In this December 1970 file photo, Oakland Raiders' Gene Upshaw (63) and Hewitt Dixon, center right, look for the ball after Dixon fumbled near the goal line during an NFL football game against the San Francisco 49ers in Oakland, Calif. Upshaw, who was executive director of the NFL Players Association for more than 25 years, died Wednesday, Aug. 20, 2008. He was 63.

CHICAGO - AUGUST 21: Kyle Orton #18 of the Chicago Bears participates in warm-ups before a game against the San Francisco 49ers on August 21, 2008 at Soldier Field in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)

CHICAGO - AUGUST 21: Rex Grossman #8 of the Chicago Bears participates in warm-ups before a game against the San Francisco 49ers on August 21, 2008 at Soldier Field in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)

CHICAGO - AUGUST 21: Marcus Harrison #94 of the Chicago Bears warms-up before a game against the San Francisco 49ers on August 21, 2008 at Soldier Field in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)

CHICAGO - AUGUST 21: Devin Hester #23 of the Chicago Bears smiles at teammates during warm-ups before a game against the San Francisco 49ers on August 21, 2008 at Soldier Field in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)

In an undated handout photo released by The Detroit Lions, Lions guardEd Mulitalo, second from right, poses at Martin Luther King High School in Detroit, with music student Mario Rupert, left, band director Victoria Miller, second from left, students Breanna Crews, third from left, and Chloe Stanfield, right, and Mulitalo's daughter To'alima Mulitalo, third from right. Through his charitable foundation, Big Ed's Band, Ed helped the high school band go to China for the Olympics.

CHICAGO - AUGUST 21: Marty Booker #86 of the Chicago Bears catches a pass during warm-ups before a game against the San Francisco 49ers on August 21, 2008 at Soldier Field in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)

CHICAGO - AUGUST 21: Kevin Jones #27 of the Chicago Bears runs with the ball during warm-ups before a game against the San Francisco 49ers on August 21, 2008 at Soldier Field in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)

CHICAGO - AUGUST 21: Kevin Jones #27 of the Chicago Bears runs with the ball during warm-ups before a game against the San Francisco 49ers on August 21, 2008 at Soldier Field in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)

CHICAGO - AUGUST 21: Head coach Lovie Smith of the Chicago Bears watches warm-ups before a game against the San Francisco 49ers on August 21, 2008 at Soldier Field in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)

Gene Upshaw, pictured in January 2008, an 11-time all-star before going on to become executive director of the NFL's Players Association, died of cancer on Thursday. He was 63.

In this Sept. 23, 2007 file photo, Washington Redskins assistant head coach-offensive Joe Bugel during an NFL football game in Landover, Md. On Thursday, Aug. 21,2008, Bugel's 36-year-old daughter Holly lost her long battle with a rare form of bone cancer.

A sign about the death of Oakland Raiders Hall of Fame guard Gene Upshaw is posted at Ricky's Sports bar in San Leandro, Calif., Thursday, Aug. 21, 2008. Upshaw worked a quarter century as union head helped get NFL football players free agency and the riches that came with it. Upshaw died at age 63 on Wednesday night at his home near California's Lake Tahoe, of pancreatic cancer, which was diagnosed only last Sunday, the NFL Players Association said Thursday.

Oakland Raiders offensive guard Robert Gallery smiles at the Raiders football training camp in Alameda, Calif., Thursday, Aug. 21, 2008.

Oakland Raiders coach Lane Kiffin talks at a news conference at the Raiders' NFL football training camp in Alameda, Calif., Thursday, Aug. 21, 2008, about the death Wednesday of Gene Upshaw. Upshaw, a guard for the Raiders, was later executive director of the NFL Players Association for more than 25 years.

Oakland Raiders Hall of Fame cornerback Willie Brown, now the Raiders' defensive backs coach, speaks during a news conference at the Raider' NFL football training camp in Alameda, Calif., Thursday, Aug. 21, 2008, about the death of Gene Upshaw. Upshaw, who died Wednesday, was a guard for the Raiders, and later executive director of the NFL Players Association for more than 25 years.

Oakland Raiders Hall of Fame cornerback Willie Brown, now the Raiders' defensive backs coach, speaks during a news conference at the Raider' NFL football training camp in Alameda, Calif., Thursday, Aug. 21, 2008, about the death of Gene Upshaw. Upshaw, who died Wednesday, was executive director of the NFL Players Association for more than 25 years.

In this July 28, 2008 file photo, Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker James Farrior tosses a ball during a training camp practice session at the football team's facility in Latrobe, Pa. The Steelers signed Farrior, Thursday, Aug. 21, 2008, to a five-year $18.25 million contract extension, which includes a $5 million signing bonus.

