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When did these two guys play? If they didn't like the NFL's retirement plan when they ended their careers, maybe they should have gotten involved with the NFLPA. How much was Gene Upshaw supposed to do? I guess that Huff and Boyd expected Upshaw to have every player who has ever played in the NFL covered under the NFL's retirement plan? I am sure the Gene Upshaw did as much as he could. Don't these two guys think that Upshaw would have gotten more for the players if he could. If these two players feel that they are entitled to more than they are getting, then they should complain to the Commisioner. The NFLPA negotiated with the Commisioner. He was the one who refused the player's demands, not Upshaw.

Spam.....90% correct. You need to look back, and take care of the "founding" fathers of the NFL as an example to the rest of the players still playing. The league is far more solvent now than it was in the growing years of the 40's thru the 60's. You can't compare a player who made $10,000 a year, to a player who averages a base salary of $350,000+ a year.

Sounds to me like they should have been putting money into a mutual fund or IRA. Don't be mad at Upshaw. Especially if you're an EX-player, theres no EX-player's union...maybe someone should start one and stop whining?

If they really want to fix the problem, they would have the NFL become a publiclly traded company and give stock options....when players retire, the stock options would vest and, should the NFL continue its success, the retired players would have rediculous amounts of money in unspent stocks. If this happened at the beginning, the older players would have stock in the largest most successful sports league and would be rolling in dough somewhat like the janitorial staff at Microsoft. They got MS stock options and are now millionaires.

Typical of some people. Why is it somebodys elses responsibility to take care of you. You were given a paycheck when you played, what you did with that money is all on you. Do you also think that ex employees who worked for McDonalds in the very beginning should be compensated because look how big they are now??

Do you also think that ex employees who worked for McDonalds in the very beginning should be compensated because look how big they are now??

BUCKGUY | 08/22/08, 08:04 AM

You seen McBurglar? His knees are gone. There will be nothing left for us following the baby boomers lol

If they really want to fix the problem, they would have the NFL become a publiclly traded company and give stock options....when players retire, the stock options would vest and, should the NFL continue its success, the retired players would have rediculous amounts of money in unspent stocks. If this happened at the beginning, the older players would have stock in the largest most successful sports league and would be rolling in dough somewhat like the janitorial staff at Microsoft. They got MS stock options and are now millionaires.

-Loki- | 08/22/08, 07:59 AM

That would be too much like right..I wish I would have been a janitor at mircosoft...

RWhite, Sam Huff just got into the hall of fame, was a player for the Giants, and why shouldn't every player that put in X number of years expect a retirement? They'd get it in most major corporations.

Understand your bitterness towards the man but, come on, wrong time to be airing your grievances again. Let them bury the man for God's sake.

You guys just don't get it. They were injured in the line of duty. If I get injured during the normal operations of my job, my company is responsible to pay my workers comp. The NFL should be no different. The problem is not that they don't have a program to take care of these retired/disabled players...the problem is the system is set up to 1) run the retiree in circles so he will give up before the process of filing a claim is complete or 2) deny the man benefits through fraudulent medical examinations and bogus excuses.

Understand your bitterness towards the man but, come on, wrong time to be airing your grievances again. Let them bury the man for God's sake.

Hooah05! | 08/22/08, 08:27 AM

Agree, now is not the time.

They get a retirement! They just feel that with the amount of money the NFL makes that they should get a bigger check.

While Gene Upshaw is not at fault for this problem (he works for current players), it is a really crappy system. The NFL is getting away with murder...

Recently retired players get a retirement...but not those guys from that era...

Bad knees - or dead. You choose.

To those who don't understand the sacrifices these men made on their bodies to further a game that allows guys to make millions, shame on you.

Today is the day for those who feel the need to honor Gene Upshaw to do so, his family doesn't need this right now. All those who are not fans of Mr. Upshaw's performance in regards to retired players (myself included) have all the time in the world to air greivances once the man is buried and mourned.

Can't we have just a tinge of decency in death..

Maybe every year 10% of current salaries should be put into a fund for retired players....Retired players would get 10% of what players make now but current players, when they retire, would make 10% of whatever salaries will have bloated to by that time...

my condolences to Upshaws family, however during this period of mourning and out of respect for the man, just a few days of biting our tounges and having some decency is the respectful thing to do.

Maybe every year 10% of current salaries should be put into a fund for retired players....Retired players would get 10% of what players make now but current players, when they retire, would make 10% of whatever salaries will have bloated to by that time...
-Loki- | 08/22/08, 08:35 AM
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That's the thing...the players do put into a retirement fund...similar to social security. The problem is, the system is set up to deny the would-be beneficiaries. Guess who gets to keep the money if the players are denied?

There is actually a federal investication into the NFL's benefits program and all it's failures.

"my condolences to Upshaws family, however during this period of mourning and out of respect for the man, just a few days of biting our tounges and having some decency is the respectful thing to do.

vaughn9 "

Some of these retired guys are having trouble getting three hots and a cot.....they don't neccessariy have that much time, and they'vc been asking for help from the Union and Upshaw for years