RIP Oakland Raider Great Gene Upshaw
 

Gene Upshaw died today from pancreatic cancer at age 63, just four days after being diagnosed with the disease.

http://supahz.250x.com/footballr/upshaw01.jpg

Gene Upshaw played guard for the Oakland Raiders for 15 years, and was one of the greatest NFL linemen ever. His accomplishments were many, numerous All-Pro and Pro-Bowl selections, and three Super Bowl rings, all while with the Silver and Black.

Following his playing career, Upshaw was inducted into the NFL Hall of Fame. He also played a major role as head of the NFL Players Association, negotiating several collective bargaining agreements for the Union.

Gene Upshaw will be missed by the entire Raider Nation, and will be remembered by legions of NFL fans for decades to come.

RIP Gene Upshaw...

ADG

knowone cares! he's a Raider!

j/k

the Riader in me weeps inside...the good old glory days seem to be far behinds us lately...

RIP to a good man. being a charger fan I hate all raiders but to a good guy. RIP

Wow! Sad news. R.I.P. :(

RIP Gene.. another legend passes...

props to section 131.... and the black hole.. raider nation baby

RIP Gene.. another legend passes...

props to section 131.... and the black hole.. raider nation baby

That sucks - he was also the president of the player's union right?

Rip .....

It's a sad day for Raider Nation. We fly the silver and black and half mast today.

That is sad...may he RIP

yep he was the president of the NFL Players Association for the past 25 years or so - turbulent times ahead i predict for the NFL without him. Some give him credit for building the NFL into the most successful professional sports league in the world by working with the owners, no guaranteed contracts allowing them to build the league with only the one work stoppage - others see him as a guy who sold out the players, especially the old retired players from the 60s, 70s and 80s who played before the huge money and are suffering from horrible diseases and conditions resulting from their football careers and Upshaw and the union and the owners have done little to take care of them despite how rich the owners and today's players have become - and still the only professional sports league, the most violent one, with the shortest career length, WITHOUT guaranteed contracts for its players.

I heard today that the Union is going to consult with Donald Fehr about a successor - which for NFL fans is a nightmare waiting to happen possibly.