TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

Upshaw Prepares For Worst

ADVERTISEMENT

The Tampa Tribune

Published: February 1, 2008

Updated: 02/01/2008 12:25 am

Gene Upshaw has heard the war cry from Denver's Pat Bowlen and other NFL owners unhappy with the labor agreement hammered out in March 2006.

The executive director of the NFL Players Association vowed Thursday that his union is preparing a strategy to deal with an expected move by management this fall.

"It's very clear to us that owners are going to terminate this deal in November," Upshaw said, "and I have prepared our players for the worst."

According to the CBA, either side can opt out in November. If the owners choose to terminate the agreement, there would be no salary cap in place for the 2010 season.

"The owners' attitude is that the players have too good of a deal," Upshaw said. "I can't convince the players that they should take less so that the owners should make more. I can't sell that. We're getting 60 percent of the revenues, and when all is said and done, we're not giving any of it back."

Bowlen and New England owner Robert Kraft have publicly stated their frustrations with the bargaining agreement, suggesting players are benefiting at the expense of the 32 franchises in a thriving $7 billion business.

"The economics in this league are good - and they're getting better," Upshaw said.

The union head also said the fate of the Pro Bowl remains uncertain.

"We're trying to determine where it should be played, when it should be played and whether it should be played at all," he said.

There is growing sentiment among NFL owners to shift the Pro Bowl site from Honolulu to the Super Bowl facility and play the annual matchup between AFC and NFC stars in the week following the conference championship games.

GIVING BACK: Upshaw, a Hall of Fame guard for the Raiders, again found himself accused of turning his back on former players during an emotional morning news conference that featured more than 40 retired standouts.

"Every day, I fight for the retired player," Upshaw said. "I'm not really concerned about my legacy."

The morning group included former Cowboys WR Michael Irvin and recently retired T Kyle Turley, who donated a game check last season to aid former players in financial need.

"Gene's really not doing his job, and he needs to do it," Turley said. "There's a very corrupt system in place."

NOT SO FAST: Richard Dent, the ex-Bears defensive end who will be considered for induction Saturday into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, isn't ready to declare the 18-0 Patriots the best team in league annals if they beat the Giants in Sunday's Super Bowl.

"We had a guy named Walter Payton on our club, and it seems to me the Patriots have quite a bit of a problem stopping the run," Dent said of the 1985 Bears, who finished 18-1 after burying New England 46-10 in the Super Bowl 22 years ago. "Defense wins championships, and I'd like our chances against them."

BY THE NUMBERS

$9,465,000

The NFL's 2008 franchise amount designated for the CB position, second only to quarterbacks at $10,730,000.

97

Designated spots on Radio Row in the media center. Thursday's guests included Chargers LB Shawne Merriman, Hall of Fame RB Barry Sanders and Andy Rooney of "60 Minutes."

35

People affiliated with the Tampa Bay Super Bowl Host Committee on site in Phoenix.

0

Media members sitting at a table with Giants second-year T Guy Whimper at Thursday's morning session.

BY THE NUMBERS

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT