Gene Upshaw..... go back..... to the future!

Dear NFL Retired Players:

First, I would like to thank all the former players that over the past year have spoken out publicly on issues regarding the NFLPA, NFL Management, the NFL Pension Plan and NFL Disability Plan. To name just a few: Joe DeLamielleure, Tom Matte, Deacon Jones, John Mackey, John Unitas, Mercury Morris, Ordell Braase, Bruce Laird, Mike Siani, Marcus Allen, Doug Goodwin, Joe Montana, Mike Webster, Jim Otto, Howie Long, Jim Plunkett, MacArthur Lane, Charlie Krueger, Herb Aderley and Dan Colchico. All retired players owe a debt of gratitude to you for the courage it took to speak out.

Now everything is in the hands of Gene Upshaw and the current players.

Ed Garvey was the executive director of the NFLPA before Gene Upshaw took control, and Gene likes to quote him from time to time. "He always ... told us, `One day, you will not be in this room making decisions. Someone else will be in this room making decisions [on the CBA] and don't ever forget to go back.' Gene Upshaw concluded this statement made to the Charlotte Observer by saying "We never have forgot to go back and we never will and history shows that."

But then in an article in the New York Times on February 2, 2006 Upshaw said he would not ask the players to contribute more. "Any money that goes to retired players comes from players playing today," he said. "We pay $5 million per month in benefits. I have to be concerned with widows and survivors. I have to get them an increase."

Gene goes on to say, "I tell the former players this, and they don't like to hear it, but there is no way we can make their pension like today's player. We can't afford it."

Personally speaking, I don't think most of the retired players want a pension like today's players, but we do want something better than what we've got. As a result of the new CBA, the team salary cap will increase by approximately 7.5 million this year. The problem is, as Gene mentioned, any money that goes to retired players comes from players playing today. That's because Gene agreed to fold the pension plan into the salary cap figure in 1993. Now.... if retired players want any increase, it will effectively reduce the salary cap, which in turn will reduce the overall money that current players will have. Was it wise to tie the pension plan to the salary cap? There are pros and cons to this issue, but the only thing that matters at this point is....... will the current players give up money to help retired player pensions?

It is pretty obvious to everyone that is familiar with the salaries and benefit packages of current players that they will all do exceptionally well even if they gave up a portion of the $240 million increase in the overall salary cap.
The problem is, that only breaks down to a 7.5 million increase per team. Even before the players have ratified the agreement, teams like the Washington Redskins are already working deals based on this new cap figure.

Again, its up to the players at this point, but it sure would be nice if Gene Upshaw would make an impassioned plea to the current players, and ask them to go back to the past to help...our future.

It wouldn't hurt his legacy.