Sources: Upshaw at work trying to fortify position

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UPSHAW FEARED THAT VINCENT WOULD UNDERMINE HIM?
Published 4/11/2008 by Mike Florio at ProFootballTalk.com
When it comes to the NFLPA brouhaha regarding the status of Executive Director Gene Upshaw, we’re reading between the lines more than we usually do. We’re doing that because:  (1) Upshaw’s heart-on-his-sleeve style make it easier to accurately do so; and (2) it’s obvious that there has been, and surely still is, plenty of stuff going on behind the scenes on this one. The latest report on the subject from Chris Mortensen of ESPN speaks directly to speculation that Monday’s announcement that Clark Gaines will be the Assistant Executive Director sparked the Matt Stover e-mail ...

Goodbye, Gumbel: Bryant Bolts From NFL Network
Published 4/11/2008 by jason at SPORTSbyBROOKS
... had a message for then-incoming NFL commissioner Roger Goodell about the executive director of the NFL Players’ Association: “Before he cleans out his office, have Paul Tagliabue show you where he keeps Gene Upshaw’s le a sh . By making the docile head of the players union his personal pet, your predecessor has kept the peace without giving players the kind of guarantees other pros take for granted. Try to make sure no one competent ever replaces Upshaw on your watch.” Based on recent drama surrounding Upshaw , Gumbel may have a point. (However, Mike Freeman of CBS SPORTS ...

Upshaw Asks Two Former Players to Join NFLPA
Published 4/14/2008 by Bill Jordan at The Biz of Football :: Part of the Business of Sports Network
... This seems to be Upshaw’s attempt to get some job security, as reported by Chris Mortensen of ESPN.com:  ...