Gene Upshaw Needs To Be Removed As President of the NFLPA

Mike · 06-07-2007, 09:53 AM

For those that has kept up with this, Upshaw has done next to nothing for the NFL veterans. Many of the older players, John Elway, Joe Montana, Ronnie Lott, Mike Ditka, and several others have been speaking out heavily against the guy over the past few months. These guys don't need anything from the NFL anymore, they are merely stepping up and trying to support those that do, the guys who played for a few thousand dollars a year and left the field with long lasting injuries and no way to pay the medical bills. The guys who people like Mike Ditka are auctioning off Super Bowl rings to raise money to support.

Joe DeLamielleure, hall of fame right guard, has been very vocal and ultimately leading the way to make sure this issue stays in the public eye. Otherwise, nothing will ever be done.

It has led to Upshaw making a threat toward Joe DeLamielleure, saying he would "break his damn neck". That is a pretty serious threat, and one that should suffer some serious consequences.

How much longer can players continue to ignore the fact that Upshaw is nothing but a puppet to the commissioner, with no interest in helping the pioneers of the NFL, the guys that made the league what it is today?

This was Joe DeLamielleure's response in an article talking about the threat made by Gene Upshaw...

Quote:

"It's over," he said. "It's like dropping a glass. That glass is broken. He can get on his knees and beg for forgiveness, I don't care. The guy is a classic bully and I will never accept his apology."

DeLamielleure said he's read and heard people "making fun of" his reaction to Upshaw's comments, but he said those people don't understand powerful unions.

"My wife grew up three doors from Chrysler and I was 10 doors away," he said. "My dad owned a bar that was open seven days a week until 2:30 a.m., and when someone parked a foreign car in the parking lot, the union workers would destroy it. Well, this guy has more exposure than any union leader in the world, and he could get someone to bump me off. People up north take this stuff seriously, and I'm upset my wife has to have a knot in her stomach any time she can't reach me on the cellphone."

I asked him whether responding like this was the best way to advance the cause of ex-players who feel like they've been left behind.

"Listen, I'm one of the guys who's always going to be honest. I'm pissed off. The owners have done their part, but [Upshaw] hasn't done a thing for us over the past 20 years."

link

Currently, the NFL pension is far worse than either the NBA or MLB. At least these two leagues have representatives for players that actually care about the guys that made it possible for current athletes to make Millions. All Gene Upshaw has done is do what it takes to keep the current players happy and kiss the NFL commissioners ass on everything.

It is time for someone to step up and do what Upshaw refuses to do. This guy has been getting a free ride at the expense of the NFL long enough.

Remote Controller · 06-08-2007, 04:51 PM

I'm glad some HOFer's are finally speaking up. I find it hard to believe they let some of their old teamates twist sooooo long. Tag's have any part of this?

michelson · 06-14-2007, 05:29 PM

Just to play devil's advocate, and I don't really believe this 100%, but what exactly does the league owe the retirees? These old guys knew what they were signing up for when they played (or should have), and there was no guarantee of large retirement checks when they joined. They signed their contracts, got their checks, etc. a deal's a deal. (this is as far as i know, maybe there was some guarantee of retirement benefits that i'm not aware of.).

let's call it what it is: this discussion is really about charity -- should the union make large charitable donations to former employees who it doesn't legally owe anything. They don't have to, but they probably will I suspect.

I switched jobs a few years ago, but I don't expect my former employer to keep cutting me checks into my old age. Granted, I wasn't playing pro football.

Still, that said, I think the union should do something about this. At the very least, health care.

BPipes81 · 06-15-2007, 11:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by michelson

Just to play devil's advocate, and I don't really believe this 100%, but what exactly does the league owe the retirees? These old guys knew what they were signing up for when they played (or should have), and there was no guarantee of large retirement checks when they joined. They signed their contracts, got their checks, etc. a deal's a deal. (this is as far as i know, maybe there was some guarantee of retirement benefits that i'm not aware of.).

let's call it what it is: this discussion is really about charity -- should the union make large charitable donations to former employees who it doesn't legally owe anything. They don't have to, but they probably will I suspect.

I switched jobs a few years ago, but I don't expect my former employer to keep cutting me checks into my old age. Granted, I wasn't playing pro football.

Still, that said, I think the union should do something about this. At the very least, health care.

This response seems legally fair to all those players who retire from the NFL and are physically able to take up other careers. I am inclined to think that the NFL is legally responsible to take care of it's former players are NOT physically capable because of football related conditions.

There should be an outside (non-NFL run) arbitration system for players who are in the gray area and are trying to prove disability.

Birdman · 06-15-2007, 04:10 PM

I think this comes down to fairness. Like Mike Ditka says - the money is there, it's easily solved if you have the moral desire to act. A lot of these NFL players have gotten a bad lot and I for one think the league should look out for it's own.

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06-08-2007, 04:51 PM	#2
Remote Controller Yeah.......That's me! Join Date: May 2006 Location: Top of the Texas Panhandle Posts: 4,169 vCash: 370931 Donate	I'm glad some HOFer's are finally speaking up. I find it hard to believe they let some of their old teamates twist sooooo long. Tag's have any part of this?


06-14-2007, 05:29 PM	#3
michelson Outlaw Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: San Francisco Posts: 313 vCash: 10208 Donate	Just to play devil's advocate, and I don't really believe this 100%, but what exactly does the league owe the retirees? These old guys knew what they were signing up for when they played (or should have), and there was no guarantee of large retirement checks when they joined. They signed their contracts, got their checks, etc. a deal's a deal. (this is as far as i know, maybe there was some guarantee of retirement benefits that i'm not aware of.). let's call it what it is: this discussion is really about charity -- should the union make large charitable donations to former employees who it doesn't legally owe anything. They don't have to, but they probably will I suspect. I switched jobs a few years ago, but I don't expect my former employer to keep cutting me checks into my old age. Granted, I wasn't playing pro football. Still, that said, I think the union should do something about this. At the very least, health care.


06-15-2007, 04:10 PM	#5
Birdman Outlaw Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Philadelphia, PA Posts: 2,130 vCash: 88378 Donate	I think this comes down to fairness. Like Mike Ditka says - the money is there, it's easily solved if you have the moral desire to act. A lot of these NFL players have gotten a bad lot and I for one think the league should look out for it's own.