The NFL Players Association union head director Gene Upshaw died on Wednesday from pancreatic cancer. Upshaw was 63 years old. Upshaw was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer only three days before his death, which was on Sunday. Upshaw's wife convinced Upshaw to go to the emergency room after she noticed he was breathing a little funny and differently. That is when he found out he had the cancer. There were no signs that Upshaw's health was rapidly deteriorating during the couple days between the diagnosis and his death. Suddenly, on Wednesday night, the cancer took his life. Upshaw played in the NFL from 1967-1981 with the Oakland/Los Angeles Raiders. He was a guard and he is the only player in the NFL to play in the Super Bowl in three different decades. He won two championships during his NFL career, and soon after his retirement from playing football, became an active member of the NFL Players Association in 1983, when he became executive director. He guided the players through the 1987 strike, when regular players crossed the picket lines. He was responsible in the institution of the salary cap and free agency, which helped players gain a lot more money. The salary cap and free agency was instituted in 1993. He has come under fire recently for abandoning the retired players with disabilities. Matt Stover, kicker for the Baltimore Ravens, drafted a plan to oust Upshaw from his position soon. How will Upshaw's death affect the players? How will he be remembered?
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