CHICAGO - Former Bears coach Mike Ditka blasted one of his former players on Monday for accusing him of not caring about players.

In February at the Super Bowl, Ditka spoke out about former players who needed financial help. Ditka and other retired players want the union to increase benefits to players hobbled by NFL play.

According to the Chicago Tribune, former Bears safety Dave Duerson, who was also a union representative, said Ditka, "was not one who gave a damn about the players or their injuries when he was coaching. He was very disrespectful of guys who got hurt."

Ditka called Duerson a liar, NBC5's Phil Rogers reported.

"Whether they were first string, second string, third string, or special teams, that I didn't worry about them when they were injured, that I didn't care abut them, that I didn't try to help them, is an out-and-out outrageous lie," Ditka said at a news conference at his downtown restaurant.

Congressional hearings on the matter are scheduled for later this month.

NFL Players Union chief Gene Upshaw declined a request for a comment.

Former Bears defensive back Shaun Gayle, who played nine seasons for Ditka, said the war of words between Duerson and Ditka took attention away from the real issue.

"This is about what happens to the players now, and what should be taking place, and what is not taking place," Gayle said.

To back up his claim that the union and owners were ignoring even current players, Ditka pointed to former Jacksonville Jaguars offensive tackle Brian DeMarco, who played six seasons in the NFL and reached million-dollar status. DeMarco said he was suffering from debilitating injuries.

"I've lost my grip," DeMarco said. "I've lost my ability to hold my kids."

Ditka said when he found DeMarco, he and his wife had not eaten for three days, and at one point, DeMarco even had his family living in a storage locker. DeMarco said skyrocketing medical bills cleaned out his savings, leaving his family penniless and homeless.

"Extreme poverty is extreme poverty," DeMarco said. "Somebody has got to step up to help the guys like me."

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Ditka said he now sees even young players in need, adding that they are the ones that Duerson, as well as others in the league, should be offering to help.

"You've got a guy in his 30s -- low 30s, who's completely disabled, living in a shelter, trying to feed his kid graham crackers," Ditka said. "That's why I got into the game -- and if he doesn't understand that, he doesn't understand life."

Monday evening, Duerson, who is a trustee on the NFL Players Association retirement board, said the players' union does help, but said on WTTW's "Chicago Tonight" that there are strict federal rules that must be observed.

"I think what Mike is doing is great," Duerson said. "To the extent that Mike wants to do something, great --let's all get together and go in force to the current players, because those are the guys who control the collective bargaining agreement."