Players union head vague on StarCaps issues May 13, 2009
Smith wasnt very forthcoming with his feelings on the case one he inherited as the new NFLPA director from the late Gene Upshaw. When asked to speak in general terms about his stance on the StarCaps case, Smith, a lawyer by trade, said he wasnt interested in making those feelings public. (VikingUpdate.com)
NFL pension changes for coaches wreak havoc May 7, 2009
"If the Colts lost Moore and Mudd, it is believed current assistants Clyde Christensen (assistant head coach, receivers) and (assistant offensive line coach), would become prime candidates to replace them.League owners have privately said the dramatic changes in the economic market was more than doubling the amount of contributions -- one owner suggested the league-wide contribution projected a hike from $40 million to $90 million -- that teams were required to make under the former uniformed... (ESPN -- Football News)
Saints release list of rookie free agents May 5, 2009
He was a finalist for "The Gene Upshaw Division II Lineman of the Year" award and also was selected to play in the "East Coast Bowl" collegiate all-star game. Parnell played four seasons for the Ole Miss basketball team. (Nola.com -- Sports)
New NFLPA head Smith set for tussle May 1, 2009
Since being elected on the first ballot by 32 team representatives in mid-March to succeed the late Gene Upshaw, Smith has familiarized himself with the day-to-day responsibilities as the head of the players' union. He is the fourth leader in the union's 41-year history. (Nola.com -- Sports)
NFL coverage almost overkill Apr 30, 2009
Before he died, former NFLPA Executive Director Gene Upshaw said if teams went a season without a cap, players would never return to a salary-cap system. New director DeMaurice Smith has his work cut out for him. (AZCentral -- Sports)
MMQB: Tomlin's missed opportunity, the flawed 17-game plan & more Apr 1, 2009
NFL CBA negotiations to be tough without Dan Rooney, Gene Upshaw - Peter King - SI.com ... The NFL is in trouble without Dan Rooney and Gene Upshaw running these CBA negotiations. (SportsIllustrated.CNN -- NFL)
New NFL lobbyist out to give league a leg up in D.C. Mar 25, 2009
Coincidentally or not, the NFL players' union last week chose Washington lawyer DeMaurice Smith as its new executive director, replacing the late Gene Upshaw, who had predicted a lockout. Smith served on the Obama transition team and previously worked for Eric Holder, the nation's attorney general. (USA Today -- Sports)
NFL owners' agenda: Economy, more economy and the CBA Mar 23, 2009
DeMaurice Smith, elected last week as the new executive director of the NFL Players Association, set a hopeful yet unflinching tone after succeeding late union chief Gene Upshaw. The Washington, D.C., trial lawyer and frequent commentator on MSNBC's Hardball sounded as if he's ready to play hard ball with pro football owners. (USA Today -- Sports)
This is the week to tweak Mar 22, 2009
"Cherilus said he's looking forward to a fresh start with new coach Jim Schwartz."I spoke with him over the phone, and everything he said he had planned for us was great," said Cherilus. Etc. Some growing to do An issue to be discussed at the owners' meetings is expanding the regular season, though NFL spokesman Greg Aiello said there will be no vote taken on it. The league is expected to eventually expand to 17 or 18 regular-season games, but Aiello said the overall 20-game format would not... (Boston Globe)
New NFLPA chief Smith meets with Goodell Mar 21, 2009
Smith was elected Sunday to replace the late Gene Upshaw as the NFL Players Association chief. The 45-year-old Smith is a Washington attorney with connections to President Barack Obama and new Attorney General Eric Holder. (MSNBC -- Sports)
New NFLPA chief Smith, Goodell to meet Friday Mar 19, 2009
Smith was en route from Hawaii on Wednesday, three days after he was elected to replace the late Gene Upshaw as the NFL Players Association chief. He plans to announce his transition team Thursday. (ESPN -- Football News)
Lynch expects to be suspended by NFL Mar 19, 2009
Smith was en route from Hawaii yesterday, three days after he was elected to replace the late Gene Upshaw as the NFL Players Association chief. Smith, 45, is a Washington attorney with connections to President Obama and new Attorney General Eric Holder, but has no pro football background. (Boston Globe)
Cutler still a trade possibility? Mar 17, 2009
Hutchinson cast a vote in Sundays NFLPA election for a new executive director Sunday to replace the late Gene Upshaw. The NFLPA named DeMaurice Smith as its new executive director Sunday. (VikingUpdate.com)
STOP THE PRESSES: NFL's newsworthy offseason continues Mar 17, 2009
The NFLPA elects someone no one outside the District of Columbia Bar Association has ever heard of to succeed the late Gene Upshaw -- and all he has to do is go head-to-head with Roger Goodell on the most important CBA negotiation in a generation. One of the rising star quarterbacks in football, , moves closer and closer toward divorce court with the Broncos. (SportsIllustrated.CNN)
Sports Briefs: NFL players pick new leader for union Mar 17, 2009
He succeeds the late Gene Upshaw and guides the players into a critical era that includes negotiating a new collective bargaining agreement in the shadow of an economic meltdown. Smith was elected on the first ballot by the 32 representatives one for each NFL team and was introduced to a standing ovation. (Yahoo News -- Auto Racing)
