NFLPA Union Head and HOF Player Gene Upshaw Dies at 63 *merged*
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YosemiteSam
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You should first check to make sure this hasn't already been reported.
UppityCracker2
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Faerluna;2203712 said:
Now Matt Stover doesn't need to fight for a replacement.
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UPSHAW’S DEATH CONFIRMED
Posted by Mike Florio on August 21, 2008, 9:03 a.m.
After several hours of uncertainty and confusion regarding the condition of Hall of Famer Gene Upshaw, it has been confirmed by NFL.com that Upshaw has died of pancreatic cancer.
He turned 63 just last Friday.
It’s still unknown whether he had been fighting the disease for an extended period, or whether he was diagnosed recently. (Not long ago, I heard of an otherwise healthy man who died only six days after being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.)
Regardless of whether Upshaw knew about his condition for days, weeks, or months, his passing creates an immediate power vacuum at the NFL Players Association. With the regular season only two weeks away, a conference call of the players will need to be arranged as soon as possible, and an interim Executive Director will need to be appointed.
Possibilities include NFLPA General Counsel Richard Berthelsen, and NFLPA outside counsel Jeffrey Kessler. Another possibility (albeit, in our view, remote) would be agent Tom Condon, who represented Upshaw and previously served as NFLPA President.
Looking ahead, it’s very possible that a permanent replacement won’t be named before the next annual meeting in March 2009. And this likely means that NFL teams should finalize plans for the “last capped year” under the Collective Bargaining Agreement, which will begin in late February or early March of 2009.
In 2006, a new CBA was negotiated on the eve of the “last capped year,” since the cap rules and restrictions were forcing teams to realize that the “last capped year” was going to be nearly as much of a headache as an uncapped year. So if the league ends up entering the “last capped year,” the chances of having an uncapped year in 2010 possibly would increase.
Posted by Mike Florio on August 21, 2008, 9:03 a.m.
After several hours of uncertainty and confusion regarding the condition of Hall of Famer Gene Upshaw, it has been confirmed by NFL.com that Upshaw has died of pancreatic cancer.
He turned 63 just last Friday.
It’s still unknown whether he had been fighting the disease for an extended period, or whether he was diagnosed recently. (Not long ago, I heard of an otherwise healthy man who died only six days after being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.)
Regardless of whether Upshaw knew about his condition for days, weeks, or months, his passing creates an immediate power vacuum at the NFL Players Association. With the regular season only two weeks away, a conference call of the players will need to be arranged as soon as possible, and an interim Executive Director will need to be appointed.
Possibilities include NFLPA General Counsel Richard Berthelsen, and NFLPA outside counsel Jeffrey Kessler. Another possibility (albeit, in our view, remote) would be agent Tom Condon, who represented Upshaw and previously served as NFLPA President.
Looking ahead, it’s very possible that a permanent replacement won’t be named before the next annual meeting in March 2009. And this likely means that NFL teams should finalize plans for the “last capped year” under the Collective Bargaining Agreement, which will begin in late February or early March of 2009.
In 2006, a new CBA was negotiated on the eve of the “last capped year,” since the cap rules and restrictions were forcing teams to realize that the “last capped year” was going to be nearly as much of a headache as an uncapped year. So if the league ends up entering the “last capped year,” the chances of having an uncapped year in 2010 possibly would increase.
nathanlt
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NEW YORK — Gene Upshaw, the Hall of Fame guard who as union head helped get NFL players free agency and the riches that came with it, has died. He was 63.
Upshaw's death was announced by the NFL Players Association, which he headed for a quarter century. He had been battling pancreatic cancer.
His outstanding 15-season playing career was entirely with the Oakland Raiders and included two Super Bowl wins and seven Pro Bowl appearances. Upshaw's biography was posted on the front page of the Hall of Fame Web site Thursday along with his enshrinement speech from 1987.
In 1983, he became executive director of the players' association and guided it through the 1987 strike that led to replacement football. By 1989, the players had a limited form of freedom, called Plan B, and in 1993, free agency and a salary cap were instituted.
Since then, the players have prospered so much that NFL owners recently opted out of the latest labor contract, which was negotiated two years ago by Upshaw and then-commissioner Paul Tagliabue.
Upshaw was criticized by some for not being tough enough in negotiations with Tagliabue, a close friend of the union head. He also was blamed by many older veterans for not dealing sufficiently with their health concerns.**/
But the salary cap for this season is $116 million and the players are making close to 60 percent of the 32 teams' total revenues, as specified in the 2006 agreement. In all, the players will be paid $4.5 billion this year, according to
Upshaw's death was announced by the NFL Players Association, which he headed for a quarter century. He had been battling pancreatic cancer.
