Lions president Matt Millen said he was shocked when he heard the news of NFL Players Association executive director Gene Upshaw's death early Thursday morning. Millen and Upshaw played together for two seasons in Oakland, and Millen said they talked as recently as last month.

"He was so good for football," Millen said. "We were talking about it earlier, I can't think of anybody who's had as big an impact, both on and off the field in the National Football League. He's been a huge figure since 1967 when he showed up. He's had a big impact on the game and he's had a big impact on a lot of players. They don't even know. There's a lot of guys who have no idea all the stuff, all the sacrifices, all the foundation of work, all the stuff that's been done that he's been behind."

According to reports, Upshaw, 63, was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer on Sunday. He served as union chief since 1983, two years after his playing career ended.

Millen said teammates called Upshaw "The Governor" during his playing days and defended his record as an executive. Upshaw led players through a strike in 1987, and came under fire recently as owners opted out of the most recent labor deal.

"You can look at that body of work that he had when he played and he's in the Hall of Fame," Millen said. "You look at the body of work since he's played and it's Hall-of-Fame material, too. You're going to get a fight from me if anybody wants to dog the guy because I think the guy did a fantastic job."