Gene Upshaw League Quotations

March 3 will be the beginning of a new league year and we are just not there yet. I'm taking the position now that it won't get done.

Wellington Mara was a true pioneer who understood what it took to make the National Football League great. History will show that his vision, integrity and willingness to share with small-market clubs paved the way for economic success.

Once we get to the league year, I don't see us getting a deal done any time soon. We're taking the position we're not going to get this resolved, so you should go ahead and do contracts based on that.

This agreement is not about one side winning or losing. Ultimately, it is about what is best for the players, the owners and the fans of the National Football League . . . This new agreement gives us the opportunity to continue our unprecedented success and growth.

He said that I had to stay on this. He was very adamant about his position on it. We're all going to be at the services, but we cannot forget the principles and integrity and what he stood for. He did it and now it's what every other league is trying to do.

They've taken the concept of designated gross revenue and changed it to total football revenue and basically come up with the same amount they're paying the players now, ... They have not made a proposal to us since we started this whole process. All they say is, 'We reject whatever you want.' Then they say what we want is too much. . . . Once we get to March 2006, when the league calendar starts, as far as we're concerned there's no need to make a deal. If that's what they want, we'll go there too.