In this Aug. 1, 2008 file photo, Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker James Farrior smiles as he stretches during a training camp practice session at the football team's facility in Latrobe, Pa.. The Steelers signed Farrior, Thursday, Aug. 21, 2008, to a five-year $18.25 million contract extension, which includes a $5 million signing bonus.

St. Louis Rams running back Steven Jackson takes a knee along the sidelines during football training camp at the Rams' indoor practice facility Thursday, Aug. 21, 2008, in St. Louis. Jackson has reported to training camp after ending his contract holdout.

St. Louis Rams running back Steven Jackson stands on the sidelines as he take part in his first football practice of training camp Thursday, Aug. 21, 2008, in St. Louis. Jackson has reported to training camp after ending his contract holdout.

St. Louis Rams running back Steven Jackson smiles during football training camp at the Rams' indoor practice facility Thursday, Aug. 21, 2008, in St. Louis. Jackson has reported to training camp after ending his contract holdout.

St. Louis Rams running back Steven Jackson runs with the ball during football training camp at the Rams' indoor practice facility Thursday, Aug. 21, 2008, in St. Louis. Jackson has reported to training camp after ending his contract holdout.

FILE *** NFL Players Association executive director Gene Upshaw talks with reporters in Detroit, in this Thursday, Feb. 2, 2006 file photo. The Hall of Fame football player and longtime NFL Players Association executive director Upshaw died Wednesday, Aug. 20, 2008 according to the NFL players' union. The former offensive lineman had been fighting pancreatic cancer. He was 63. Upshaw played with the Oakland and Los Angeles Raiders from 1967 until 1981. He was a seven-time Pro Bowl selection and an 11-time All-Pro.

FILE *** Gene Upshaw, the Oakland Raiders left-guard, is shown in this 1981 file photo. The Hall of Fame football player and longtime NFL Players Association executive director Upshaw died Wednesday, Aug. 2O, 2008 according to NFL players' union. The former offensive lineman had been fighting pancreatic cancer. He was 63. Upshaw played with the Oakland and Los Angeles Raiders from 1967 until 1981. He was a seven-time Pro Bowl selection and an 11-time All-Pro.

WASHINGTON - FEBRUARY 27: (FILE PHOTO) National Football League Players Association Executive Director Gene Upshaw testifies before the US House Subcommittee on Commerce, Trade and Consumer Protection about the use of illegal performance-enhancing drugs in professional sports on Captiol Hill February 27, 2008 in Washington, DC. Upshaw, who played for the Oakland Raiders for 16 years and was voted to six Pro Bowls, has died of pancreatic cancer. He was 63 years old. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

Gene UpShaw is seen in an Aug. 15, 1970 file photo when he was playing left guard for the Oakland Raiders. Upshaw, the Hall of Fame guard who as union head helped get NFL players free agency and the riches that came with it, has died. Upshaw's death was announced by the NFL Players Association, which he headed for a quarter century. He was 63.

President Bush holds a football as he meets with a delegation from the National Football League in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, in this Tuesday, Sept. 2, 2003 file photo. From left to right: former New York Jets quarterback Joe Namath, New York Jets owner Woody Johnson, NFL Players Association director Gene Upshaw, President Bush, NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue, and Washington Redskins owner Daniel Snyder. Upshaw, the Hall of Fame football player and longtime NFL Players Association executive director has died, according to the NFL players' union. The former offensive lineman had been fighting pancreatic cancer. He was 63. Upshaw played with the Oakland and Los Angeles Raiders from 1967 until 1981. He was a seven-time Pro Bowl selection and an 11-time All-Pro.

In this Thursday, Jan. 31, 2008 file photo, Gene Upshaw, executive director of the National Football League Players Association, is seen during a news conference, in Phoenix. The Hall of Fame football player and longtime NFL Players Association executive director died according to The NFL players' union. He was 63. The former offensive lineman had been fighting pancreatic cancer. He was 63. Upshaw played with the Oakland and Los Angeles Raiders from 1967 until 1981. He was a seven-time Pro Bowl selection and an 11-time All-Pro.

NFL Players Association executive director Gene Upshaw talks with reporters in Detroit, in this Thursday, Feb. 2, 2006 file photo. The Hall of Fame football player and longtime NFL Players Association executive director Upshaw died Thursday Aug. 21, 2008 according to the NFL players' union. The former offensive lineman had been fighting pancreatic cancer. He was 63. Upshaw played with the Oakland and Los Angeles Raiders from 1967 until 1981. He was a seven-time Pro Bowl selection and an 11-time All-Pro.