Gene Upshaw, Oakland Raider, Head of NFLPA, Passes Away
Upshaw had been instrumental in creating the NFL that we know today. As head of the players' union (NFLPA), Upshaw led the NFL into free agency. In exchange for a salary cap, the players' association were granted free agency.
Upshaw also worked hard to get players more money. When he started working for the NFLPA, the average player earned $100,000 per year. Currently, the average player earns $1.6 million per year.
As a player for the Oakland Raiders, Upshaw was a fighter. He battled on the field from 1967 to 1981. He is the only NFL player to go to three Super Bowl in three different decades all for the same team. He was a powerful guard that played in six NFL Pro Bowls. In 1987, Upshaw was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Former Oakland Raiders head coach John Madden said, according to the AP, "This is deeper than head of the union passing away, and it's deeper than an ex-player. This is missing someone that is and was like family. It's a tough day for all of us."
In 1980, when the Raiders won to their second Super Bowl, Matt Millen was just a rookie. Now Detroit Lions President, Millen said, according to the AP, "You can look at that body of work that he had when he played and he's in the Hall of Fame. You look at the body of work since he's played and it's Hall-of-Fame material, too."
Upshaw is survived by his sons Eugene Jr., Justin, Daniel, and his wife Terri.
Sources:
Dave Goldberg, NFLPA head Gene Upshaw dies of cancer at age 63, http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080821/ap_on_sp_fo_ne/fbn_obit_upshaw
Wikipedia, Gene Upshaw, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gene_Upshaw
Published by Kevin Craig
I am an high school English teacher in Connell, WA. I currently reside in Kennewick, WA with my wife of one year. I have not children and plan on returning to WSU to earn my Master's degree. View profile
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