What's the deal with NFLPA head, Gene Upshaw?

[Mudcat]

I am usually, if anything, critical of the major sports unions for taking things too far - but this guy, I can't figure out.

He's got crippled retired players having major problems with inadequate pensions. The CBA he agreed to means no active players have guaranteed contracts. Careers are short.

It's the one union that I would expect to really stand up for its players. For gawd sake, NFL players have a significantly lower average life expectancy than the rest of society!

And apart from whatever humanistic reasons I may have for feeling the way I do, the NFL is also a league which appears to have TONS of money to throw around.

At least I assume it does. I just heard Upshaw made 6.7 million dollars last year.

He's been in his position for 20+ years. I understand why the owners like him - he's their lap dog (or so it seems to me) - but why have the players let this go on? Does anyone defend this guy?

[Willie Bee]

He's easy for the owners to bitch slap, I guess. Never has struck me as a strong person when it comes to moral fiber or intestinal fortitude. Whenever anything in the past has become hairy, Upshaw has always reminded me of the proverbial drowning man reaching for a straw.

[bigboydan]

You pretty much nailed it Willie.

Gene Upshaw basically sold out his players in that union he "so called" runs. This is the one league out there that should have guaranteed contracts, and Upshaw refuses to push for that demand at all. Just take a look at the NFL older players right now, and instead of Upshaw sticking up for those guys. He's threatening them.

[Mudcat]

So we're all agreed in principle on his sins and we all understand why he's okay with the owners.

But he must need player support to remain in his position for all these years. Players must be choosing to stick with him.

What's up with that?

[Willie Bee]

He's either got enough people around him that support him and his sell-out or enough people around him that are somehow in on whatever deal he has worked out. The owners squashed him and the union before and my guess is he just plays to their desires so he can keep his job and the owners back him because he's just the patsy they need in that position.

[vanzack]

Bryant Gumble relentlessly bashes Gene Upshaw.

I think he is right and that Gene is just a puppet for ownership. The fact that Congress has to have a hearing about former NFL players who were denied benefits is incriminating.