(Former Packers GM Ron Wolf was a member of the Oakland Raiders' personnel department when Gene Upshaw joined the Raiders as a first-round draft choice in 1967. Wolf was with the Raiders for a little more than half of Upshaw's playing career, which lasted until 1981.)

"I think his record certainly speaks for itself. He was captain of the team, he's in the Hall of Fame, and he was a tremendous leader.

"The thing that sticks out most in my mind is he just lined up and played. You could depend on him in practice and you could depend on him in the game. As a player, he left a tremendous legacy because, in my way of thinking, he was the consummate pro.

"Football was very important to him, being a good football player was very important to him, and representing the Raiders well was also very important to him. He's the kind of guy you would want to have on your team.

"My recollection of Gene Upshaw is one of respect for what he did, what he accomplished, and how he accomplished it."