Some thoughts from Gene Upshaw
In June of 2008, just 2 months before Gene Upshaw’s death and one month after the NFL owners opted out of the current labor deal that will expire at midnight on Thursday, I did a 90-minute interview with the late NFLPA executive director in his Washington, D.C. office. Here a few interesting snippets from that interview:
Some thoughts from Gene Upshaw
Paul Domowitch, Daily News NFL Columnist
In June of 2008, just 2 months before Gene Upshaw’s death and one month after the NFL owners opted out of the current labor deal that will expire at midnight on Thursday, I did a 90-minute interview with the late NFLPA executive director in his Washington, D.C. office. Here a few interesting snippets from that interview:
(on former commissioner Paul Tagliabue): ``Probably the most important thing Paul has done is kept us out of the courtroom. He knew and I knew that if we stayed out of the courtroom and used the league’s assets, which is the players, we could grow the game in a way that would be unbelievable. And that’s what happened.’’
(on the owners wanting cap credit for stadium repairs and other capital improvements in addition to stadium construction): ``That’s the issue. We agreed it had to be revenue-producing (to get cap credit from the union). They can’t just do stuff because they want to do it and think we’re going to help pay for it. That’s not going to happen. Because at the end of the day, they still own the stadium, not us.’’
(on Tagliabue’s successor, Roger Goodell): ``Rogers has to be able to do what Paul was able to do all those years, which was build a consensus. Paul never walked into a room and took a vote. It took him time. That was the way he worked. But there are a lot of new owners now that Roger’s dealing with that Paul didn’t have to deal with. That makes the dynamics a little different. But Roger and I have been able to work together on all of the issues so far. This (a new CBA) will be the test. This will definitely be the test. Because the thing about what we both do, I have to deliver the players and he has to deliver the owners. If either one of us can’t do that, we can’t make a deal. There won’t be a deal. I need him to be strong and he needs me to be strong.’’
(on the owners claim that the current labor deal is unbalanced and weighted too much toward the players) ``We’re not taking their word and their reporting system as a means to determine how well they’re doing. There’s a lot we would need to see and digest and believe. It can’t just be the same reporting package that (each team) sends to the league. Because they lie. If you look at the Packers financials from a year ago, they made $18 million. The league says, `Well, that’s an anomaly. They’re different.’ Yeah, they’re different (community-owned). But $18 million is $18 million. Any company would love to make $18 million. You’ve got stadiums and franchises increasing in value every year. You’ve got your payroll pretty much set. And you’re able to make $18 million profit? Not a bad deal.’’
Gene Upshaw, one tough hombre. He will be missed in these negotiations because I don't think the new players rep has his credibility.— Cameiros- The weird thing is the players might come out better economically by caving. A long lockout will be bad for the league, which is bad for the players. Not just for rookies, but for most players there may never be a year as good as 2010.— armchairGM
- Makes me wonder where Lurie is going to get the funding to pay for making the Linc green. He's not doing just because he's got $ or because he loves the environment. He's gotta to feel somebody will help foot the bill. Stadium improvements cannot be taken from player salaries. Way too many issues the owners want to push without giving in on. The players are going to have to bend some too and sadly I am sure we'll see an 18 game schedule with expanded roster of some sort. This is going to ruin the game a bit...they really had to go fugg with a really good product...enough is never enough for the greedy.— glove69
- Aren't things that are done for the good of the environment tax write offs? If so we are footing that bill as well...
- Everyone is greedy. It's human nature to be greedy. I just hope the players don't bend too much. And I don't think we need an 18 game season. — AZcigarman1
- Owners get the TV money even if games are not played. They hold a serious hammer.— TPMILLER
- Judge just put the kabosh on the TV money. Now the owners have to negotiate. When the owners cry "poor the players should point to Lurie. He overspent for the Eagles for $185 mill 15 years ago and now he's a billionaire. Anybody anywhere have any kind of return like that on an investment?— mike l
Comment removed.- AS a fan of the NFL for over 50 Years Both sides have much to lose it is not how much Lurie spent for the Eagles it is about the product he puts on the field since he took over it is us the fans who raised the value of his purchase because we buy our season tickets and Eagles gear my NFL game day on Direct TV Sunday night and Monday night football I no longer live in Philly and have season tickets where I live and all though I route for the team in this town when Philly shows up every 5 years all the people I sit by know I am going to be in Green the players and owners shold think of us the fan for once. As for the 18 game season I would like to have more regular season ganes then 4 preseson games I think the product can just as good There are players who never get the chance to play in the NFL bcause they only have 7 rounds in the draft they will have to dig deeper I live in HOUSTON now and if we did not have a practice Squad would we have Arian Foster I don't think so and there are probably many more players that fit this bill get over it play football— EaglesLifer
