It can now officially be called a bad week for NFLPA Executive Director Gene Upshaw.
A day after word broke of an effort to oust Upshaw, the simmering issue regarding the union’s and the league’s treatment of injured players from days gone by has moved back toWARD the front burner.
According to the Washington Post, two members of the House Judiciary Committee released a 144-page report regarding the issue, which resulted in a hearing last summer on Capitol Hill.
“This report clearly demonstrates that the NFL and NFLPA need to make serious efforts to collect data on player injuries and eliminate the conflict of interest by team doctors who place the financial interests of their teams ahead of players’ health,” said Linda T. Sánchez (D-Cal.) in a statement.
Committee Chairman John Conyers Jr. (D-Mich.) has threatened to hold more hearings on the matter and, if necessary, to introduce legislation aimed at fixing the problem(s).
For Upshaw, the report surely will give those who hope to knock him out of his position even more ammunition. Though it’s believed in some circles that the number of players who want to dump Upshaw is small, this is the kind of thing that can attract more recruits to the cause.
And if PFT Planet had a say in the matter, Upshaw would be long gone. As of this posting, 59 percent of those responding to our poll think the time has come to make a change. Only six percent have said “no.”
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April 9th, 2008 at 11:44 pm
upshaw needs to leave. i’m willing to bet the half the players aren’t really educated on the issues or are putting their 30 million guarantees before the game and their latter health
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April 10th, 2008 at 12:29 am
The man has obviously become in love with the power he wields. It’s funny the other day I was talking about this before I heard about the Tray Vincent attempt and I pegged him as the guy that should take his place.
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April 10th, 2008 at 12:35 am
Upshaw must go. I think it’s time for a woman president. hahahaha!!! No seriously, hahahaha!!! I’m sorry I just can’t stop laughing, hahahaha!!!
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Rating: 1 / 5 with 1 rating(s)
April 10th, 2008 at 12:48 am
Upshaw complained a few weeks ago that the league had given as much as $100,000 to a disabled player and this player still complained. What a wimp the guy must be. He can’t work, he’s terribly depressed, and he is losing all he and his wife have worked for.
Meanwhile, Upshaw is making $6,000,000 posing as a lawyer and has a real lawyer, at least one, to do his essential work. I’ll tell you what. I will do his job for $3,000,000 and I will donate the other $3,000,000 to the retired players and former players with disabilities. I am a hell of lot smarter than Upshaw, better educated, and can be just as mean if need be. I am not as big.
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Rating: 2.35 / 5 with 3 rating(s)
April 10th, 2008 at 3:03 am
The part about team doctors hits home.
I can’t help but think of Al Wilson going to the Giants and hearing how badly injured he was from “their” doctors.
That truly reeked.
Should Upshaw go ?
Sure.
But there “has” to be a transition, Gene needs to remain an advisor, it is in the best interests of the players.
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April 10th, 2008 at 3:59 am
Well yeah PFT the issue is not the great current player
contract that Upshaw feels should support his staying as
the union head. It’s what Upshaw has not done for the past
or former NFL players. I wonder if the current players would
give up some of their agreement monies to support the former
players who need help! It seems the owners want give back
from the players union. Well give back to the former players
who need help living a normal life due to injuries.
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April 10th, 2008 at 6:53 am
Didn’t star wars teach us what happens when a leader ignores mandatory retirement?
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