posted Aug 21, 2008

I'd have to disagree with AmericanSportFan. Players only got free agency as Upshaw negotiated that in exchange for the salary cap. Although many felt Upshaw was hand in hand with the NFL, in his last round of CBA talks he drove such a hard bargain that the owners have had to bail on it as the smaller market teams are saying it's financially impossible to support. You say no guaranteed contracts, but how come veterans have big news contracts with guaranteed money banded about every off season. Never had that in the "Dynasty Days" of the Steelers, Niners and 'Boys because they could hold on to their teams.

As for the grassroots movement, that was Matt Stover on his own pretty much. The main movement against Upshaw really centered around the retired players not getting the same pension privileges as the players who have retired since the salary cap came in, and that seems to have been resolved.

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posted Aug 21, 2008

Those big signing bonuses are the only money a player is garuenteed. They still can get cut at anytime just because the team is looking to save money.

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posted Aug 21, 2008

Yeah, but even if he is cut he's still guaranteed those bonuses over the years, unless he's opted to have those declared as a roster bonus. Hence the term "Dead Cap" when a team is still paying bonus money to a player no longer on their roster, meaning that money isn't available to spend on other players.

trust me on cap. niners fans know what "dead cap" and "salary cap hell" are.

still doesn't change the fact he brought in free agency that allows the player to actually go out and get market value as opposed to being "slaves" as sepp blatter likes to call it.

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posted Aug 21, 2008

and whats bad about only having the bonus guaranteed when it's nearlyhalf of your salary! look at the deals being dished out to asante samuel (20m guaranteed out of 57m), justin smith (18m out of 45m), alan faneca (21m out of 40m), jared allen (31m out of 74m). the list is endless and it happens every year. before upshaw you didn't have any of this!

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posted Aug 22, 2008

Lets look at Gene Upshaw the Football Player, truly one of the greatest Raider's of all time:

Played on unquestionably the greatest line in NFL history, with Hall of Famer's Art Shell (Left Tackle), and Jim Otto (Centre)
2 Super Bowl wins
7 Pro Bowl's
15 Season's playing on the Offensive Line
Only played for One team
First Ballot Hall of Famer

This man was a truly great player, playing in one of the most unglamorous positions in the League.

RIP Gene

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posted Aug 22, 2008

not to mention, lordDeathmetalraider, the only guy to play play in a superbowl in three different decades with the same team (67, 76 and 80). the guy deserves his place in the HOF as a player and as the NFLPA cheif. The only blemish on his record would be the retired players pension fiasco.

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posted Aug 22, 2008

---"As for the grassroots movement, that was Matt Stover on his own pretty much. The main movement against Upshaw really centered around the retired players not getting the same pension privileges as the players who have retired since the salary cap came in, and that seems to have been resolved."---

It wasn't just the same benefits it was the fact that the NFL was screwing former players and Upshaw did NOTHING to help. When asked why he wasn't helping his response was something like "I only represent current members of the NFLPA." In other words I only represent millionaires not old greats who have two blown knees and I don't really care that the NFL refuses to pay the benefits they earned.

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posted Aug 22, 2008

sorry to hear news of mr upshaw passing away ,the nfl has lost a true legend on and off the field.

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posted Aug 22, 2008

I'm rather sure Gene Upshaw is a Hall of Fame member.

Sad Gene, condolences to family.

The cancer is almost as sudden as a car accident.

I read, Pancreatic cancer, often comes on unknowingly and one does not know they have it until a juandice appears. He was diagnosed Sunday and passed away days later.

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posted Aug 23, 2008

RIP Gene Upshaw. Condolences to your family.

Upshaw did a good job in securing good money for his current players and creating stability in the league with the owners.

Many of the former players who complain about how he had 'forgotten' them fail to recognise that their benefits were reduced because they chose to take them early at age 45 instead of waiting until their 60s. Also for them to suggest that because the league is now flush with money they should get more; is like the pensioners of Midland Bank suggesting they should get increases because HSBC now make billions of pounds in profits.

The only issue(s) I would have with the way Upshaw represented the players was his refusal to accept a 'rookie cap'. His flawed logic was that by allowing a #1 draft pick QB to get a big contract, it then pushed up the money that stars like Tom Brady or Peyton Manning would get on their next contract. True, but with a salary cap in place the pool of money is limited, and every extra dollar an unproven rookie gets is a dollar taken away from a proven veteran. That's hardly representing your current players or rewarding them for experience and longevity in the league. Consider for example, Detroits #1 draft pick in 2005 wide receiver Mike Williams, Detroit. He has 44 career catches, has been cut been cut 3 times and picked up about $8 million in the process.

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