New NFLPA boss eager to open labor talks Mar 17, 2009
The 45-year-old Smith, a Washington, D.C.-based attorney, succeeds the late Gene Upshaw as union boss following an election by the league's 32 player representatives in Hawaii on Sunday night ... "It is my sincere hope that DeMaurice Smith improves on the one key area where I think Gene Upshaw was derelict.". (ESPN -- Football News)
New union boss Smith set to talk labor Mar 17, 2009
Smith was elected in a unanimous vote to succeed the late Gene Upshaw ... The 45-year-old Smith, a Washington, D.C.-based attorney, succeeds the late Gene Upshaw as union boss following an election by the league's 32 player representatives in Hawaii on Sunday night. (SportsIllustrated.CNN -- NFL)
NFL: Attorney Smith elected NFLPA executive director at Maui meeting Mar 16, 2009
WAILEA, Maui DeMaurice Smith is the new executive director of the NFL Players Association, succeeding the late Gene Upshaw. Smith was elected today as the union's fourth leader in its 41-year history, and succeeds Upshaw, who died in August. (Honolulu Advertiser)
Attorney Smith elected NFLPA executive director Mar 16, 2009
DeMaurice Smith was elected Sunday as the new executive director of the NFL Players Association, succeeding the late Gene Upshaw and challenged with leading the union into a critical new era. . (Herald Sun)
NFLPA selects Smith as exec director Mar 16, 2009
He succeeds the late Gene Upshaw and guides the players into a critical era that includes negotiating a new collective bargaining agreement in the shadow of an economic meltdown. Clayton: Fresh Approach. (ESPN -- Football)
Smith elected NFLPA's new exec director Mar 16, 2009
Smith will succeed the late Gene Upshaw, the executive director from 1982-2008 ... After a long and often contentious search for a successor to former NFLPA executive director Gene Upshaw, who died of pancreatic cancer last August, Smith was elected by the union on the first ballot Sunday night at the Players Association's annual meeting in Maui. (SportsIllustrated.CNN)
IPFW falls to BYU in Long Beach Invitational Mar 15, 2009
The NFL Players Association will vote in a new union head today to replace the late Gene Upshaw. Arena League gets bargaining deal. (Yahoo News -- Auto Racing)
Following the money in free agency Mar 15, 2009
The NFL Players Association is holding its annual meeting in Hawaii this weekend, and the most important item on the docket is electing an executive director to take the place of Gene Upshaw, who died last August from pancreatic cancer. There are four finalists - former players Troy Vincent and Trace Armstrong, former NFL lawyer David Cornwell, and Washington attorney DeMaurice Smith - with a vote expected to be taken today by the 32-member board of player representatives. (Boston Globe)
NFL Notebook: New NFLPA leader faces uncertain times (Today) Mar 13, 2009
This weekend, NFL players will decide who will replace Gene Upshaw as the next leader of the National Football League Players Association. Some seven months after Upshaw's death, the NFLPA is expected to finally select a new executive director in a vote scheduled for Sunday. (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, PA -- Sports)
TIMELINE: Candidate selection process Mar 11, 2009
By Jarrett Bell, USA TODAY A timeline for the NFL Players Association selection process to find a successor to the late Gene Upshaw as the union's executive director. April 2008: A report published by Sports Business Journal, citing unnamed sources, alleges that players attending the March annual board of representative meetings in Maui considered a "coup" to oust Gene Upshaw as executive director. (USA Today -- Sports)
D.C. LAWYER: NFLPA job a 'calling' Mar 11, 2009
Although union chiefs for the three other major sports leagues are headed by attorneys who were not former players, the NFLPA thrived under the leadership of the late Gene Upshaw, a Hall of Fame guard who grew to have even more impact after his playing career. Whether NFL players are willing to try a different model is why some consider Smith a "compromise" candidate, given factions that support the ex-players. (USA Today -- Sports)
Sign of spring: NCAA berths for Bentley Mar 9, 2009
Cornwell, one of four finalists in the running to replace the late Gene Upshaw as the NFL Players Association's executive director, described the league's current disciplinary policy as "draconian" and requiring independent oversight. Currently, NFL suspensions are determined by commissioner Roger Goodell. (Boston Globe)
Attorney wants review of NFL discipline policy Mar 9, 2009
Cornwell, one of four finalists in the running to replace the late Gene Upshaw as the NFL Players Association's executive director, described the league's current disciplinary policy as being "draconian" and requiring independent oversight. "The notion that public relations drives or justifies draconian and unfair disciplinary actions is simply misplaced and we will no longer accept it," Cornwell told The Associated Press. (ESPN -- Football News)
Cornwell back in contention to take over NFLPA Mar 6, 2009
(AP) - Sports attorney David Cornwell has the written support of three NFLPA player representatives, putting himself back in the running to take over as the union's executive director to replace the late Gene Upshaw. NFLPA spokesman Carl Francis confirmed on Thursday that Cornwell has been added to the list of candidates, which also includes Trace Armstrong, DeMaurice Smith and Troy Vincent. (FindLaw News)
