RetiredPlayers.Org

According to the National Football League Players Association’s latest tax filing with the Department of Labor, Executive Director Gene Upshaw was paid at least $6,664,577 for his union related activity for the time period from March 1, 2006, to February 28, 2007. The union’s tax filing shows that Upshaw received a Gross Salary Disbursement of $4,264,577, which includes a bonus of $3,600,000.  Upshaw also received a bonus of $2,400,000 from Players Inc, for a total of $6,664,577.

The USA Today NFL Salary Database shows only 83 of the 2,486 current NFL players the NFLPA reportedly represents had “total salaries” more than Upshaw’s $6,664,577 during the 2006 season.  A list of the total salaries of those 83 players as listed in the USA Today salary database can be viewed by clicking here. Upshaw’s union related compensation was greater than 96 percent of current NFL players total salaries for the 2006 season.  Information for the 2007 NFL season is not yet available.

Donald Fehr, Executive Director of the Major League Baseball Players Association, was paid $1,000,000 for the time period from January 1, 2006, to December 31, 2006, according to tax filings.  Billy Hunter, Executive Director of the National Basketball Players Association, was paid $2,318,259 for the period from July 1, 2006, to June 30, 2007.  Both Fehr and Hunter’s pay was greater than the salaries of roughly 50 percent of the players they represent in their respective unions.  About half of the players in Major League Baseball and the National Basketball Association made more than their union Executive Directors.  Major League Baseball and National Basketball Association salary information is available on the USA Today salary database.

RetiredPlayers.Org has spoken to several current NFL players, including former union represenatatives, who did not know Upshaw made at least $6,664,577 during the 2006 season.  If today’s players do not know what they are paying Upshaw, there is not enough transparency in his compensation package.  For instance, there is no way to determine the amount of Upshaw’s salary from Players Inc by looking at the NFLPA’s tax filings.  According to the union’s latest LM-2 filing, Upshaw’s Players Inc salary is some unknown portion of $14 million of deferred compensation.

NFL player salary and contract information is available to the general public through publications such as USA Today; shouldn’t the players who employ Upshaw be informed of the exact amount he is paid?

Please check out:

• An article from August 20, 2007, in which Yahoo Sports’ Mike Silver discusses the potentially deadly conditions of NFL training camps.

• Joe Henderson of The Tampa Tribune penned two articles regarding the use of drugs to cope with pain.  One article focuses on current NFL players using painkillers to play through injury and the other focuses on the methods retired NFL players use to cope with chronic pain.

• Retired player advocate Bruce Laird named Stan’s Man of the Year.