His outstanding 15-season playing career was entirely with the Oakland Raiders and included two Super Bowl wins and seven Pro Bowl appearances. Upshaw's biography was posted on the front page of the Hall of Fame Web site Thursday along with his enshrinement speech from 1987.
In 1983, he became executive director of the players' association and guided it through the 1987 strike that led to replacement football. By 1989, the players had a limited form of freedom, called Plan B, and in 1993, free agency and a salary cap were instituted.
Since then, the players have prospered so much that NFL owners recently opted out of the latest labor contract, which was negotiated two years ago by Upshaw and then-commissioner Paul Tagliabue.
Upshaw was criticized by some for not being tough enough in negotiations with Tagliabue, a close friend of the union head. He also was blamed by many older veterans for not dealing sufficiently with their health concerns.**/
But the salary cap for this season is $116 million and the players are making close to 60 percent of the 32 teams' total revenues, as specified in the 2006 agreement. In all, the players will be paid $4.5 billion this year, according to
YosemiteSam
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UPSHAW’S ILLNESS WAS SUDDEN
Posted by Mike Florio on August 21, 2008, 10:10 a.m.
In a posting regarding the passing of Executive Director Gene Upshaw, the NFL Players Association discloses that Upshaw first became aware of his illness on Sunday, August 17.
It was only two days after his 63rd birthday.
Four days later, he was gone.
Upshaw had been fighting pancreatic cancer, a disease that often develops silently, producing no symptoms until the final stages of the illness.
The news has sent shock waves throughout the league, and many executives and agents are still stunned by the news.
Though Upshaw was at times a polarizing figure, his contributions to the game were immense. If he weren’t already in the Hall of Fame for his performance on the field as a long-time member of the Oakland Raiders, Upshaw would merit immediate induction based on his body of work on behalf of the players.
On Upshaw’s watch, the players finally realized their goal of true free agency. And the salary cap system that came with it created a strong sense of parity, giving every team an equal chance of building a winning team. Along the way, Upshaw secured for the players nearly 60 cents of every dollar that was generated by the game.
We send out our deepest condolences to Gene Upshaw’s family, friends, and colleagues at the NFLPA.
Posted by Mike Florio on August 21, 2008, 10:10 a.m.
In a posting regarding the passing of Executive Director Gene Upshaw, the NFL Players Association discloses that Upshaw first became aware of his illness on Sunday, August 17.
It was only two days after his 63rd birthday.
Four days later, he was gone.
Upshaw had been fighting pancreatic cancer, a disease that often develops silently, producing no symptoms until the final stages of the illness.
The news has sent shock waves throughout the league, and many executives and agents are still stunned by the news.
Though Upshaw was at times a polarizing figure, his contributions to the game were immense. If he weren’t already in the Hall of Fame for his performance on the field as a long-time member of the Oakland Raiders, Upshaw would merit immediate induction based on his body of work on behalf of the players.
On Upshaw’s watch, the players finally realized their goal of true free agency. And the salary cap system that came with it created a strong sense of parity, giving every team an equal chance of building a winning team. Along the way, Upshaw secured for the players nearly 60 cents of every dollar that was generated by the game.
We send out our deepest condolences to Gene Upshaw’s family, friends, and colleagues at the NFLPA.
Phrozen Phil
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WoodysGirl;2203759 said:
Based on recent statements in the media, I would guess that he felt he could beat his cancer. Love him or hate him, he had an impact on the game and the players will be sad to see him go. While it will be interesting to see what transpires next with the NFLPA, I would hope that most of us will reflect on his career and on expressing our compassion for his family.
dougonthebench
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Rest in Peace,Gene.
Hostile
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Talk about an unreal story. I had a friend who was an elderly lady. She was in a car accident and was complaining of pain in the abdomen. So they did an exploratory surgery to check for internal bleeding and found pancreatic cancer. They gave her 6 months to live. She lasted 2 more days. She never left the hospital after the wreck. It is a devestating disease for some.
TellerMorrow34
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No matter how long he knew he was sick, how quickly it took him, it doesn't matter. It's a very sobering reminder that our time in this world is fleeting.
RIP.
RIP.
bbgun
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Very sad. Pancreatic cancer is almost always a death sentence. I remember when NFL Films did an Oakland-Buffalo game and miked up the players. Upshaw pulled on a sweep and absolutely leveled a little cornerback (think Larry Allen in his prime). Thanks for your contributions to the game, Gene.
peck-sicilyisland
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He will be missed,The man did alot for ol,The main reason they are making big bucks today.My hero.
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Time and a place for everything. Maybe some should wait before whizzing on the man...