THE AFTERLIFE — The late Gene Upshaw has been as active as ever.

Even after suddenly abandoning his post as former NFL Players Association presiden, Upshaw has taken a new position in the NFL’s labor battle. He’s now spearheading an effort to increase benefits for deceased NFL players.

“It’s high time that some of those dead players saw that money,” Upshaw said. “I know the money’s there, because I saw it and didn’t give it to anyone else.”

Upshaw points out that deceased players that played less than three years in the league currently receive a annual pension of $0, while those who played three years or more receive a payment of $0 per year.

“That’s despicable,” Upshaw said. “How’s a dead man supposed to live on zero dollars?”

The League’s ownership seems to be resistant toward Upshaw’s efforts.

“While I’m sympathetic to the various needs of dead players,” Patriots owner Robert Kraft said, “The money simply isn’t there. And secondly, lots of dead players are getting by on what the Players’ Association currently provides.”

Upshaw conceded that organizing the tens of thousands of deceased NFL players will be difficult.

“We’re not going to let these players just rot away, not while all the living players are earning millions. We’re going to get organized and we’re going to knock on the NFL’s door and get what we feel is rightfully ours.”

NFL commissioner Roger Goodell was not available for comment.