NFL Notebook: Cowboys officially unload Owens (Today) Mar 6, 2009
I look forward to the upcoming season and continuing to play in the NFL," Owens added. Owens caught more touchdown passes than any NFL receiver over the past three years and was a big part of Tony Romo's emergence from an unknown backup to a starlet-dating Pro Bowl quarterback with a $67 million contract. Yet the Cowboys went 0 for 2 in the playoffs with Owens, and didn't even make it this past season. Dallas' late-season collapse -- capped by a lackluster effort in a win-and-you're-in finale in... (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, PA -- Sports)
Holt angling for new opportunity Mar 6, 2009
BRIEFLY: Sports attorney David Cornwell is back in contention to become the NFLPA's executive director, providing the latest twist in what's been a divisive and unpredictable search process to determine who will replace the late Gene Upshaw. Veteran wide receiver Greg Lewis was traded by Philadelphia to New England for a draft pick. (News & Observer -- Sports)
Cowboys set to turn page Mar 6, 2009
Local Search Site Search. THIS STORY HAS BEEN FORMATTED FOR EASY PRINTING. (Boston Globe)
Cornwell on NFLPA ballot for executive director Mar 5, 2009
An NFLPA representative confirmed Cornwell joins former NFLPA presidents Trace Armstrong and Troy Vincent, along with D.C.-area attorney DeMaurice Smith, as candidates to replace Gene Upshaw, who died in August of pancreatic cancer. Player meetings begin March 14 in Maui, with the vote expected to take place March 15. (ESPN -- Football News)
HTA wants a do-over on NFL Pro Bowl offer Mar 4, 2009
James Tokioka, D-15th (Lihu'e, Koloa), said he recalls a discussion he had 10 years ago with the late NFL Hall of Fame member and players union president, Gene Upshaw, about how much the Honolulu destination means to the players. "They never wanted the game to leave Hawai'i," Tokioka said. (Honolulu Advertiser)
Roundup » Mar 2, 2009
Richardson is also in his second two-year term as a member of the NFL Players Association's executive committee, the group in charge of finding a replacement for the late Gene Upshaw as the union's executive director. GOODMAN, BRONCOS AGREE. (ESPN -- Football News)
NFL LAYOFFS: League cuts 169 jobs Feb 26, 2009
Some of the league's layoffs are clearly intended to impact talks on the collective bargaining agreement, which could start up this spring, after the NFL Players Association selects a new executive director to replace the late Gene Upshaw. The owners opted out of the contract last season, arguing it was too favorable to players, who receive nearly 60% of total revenues an estimated $4. (USA Today -- Sports)
Upshaw had proof Vincent leaked info Feb 26, 2009
Gene Upshaw had proof Troy Vincent released agents' information - Don Banks - SI.com ... With the NFL Players Association having outside legal counsel investigate whether former union president improperly released confidential information about agents to a longtime friend and business partner, Mark Mangum, sources tell SI.com that one revelation expected to come to light is that former NFLPA executive director Gene Upshaw had collected numerous internal e-mails from Vincent allegedly proving... (SportsIllustrated.CNN)
RB Taylor visits with Bills, Patriots Feb 25, 2009
Vincent is one of three finalists to replace Gene Upshaw, who died in August. The other candidates are former NFLPA president and current agent Trace Armstrong and Washington-based lawyer DeMaurice Smith. (Boston Globe -- Sports)
Putting league to the test Feb 22, 2009
Late NFL Players Association executive director Gene Upshaw was steadfastly against blood testing, consistently stating that he didn't want the players becoming pin-cushions. "Because they don't implement the blood test, there is no deterrence, which to me is equivalent to putting up a sign that says, 'Human growth hormone can be used here,' " Wadler said. (Boston Globe)
Rahul Gandhi calls urges Vadodra youth to join Congress Feb 14, 2009
WASHINGTON - MAY 19: National Football League Players Association Executive Director Gene Upshaw gestures as he appears before. Random Album. (Thaindian.com)
Vincent, Armstrong, Smith finalists for NFLPA job Feb 14, 2009
Former union presidents Troy Vincent and Trace Armstrong and lawyer DeMaurice Smith are the finalists to succeed Gene Upshaw as executive director of the NFL Players Association ... He will succeed Gene Upshaw, who died last August of pancreatic cancer. (MSNBC -- Sports)
Frank DefordVIEWPOINT Feb 12, 2009
The union is in a certain amount of disarray itself because its long-time president, Gene Upshaw, unexpectedly died a few months ago, and the dispute over a successor is ongoing. But above all the commerce and politics hovers the issue of health, which itself has caused a great rift between the past players and the union. (SportsIllustrated.CNN)
NFLPA appeals $28.1M payout to retired players Feb 8, 2009
Ronald Katz, a lawyer representing the retirees, told jurors that longtime union chief Gene Upshaw and others "betrayed the trust of their members" by neglecting the retired players, who pay $50 a year to keep their union membership. Upshaw died of cancer in August. (SportsIllustrated.CNN -- NFL)
