NFL union head Gene Upshaw has never been one to hide his emotions. An ex-NFL player thinks this time he's gone too far.
Buffalo Bills Hall of Famer Joe DeLamielleure said he takes literally a remark Upshaw made about wanting to "break his ... damn neck."
"He is the head of a union. He has the wherewithal to do it," DeLamielleure said Tuesday.
Upshaw made the comment last week to the Philadelphia Daily News. DeLamielleure, a former guard who was part of Buffalo's "Electric Company" offensive line in the 1970s, believes Upshaw has ignored the needs of former players.
"Our pensions stink," the 56-year-old DeLamielleure said.
He and fellow Hall of Famers Mike Ditka and Lem Barney held a pre-Super Bowl news conference in February to air those concerns.
Upshaw notes that pension payouts have increased and a plan has been enacted to help former players with dementia. He told the Philadelphia newspaper last week that he was tired of DeLamielleure's criticism.
"A guy like DeLamielleure says the things he said about me; you think I'm going to invite him to dinner? No. I'm going to break his ... damn neck," he said. DeLamielleure, who lives in Charlotte, N.C., said the comments frightened his family.
"He can't patch it up — ever," DeLamielleure said. "I had to explain what it means that someone wants to break Grandpa's neck."
Buffalo Bills Hall of Famer Joe DeLamielleure said he takes literally a remark Upshaw made about wanting to "break his ... damn neck."
"He is the head of a union. He has the wherewithal to do it," DeLamielleure said Tuesday.
Upshaw made the comment last week to the Philadelphia Daily News. DeLamielleure, a former guard who was part of Buffalo's "Electric Company" offensive line in the 1970s, believes Upshaw has ignored the needs of former players.
"Our pensions stink," the 56-year-old DeLamielleure said.
He and fellow Hall of Famers Mike Ditka and Lem Barney held a pre-Super Bowl news conference in February to air those concerns.
Upshaw notes that pension payouts have increased and a plan has been enacted to help former players with dementia. He told the Philadelphia newspaper last week that he was tired of DeLamielleure's criticism.
"A guy like DeLamielleure says the things he said about me; you think I'm going to invite him to dinner? No. I'm going to break his ... damn neck," he said. DeLamielleure, who lives in Charlotte, N.C., said the comments frightened his family.
"He can't patch it up — ever," DeLamielleure said. "I had to explain what it means that someone wants to break Grandpa's neck."
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