63 at 63

Sad news this morning, Hall of Fame former player and head of the NFL Players Association Gene Upshaw is dead at 63. Pancreatic cancer diagnosed over the weekend took his life late last night.

The suddenness of the diagnosis coupled with Upshaw's flurry of activity over the prior months renders the news shocking to say the least. During the slow offseason, Upshaw remained very visible, talking candidly with the media at the annual owners' and players' meetings as well as giving several speeches responding to Commissioner Roger Goodell on various labor issues.

While perhaps a stretch to term the union head embattled, Upshaw certainly set himself up for a fight in the coming months and year. The NFL owners opted out of the Collective Bargaining Agreement in spring. And Upshaw faced discontent from within the Players Association's Executive Committee about his leadership in the coming labor battle.

Upshaw managed as he often did over his lengthy tenure at the top of the union to hold his enemies at bay. But his passing certainly throws a sizable wrench into the labor negotiations. Upshaw often straddled the line between fighting issues outright - for instance, preparing to dig his heels in rejection of Goodell's call for a rookie payscale - and working closely in compromise with the NFL commissioner and owners.

I'm reminded of Upshaw's constant intonations to the media over the past several months that a future work stoppage is far from imminent. I wonder if whoever grasps the reigns of power in the union - perhaps Troy Vincent, perhaps Kevin Mawae, perhaps some dark horse candidate - can wield the power required to offer that same assurance?

Upshaw's legacy is a contentious one to say the least. As a player, he was a well respected All Pro with the Raiders who along with Art Shell embodied the consistent excellence of the 70s-early 80s Oakland teams without the notoriously dirty play.

Upshaw quickly ascended through the union ranks and oversaw the union through the labor strike of 1987 and the institution of free agency and the salary cap. Through this singularly profitable period for NFL players, they've had only one head of their union, Gene Upshaw.

Yet while Upshaw helped players secure free agency and a larger share of the football revenue pie, he also treated important issues callously. When some retired players called for better benefits for veterans, Upshaw responded with threats, in one case wishing physical violence upon one outspoken veteran.

Gene Upshaw's passing alters the landscape of professional football. For good or ill - and I suspect it's a lot of both - Upshaw was a giant in the NFL, for his on the field abilities as much as his off the field power. For forty years, the NFL was a central part of his life. And there's no doubting he leaves a sizable imprint on the League in return.