Joe D & Gene Upshaw

Redskin Rich · 07-15-2007, 01:45 PM

Joe D was in my town this weekend at an autograph appearance. Apparently he gave an interview to the local paper:

Fredericksburg.com - Hall of Fame blocker is on a crusade for NFL retirees

Man, I hope this group of older players finally embarrass the NFL Owners enough to step up.

dmek25 · 07-15-2007, 02:02 PM

why don't these guys have a sit down and make it work? in sticking up for Upshaw, he is under no obligation to do anything

Skinsfan1967 · 07-15-2007, 02:04 PM

Donnie Green, offensive lineman for the Bills in the 70's, lives at a homeless shelter in Hagerstown MD. He gets $300 a month pension from the NFL.
He does a few local card shows so if you see him please buy an autograph, usually $5.

Defensewins · 07-15-2007, 02:23 PM

With the billions of dollars the NFL makes each year it is a crime they are not taking care of the guys that got them to where the NFL is now. What happened to taking care of their own?
The greed of these owners is a astonishing. This is a potential PR nightmare.

I have a feeling the NFL is happy thinking Gene Upshaw and the NFLPA is taking it on the chin for this one. But the reality is the entire NFL is looking bad. It is really up to the NFL owners to authorize the expenditure to cover this not the NFLPA.
How about the NFL not waste their money on the SuperBowl halftime acts, which is a joke anyways and spend it to build a fund to pay for the medical costs of the needy ex players?

Skinsfan1967 · 07-15-2007, 02:36 PM

I think the NFL and NFLPA need to work on this together. Somewhere between employer and union there is a solution, getting both factions to spend the money is the problem. The former players paid dues to the NFLPA which helps to pay Upshaw's salary, he does owe them some attention. The NFL makes enough money to at least set up a collection fund. Even a token gesture would be an improvement over what either one does currently.

Redskin Rich · 07-15-2007, 04:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dmek25

why don't these guys have a sit down and make it work? in sticking up for Upshaw, he is under no obligation to do anything

You are correct, Upshaw's represents the current players... but.... the current players will at some point be in the same boat as these older guys.... and these older guys took it on the chin so the younger one's could make the cash.

While it is actually the NFL owners who need to step up with the bucks, they won't do it until the NFLPA uses it's weight to lean on the owners.

As I said, the young guys have to learn that at some point, they will be old.

dmek25 · 07-15-2007, 04:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Defensewins

With the billions of dollars the NFL makes each year it is a crime they are not taking care of the guys that got them to where the NFL is now. What happened to taking care of their own?
The greed of these owners is a astonishing. This is a potential PR nightmare.

I have a feeling the NFL is happy thinking Gene Upshaw and the NFLPA is taking it on the chin for this one. But the reality is the entire NFL is looking bad. It is really up to the NFL owners to authorize the expenditure to cover this not the NFLPA.
How about the NFL not waste their money on the SuperBowl halftime acts, which is a joke anyways and spend it to build a fund to pay for the medical costs of the needy ex players?

i am not arguing about the greed of everyone involved, the owners have very little to do with this. its all about the union

SmootSmack · 07-15-2007, 04:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Redskin Rich

You are correct, Upshaw's represents the current players... but.... the current players will at some point be in the same boat as these older guys.... and these older guys took it on the chin so the younger one's could make the cash.

While it is actually the NFL owners who need to step up with the bucks, they won't do it until the NFLPA uses it's weight to lean on the owners.

As I said, the young guys have to learn that at some point, they will be old.

Apparently though, today's players do more for yesterday's players than those players did for their own predecessors back in the day. It's like the pot calling the kettle black. Or so I've heard

Skinsfan1967 · 07-15-2007, 04:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SmootSmack

Apparently though, today's players do more for yesterday's players than those players did for their own predecessors back in the day. It's like the pot calling the kettle black. Or so I've heard

The income potential for today's players is in the millions per year, the guys from the seventies made about half the current league minimum. The league is bigger and more profitable now, players and owners,imo, owe the former players at least a small amount of effort.

Redskin Rich · 07-15-2007, 04:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SmootSmack

Apparently though, today's players do more for yesterday's players than those players did for their own predecessors back in the day. It's like the pot calling the kettle black. Or so I've heard

The old players had no clout to take care of anything. If you read the article about how little these hall of famers made. Yes, it was a decent paycheck, but they were not considered as much of an asset as they are now (because the owner's were not worth as much then).

The current players have the obligation to use their status to help put pressure on those who own the pyramids to help take care of the laborers who built them with their own sweat.

07-15-2007, 01:45 PM	#1
Redskin Rich The Starter Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 1,420	Joe D & Gene Upshaw Joe D was in my town this weekend at an autograph appearance. Apparently he gave an interview to the local paper: Fredericksburg.com - Hall of Fame blocker is on a crusade for NFL retirees Man, I hope this group of older players finally embarrass the NFL Owners enough to step up.

07-15-2007, 02:02 PM	#2
dmek25 MVP Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: lancaster,pa Age: 63 Posts: 10,672	Re: Joe D & Gene Upshaw why don't these guys have a sit down and make it work? in sticking up for Upshaw, he is under no obligation to do anything __________________ "It's better to be quiet and thought a fool than to open ones mouth and remove all doubt." courtesy of 53fan

07-15-2007, 02:04 PM	#3
Skinsfan1967 Special Teams Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Frederick, Maryland Age: 58 Posts: 254	Re: Joe D & Gene Upshaw Donnie Green, offensive lineman for the Bills in the 70's, lives at a homeless shelter in Hagerstown MD. He gets $300 a month pension from the NFL. He does a few local card shows so if you see him please buy an autograph, usually $5.

07-15-2007, 02:23 PM	#4
Defensewins Playmaker Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Houston, Texas Posts: 3,765	Re: Joe D & Gene Upshaw With the billions of dollars the NFL makes each year it is a crime they are not taking care of the guys that got them to where the NFL is now. What happened to taking care of their own? The greed of these owners is a astonishing. This is a potential PR nightmare. I have a feeling the NFL is happy thinking Gene Upshaw and the NFLPA is taking it on the chin for this one. But the reality is the entire NFL is looking bad. It is really up to the NFL owners to authorize the expenditure to cover this not the NFLPA. How about the NFL not waste their money on the SuperBowl halftime acts, which is a joke anyways and spend it to build a fund to pay for the medical costs of the needy ex players?

07-15-2007, 02:36 PM	#5
Skinsfan1967 Special Teams Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Frederick, Maryland Age: 58 Posts: 254	Re: Joe D & Gene Upshaw I think the NFL and NFLPA need to work on this together. Somewhere between employer and union there is a solution, getting both factions to spend the money is the problem. The former players paid dues to the NFLPA which helps to pay Upshaw's salary, he does owe them some attention. The NFL makes enough money to at least set up a collection fund. Even a token gesture would be an improvement over what either one does currently.

Joe D & Gene Upshaw

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