Kansas City Chiefs offensive tackle Kyle Turley ripped NFLPA leader Gene Upshaw Thursday for the way he has treated former players.
“You look at the situation that we’re in now, and it’s the direct fault of Gene Upshaw, the guys that have come before him, and the guys that are in these positions now,” Turley said. “He’s not doing his job, and he needs to do it. He’s got every opportunity to, and he’s not, for whatever reason, and he’s benefiting every year from a $7 million salary from Players Inc. and the union. It’s near criminal how some of these guys are being treated.”
“I have not yet seen Gene Upshaw or the players union or the National Football League, for that matter, have one person come forward and stand on their side and say that they are doing what they’re supposed to,” Turley said. “I had to stand alongside these men and not be associated with the neglect that is going on for too long.”
I completely agree with Turley. I had the opportunity a while back to sit down with former Chief and Lion Richard “Dirt” Jordan and he had very similar things to say about Upshaw. According to Jordan, the NFLPA has set up money-management programs for current players, so they’re going to be fine in the long run. It’s mind boggling how Upshaw simply refuses to help out players from his era, however.
