by Alex Marvez

While Upshaw died unexpectedly Thursday of pancreatic cancer at age 63, his 25-year legacy as the NFL Players Association's executive director will live on.

Upshaw through the years

Photos: Gene Upshaw's 25-year tenure as head of the NFL Players' Association will be remembered for the advent of free agency, the expansive growth of the NFL, and unprecedented labor peace. Check out photos of Upshaw through the years as we remember an NFL icon. Retrospective

Each time a player opens a paycheck this season, they should think of Upshaw and thank him. The same goes for retired players — even the ones who felt Upshaw wasn't funneling enough money their way — when pension funds are deposited each month.

One of the league's best offensive linemen for 16 seasons with the Oakland Raiders, Upshaw was proof that Hall of Fame selections can become known for more than just their gridiron accomplishments. He blazed a trail by becoming one of the first African-Americans to rise into a high-ranking executive role.

NFL owners also will remember Upshaw, but probably not so fondly. The average player payroll for this season is an NFL-record $139 million. The number jumps next year to $149 million, which is one of the reasons teams voted unanimously to opt out of the current Collective Bargaining Agreement starting in 2011.

Almost 60 cents of every dollar generated by the NFL is returned to the union. That projects to a whopping $4.56 billion in 2008. Not even Upshaw could have envisioned such growth when negotiating his union's first CBA in 1993.

"Hopefully, everyone in this locker room recognizes they're a lot better for having Gene as their leader," New York Jets fullback and NFLPA committee member Tony Richardson told local media Thursday. "He did so much."

The average player salary is now in the seven figures. Elite veterans cashed in with record signing bonuses for their positions this off-season. Even some players who haven't sniffed a Pro Bowl like Jets linebacker Calvin Pace ($21.5 million guaranteed), Oakland safety Gibril Wilson ($16 million) and Minnesota wide receiver Bernard Berrian ($16 million) are set for life financially after scoring in unrestricted free agency — a concept that didn't exist until Upshaw's CBA went into effect.

"He's left us in a very good position," Philadelphia Eagles safety Brian Dawkins said in a team-released statement.

But not a perfect one.

Upshaw's critics had plenty of ammunition during the final years of his NFLPA tenure. He alienated some NFL alumni because of a perceived callousness toward their retirement and health benefits.

Massive rookie salaries became another area of contention. The top three picks in this year's draft (tackle Jake Long, defensive end Chris Long and quarterback Matt Ryan) received an average of $31.3 million in guaranteed money. Eight-digit bonuses were being paid to other top 10 selections with no NFL experience.

Upshaw contended those salaries were "market drivers" that had a positive trickle-down effect on veteran deals. But many current and former players don't buy such logic, including arguably the greatest running back of all time.

As the No. 6 overall selection by Cleveland in the 1957 draft, Jim Brown received a $10,000 base salary and $5,000 bonus that he jokes "would have been less if I hadn't hired a lawyer." According to the consumer price index, Brown's $15,000 salary for that season in today's marketplace would be worth a paltry $110,484.19.

"I don't begrudge the players, but I think the system is ridiculous," Brown said in late July. "You give them $20 million for nothing? Something is wrong with that."

Upshaw's plan to negotiate one final CBA agreement before retirement also had become controversial.

Before his death, Upshaw had refused to allow a succession plan to be put in place. Upshaw believed naming his eventual replacement could potentially undermine him and his dealings with NFL officials if negotiations turned ugly. Such logic has left the NFLPA scrambling to fill its leadership void.

But no matter who becomes the union's next boss, there will never be another Upshaw. Former NFL commissioner Paul Tagliabue said as much in a league-released statement.

"Few people in the (NFL's) history have played the game as well as Gene, then had another career in football with so much positive impact on the structure and competitiveness of the entire league," said Tagliabue, who negotiated all of the current CBA agreements with Upshaw.

"In both careers, if you hit him in the head, he could hit you back twice as hard. But he didn't always do so. He was very tough but also a good listener. He never lost sight of the interests of the game and the big picture."