Gene Upshaw Dead at 63

by jwillis9 on Aug 21, 2008 10:01 AM EDT Comment 5 comments

http://www.postchronicle.com/news/or...12166564.shtml

maybe we wont have a work stoppage now. if you dont want to read he died of complications from pancreotic cancer.

i hate this whole 75 word shit. i just wanted to tell you guys that the man died and now i have to write this crap so that i can actually publish the link. i think this last sentence will make it the 50 something words that i had left to write. also we are not going to the Anquan Boldin here in miami

This fanpost was written by one of The Phinsider's registered users.

0 recs | Comment 5 comments

Story-email Email Printer Print

Comments

Maybe I took this wrong

The man isn’t even cold yet and all you care about is work stoppage? Regardless if you liked or disliked him…..he made a difference in the NFL. As far as what transpires in the future with the NFLPA and the owners who knows. But give the guy his dues as far as a player and what he has done for the NFL. If you have negative things too say, give him the respect of at least a day or so.

by HuskerDolphin on Aug 21, 2008 12:33 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

you did take it wrong..

im not saying yea hes dead. maybe that did come of wrong and if it did i apologize.

by jwillis9 on Aug 21, 2008 5:30 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

np

saw the link followed by….“maybe we won’t have a work stoppage now” and it just didn’t seem in good taste. No worries.

by HuskerDolphin on Aug 21, 2008 9:54 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Here's a guy

Who was before my time, but by all accounts was a brilliant lineman for 15 years – and of course in high school and college before that. Also consider that you don’t get to represent the players without being well-loved and respected. Basically, this guy was involved in football for his whole life, he was a real football man. When you look at ridiculous rookie contracts and the amount of power players now have, I guess you can criticize the man in one way – he was too damn good at his job!

Rest in peace.

Football isn't a matter of life and death - it's far more important than that.

by Agumen on Aug 21, 2008 1:02 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

The last few months put him a bad light

With all the retired players coming out looking for a better pension, and the rookie pay scale issues, I think a lot of people forget about all the good things Upshaw did for this league. First of all, he truly was a great player. I’m too young to have said I actually saw him play, but just the fact that he is in the HoF as a guard is impressive. It’s probably the most overlooked position in all of sports, considering how few of them are in the Hall, and to be recognized at that spot is a testament to how good he must’ve been.

Secondly, he kept the union together during the 2 strikes of the 80’s, and was a key part, if not THE key part in getting the salary cap introduced. He also negotiated the current labor agreement (that the owners recently opted out of) guaranteeing the players 60% of all revenues, a huge amount for any union in any business. He was a leading proponent for the Free Agency Rules we have in place now as well. I think Rozelle, Tagliabue, and Upshaw are the three men most responsible for the way the NFL is run today, and we can all agree that it’s clearly the best run league out of any major sport in the country.

So please people, don’t look past his great achievements and contributions to the game we all love, he truly was a pioneer for the NFL, and will be missed.
R.I.P. #63.

http://miamiheattimes.blogspot.com/ A blog dedicated to the 2006 NBA Champs, The Miami Heat

by Little Nicky 21 on Aug 22, 2008 1:40 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs