Goodell promised to help. It may very well be that he still intends to. However; and this was my primary point in my first post - the prudent thing to do would be to wait for any litigation to be resolved. If Jones if responsible he should be the one paying Urbanski's medical bill. It makes no sense for Goodell to let Jones off the hook by picking up the tab for him.

 

[Ronnie Bass]

It may very well be that Goodell promised to help. It may very well be that he still intends to. However; and this was my primary point in my first post - the prudent thing to do would be to wait for any litigation to be resolved. If Jones if responsible he should be the one paying Urbanski's medical bill. It makes no sense for Goodell to let Jones off the hook by picking up the tab for him.

Even if Goodell and the NFL picked up the tab on the medical bills the Urbanski's can still sue Jones for other damages and even if they win that lawsuit how much of that money will they see from it and how long they will have to wait for it? Because I don't think Jones has as much money as you might think he does and any $$$ he has I'm sure he all going towards his lawyers.

But again, all this is moot if Goodell gave his word to help the family with medical costs, no one should ever go back on their word no matter how prudent it is to see how the litigation plays out.