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They were the men who helped clear the way for O.J. Simpson's NFL rushing records in the 1970s _ the Buffalo Bills offensive line known as the "Electric Company."
Now one of their own _ Donnie Green _ is living in a homeless shelter in Hagerstown, Md., 64 miles northeast of Baltimore. But a national organization of NFL veterans has added Green's plight to their campaign for improved pensions for pro football's older, retired players.
The Gridiron Greats fund was launched last year by former Green Bay Packers star Jerry Kramer to lobby for better disability and pension benefits from the league and the NFL Players Association.
Joe DeLamielleure, a Bills Wall of Fame and Pro Football Hall of Fame honoree for his role in the Electric Company, has joined the fund's board and organized an autograph fundraiser in Rochester Sunday to benefit Green.
Electric Company alums Reggie McKenzie, Paul Seymour, Dave Foley, Mike Montler and their quarterback, Joe Ferguson, will join DeLamielleure at the event.
Green, 57, played six years with the Bills before retiring and falling on hard times, DeLamielleure said Saturday.
Knee and back injuries have left Green unable to do any strenuous work, and for the past four years he's made his home in a shelter, DeLamielleure said.
"He's not in very good shape," he said. "He would have a very difficult time holding down a job ... So what he did was, he checked himself into a homeless shelter and he's working the phones. He's trying to work his way out of there."
Green's pension was about $400 a month _ not enough to get by, DeLamielleure said.
Now one of their own _ Donnie Green _ is living in a homeless shelter in Hagerstown, Md., 64 miles northeast of Baltimore. But a national organization of NFL veterans has added Green's plight to their campaign for improved pensions for pro football's older, retired players.
The Gridiron Greats fund was launched last year by former Green Bay Packers star Jerry Kramer to lobby for better disability and pension benefits from the league and the NFL Players Association.
Joe DeLamielleure, a Bills Wall of Fame and Pro Football Hall of Fame honoree for his role in the Electric Company, has joined the fund's board and organized an autograph fundraiser in Rochester Sunday to benefit Green.
Electric Company alums Reggie McKenzie, Paul Seymour, Dave Foley, Mike Montler and their quarterback, Joe Ferguson, will join DeLamielleure at the event.
Green, 57, played six years with the Bills before retiring and falling on hard times, DeLamielleure said Saturday.
Knee and back injuries have left Green unable to do any strenuous work, and for the past four years he's made his home in a shelter, DeLamielleure said.
"He's not in very good shape," he said. "He would have a very difficult time holding down a job ... So what he did was, he checked himself into a homeless shelter and he's working the phones. He's trying to work his way out of there."
Green's pension was about $400 a month _ not enough to get by, DeLamielleure said.
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