ESPN Mosley Blog: Cowboys Rivera unhappy with Upshaw
Current player unhappy with Upshaw
June 6, 2007 6:12 PM
Most of the criticism of NFLPA executive director Gene Upshaw has come from former players, but according to Cowboys veteran guard Marco Rivera, some current players share a similar opinion.
"Retired veterans were left out in the cold," Rivera said. "You go back to guys like [Johnny] Unitas, and those are the guys that put professional football on the map. They laid out everything for the gigantic contracts that we have today."
Rivera said the public feud between Upshaw and Hall of Famer Joe DeLamielleure is just another sign that it's time for the longtime union chief to step aside.
"I've come across a lot of players who are unhappy with our current union situation. I just don't want to be looking back as an oldtimer wondering why we didn't do anything about it. Guys out there are hurting, and somehow there's no money for them. Watching the way [Steelers Hall of Famer] Mike Webster went out, that bothers me a great deal."
Rivera said players needed a union leader who "won't leave any stone unturned." Soon, Rivera will meet with Cowboys owner Jerry Jones and discuss his future. Even though he's attempting to rehabilitate from his second major surgery in three years, Rivera said he's not ready to leave the game.
But it's obvious that, at age 35, he's thinking about what life without football will look like. And right now, he doesn't care for the view.
June 6, 2007 6:12 PM
Most of the criticism of NFLPA executive director Gene Upshaw has come from former players, but according to Cowboys veteran guard Marco Rivera, some current players share a similar opinion.
"Retired veterans were left out in the cold," Rivera said. "You go back to guys like [Johnny] Unitas, and those are the guys that put professional football on the map. They laid out everything for the gigantic contracts that we have today."
Rivera said the public feud between Upshaw and Hall of Famer Joe DeLamielleure is just another sign that it's time for the longtime union chief to step aside.
"I've come across a lot of players who are unhappy with our current union situation. I just don't want to be looking back as an oldtimer wondering why we didn't do anything about it. Guys out there are hurting, and somehow there's no money for them. Watching the way [Steelers Hall of Famer] Mike Webster went out, that bothers me a great deal."
Rivera said players needed a union leader who "won't leave any stone unturned." Soon, Rivera will meet with Cowboys owner Jerry Jones and discuss his future. Even though he's attempting to rehabilitate from his second major surgery in three years, Rivera said he's not ready to leave the game.
But it's obvious that, at age 35, he's thinking about what life without football will look like. And right now, he doesn't care for the view.
posted by The Gryphon at 9:55 PM
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