AFC West owners, coaches on Lamar's passing...

[DaWolf]

Hope this isn't a repost...

Kansas City Chiefs owner Lamar Hunt has passed away. He was 74.
Oakland Raiders Owner Al Davis said, "I have much admiration for his love of professional football and, of course, the American Football League, which he started.

We were rivals, we were friends, we were competitors.

Lamar Hunt is a legend and will be sorely missed as he has been a part of our lives for the past five decades.

Our hearts and emotions go out to his wife, Norma, sons Lamar and Clark and the rest of the family."

"We were competitors for 23 years, twice a year," Broncos President/CEO Pat Bowlen said. "You all know about Lamar's history in the National Football League and what he meant to the National Football League and the merger, but he meant a lot to me. He was a great guy to ask questions when I was younger. He was a great mentor and we were great competitors."

A strength of Hunt's was the ability to make decisions in the best interest of the league as a whole, not just his own franchise.

"I think that's one of the things I took away from my relationship with him is when you're thinking about just your team, you're doing the wrong thing," Bowlen said. "You've got to think about the league and what the implications are for the league. That's very true and I learned that. I like to think that way too.

"It's always great to think about you and your team, but if we don't have 31 other teams all thinking as one group or all 32 teams thinking as one group at times we have big problems. Lamar always addressed it that way."

Hunt's fingerprints can be found all over today's NFL, including the name 'Super Bowl' and an inaugural third Thanksgiving Day game this season, which featured Hunt's Chiefs hosting the Broncos.

Despite his importance to professional football, the character of Hunt the man is what many will remember the most.

"(He was) one of the few owners who would actually go out of his way to come up to you as an assistant coach or a coordinator or head coach and sit down and talk to you," Head Coach Mike Shanahan said. "I knew him. He came up to me when I was just an assistant coach -- actually started a conversation once. That doesn't happen very often. I've had a chance to know him for a number of years and obviously he's meant a lot to the league…just a good gentleman and a good man.

"We'll miss him."

Chargers Owner Alex G. Spanos

“Lamar has been a good friend … a valued friend … since I was fortunate enough to become a part of the league in 1980. He was a good man. Boy, he loved his Chiefs, but just as much, he loved football. He was very modest and solf-spoken, but he was a competitor and wanted to win as much as anyone. And he was always the first man to call whenever congratulations were deserved, even if our team had beaten his team. His word and a handshake was all you ever needed from Lamar. I’ll miss my friend and the entire National Football League will miss him as well.”

Chargers President Dean Spanos

“The San Diego Chargers exist today, in large part, due to the courage and vision of Lamar Hunt. He was one of the founding fathers of the old American Football League. He along with the other original AFL owners had the foresight of what football could become in America and dared to begin a new league in competition against the National Football League. The success of the old AFL caused the merger of the two leagues and has given us the NFL we have today. And after that and throughout his ownership, Lamar was always one of the League’s most respected owners and leaders. On countless occasions he was a voice of reason that always helped the League reach the right decision to the betterment of everyone and the future of the game. Everyone who has ever enjoyed the fruits of this great game and league – owner, coach, player alike – owes Lamar Hunt a debt of gratitude today.”

Chargers Head Coach Marty Schottenheimer

“Lamar is the most unique person I have ever known. He led in a quiet but confident way. He was able to build consensus through discussion, and his ultimate objective was to do what was best for the NFL. His demeanor never changed after victory or defeat. He was always interested in what he might do “to help”. I consider myself most fortunate to have had the privilege to know and work with Lamar. His contributions to the National Football League as we know it today are unparalleled, and his presence and friendship will be missed. The Schottenheimer family extends our sympathies to Norma and the Hunt family.”