Burning Up: Former NFLPA Founding Member Criticizes Upshaw

NFLPA Founding Member Blasts Gene Upshaw

Former Browns DB Bernie Parrish, a founding member of the NFLPA is “pushing for congressional hearings on the NFLPA’s actions, including the recent suspension of agent Carl Poston,” according to Bob Glauber of NEWSDAY. Parrish: “It’s an arbitrary decision with Carl Poston by not allowing due process. I want to get congressional help, because it’s typical of how [NFLPA Exec Dir Gene] Upshaw has ruled through intimidation. It’s arbitrary and capricious the way Upshaw handles the agents.” Parrish also believes that HBO’s Bryant Gumbel “got it exactly right” with his comments recently about Upshaw. Parrish, on Gumbel saying NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue keeps Upshaw on a leash, “I don’t think I can say it any better.” Glauber noted Parrish also criticizes the union’s “failure to sufficiently improve benefits for retired players, even though Upshaw and his group recently won large increases from the league for pensions and health benefits.” Upshaw has yet to respond to Gumbel’s comments, but he is “furious at Parrish.” Upshaw said, “Bernie Parrish is a bald-faced liar with every statement he makes. When he got off the conference call we had, he lied about everything that was discussed. He’s making statements that I operate the union as a goon squad.” Upshaw added that Parrish “will receive a letter from union attorneys in the coming days, although he declined to say what will be in the letter” (NEWSDAY, 8/27).