Gridiron ghosts

Sports Illustrated has a good article this week about the battle between long-retired NFL players and the players union -- and in particular their grudge against Executive Director Gene Upshaw -- over retirement and disability benefits. The writer, Gary Smith, is sympathetic to Upshaw -- the former players' real beef, Smith implies, is with the owners -- but he certainly gives the old guard a fair hearing.

The article should quiet anyone who begrudges superstar athletes, particularly in the NFL, their astronomical salaries. Imagine working your whole life for a career that may very well be over within 10 years, and that could leave you crippled and addled by the time you turn 50? I'm not sure it's such a great deal.