In January, Scene wrote about the abandonment of NFL players after retirement, many of whom are saddled with health problems, tiny pensions, and impossible disability standards (“Forgotten Forefathers,” January 16). The chief of the players’ union (the NFLPA), Gene Upshaw isn’t exactly the picture of concern or sympathy for these guys — he’s declared that he works only for active players. After several attempts to reach Upshaw, I had to settle for an NFLPA spokesman — perhaps because every time Mean Gene talks to a reporter, he threatens or personally insults one of the complaining ex-players.
But reporters managed to corner Upshaw at a Super Bowl news conference last week, and the chief was as harshly dismissive as ever. …
This article appears in Jan 30 – Feb 5, 2008.