Union Needs a new Upshaw

We say entertainers pass away in threes. Does that apply to the sports world?

Over the weekend former Patriots owner James Orthwein died. The Red Sox got a scare as Hall of Fame outfield Carl Yastremski went to the hospital with chest pains and underwent triple bypass surgery.

Now, Hall of Fame guard and NFL Players Association executive director Gene Upshaw died Wednesday of pancreatic cancer. He was just 63 years old.

Unfortunately the freshest memory most people have of Upshaw is as the cantankerous negotiator for the NFLPA that seemingly ignored the pleas of many disabled players. Even if that is true, it fails to note how much he did for NFL players past, present, and future.

Upshaw is responsible for creating free agency, giving players the ability to play where they want. This kind of fflexibility didn't exist in the past. Upshaw also negotiated a much larger piece of the pie for the players. The numbers players sign for wouldn't be possible if it wasn't for Gene's toughness in the board room. He did such a good job negotiating the last collective bargaining agreement, with the players getting a 60 percent share of gross revenues, the owners already want out of the deal after just two years.

Before sticking it to the owners for over two decades, Upshaw beat down defenders in a 15-year Hall of Fame career with the Oakland Raiders. He played in three Super Bowls in three different decades, winning two, and seven Pro Bowl honors. He's considered an all-time great, possibly second only to the great John Hannah at the guard position.

For the moment, Richard Berthelsen steps into Upshaw's shoes, but it won't be easy to walk Upshaw's walk. It's unknown who will have to negotiate the next contract but they will have to reach agreements/concessions on issues like the share of the profits, a possible rookie salary cap, and try to satisfy the retired players who feel neglected.

Maybe the Patriots wouldn't have Mike Vrabel or Rodney Harrison if free agency didn't exist. We know LB Rosevelt Colvin wouldn't had been able to leave Chicago in 2003. Upshaw's work benefited all the players without undermining the league.

Whoever is selected to follow in Upshaw's footsteps has a daunting task. He needs to learn from what Upshaw did for the players association and how Upshaw did it, but make his own decisions. Upshaw led a strike in order to gain free agency years later. The framework is in place to avoid a work stoppage. Hopefully the next union executive director and the owners don't waste the work Upshaw did.

While Patriots fans must wait until Friday for their game against Philadelphia, there is San Francisco at Chicago on nationally. Both teams dealt with a quarterback controversey. San Fran's decision hasn't been made yet. But the Bears did, but it might not end Chicago's problems.