The Arizona Cardinals honored Pat Tillman on Sunday in an emotional halftime ceremony that featured the fallen player's widow and other members of his family.
In her first public comments since her husband's death, Marie Tillman thanked all who had supported the family.
"'It really helps us knowing that his spirit and memory live on in all of you," she said to the rousing cheers of the crowd.
She was joined at midfield by Tillman's brother Richard and his parents. Cardinals vice president Michael Bidwill presented Tillman's widow with a framed Pat Tillman jersey.
A giant No. 40 jersey was unfurled in Sun Devil Stadium, where Tillman played as a star linebacker for Arizona State and an overachieving safety for the Cardinals.
Tillman left a lucrative contract in the NFL in 2002 to join the Army Rangers with his brother Kevin. He was killed April 22 in the Khost province of Afghanistan, the first NFL player to die in combat since the Vietnam War. He was 27.
A military investigation concluded he was likely killed mistakenly by fire from other U.S. troops.
In a video message on the giant screen at the stadium, President Bush praised Tillman and others who have died in combat in Afghanistan and Iraq.
"As much as Pat Tillman loved competing on the football field, he loved America even more," Bush said. "...Courageous and humble, a loving husband and son, a devoted brother and a fierce defender of liberty. Pat Tillman will always be remembered and honored in our country."
Tillman was shown talking about what the flag meant to him in an interview conducted after the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001.
"My great-grandfather was at Pearl Harbor," Tillman said. "A lot of my family has done far more. I really haven't done a damn thing as laying my butt on the line like that, so I have a great deal of respect for those that have, and what our flag stands for."
Also speaking via video, Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., who was a prisoner of war in Vietnam, said of Tillman, "While many of us may be blessed to live a longer life than Pat did, few of us will ever live a better one."
Every NFL player wore a decal bearing Tillman's No. 40 this weekend. The Cardinals will wear it all season. No. 40 commemorative pins were distributed to everyone who came to Sunday's game.
"We're very humbled," Tillman's brother-in-law Alex Garwood told reporters before the game. "I don't presume to speak for him certainly, but if he were here, you can bet that he would be looking each and every one of you in the eye and saying 'Thank you."'
The NFL and Cardinals are donating proceeds from the sale of Tillman's jersey to the foundation that bears his name. Garwood is the executive director of the fledgling foundation. Kevin and Marie Tillman serve on its board of directors.
"First and foremost, we're going to carry Pat's legacy forward," Garwood said. "We're going to do that by inspiring others to make positive change in themselves and the world around them."
He said the foundation already had received personal checks from about 450 people. Some wrote the word "hero" at the bottom of the check.
INJURY REPORT: Saints running back Deuce McAllister lasted just a handful of plays before spraining his right ankle against San Francisco, one of several prominent players who got hurt Sunday. On his third carry, McAllister was tackled by Bryant Young and fumbled. He spent the rest of the day on the sideline in an orthopedic boot. McAllister will have an MRI exam Monday. San Francisco running back Kevan Barlow also got hurt in the game, leaving in the fourth quarter with bruised ribs.
In Baltimore, Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Tommy Maddox left the game against the Ravens with an elbow injury, while cornerback Deion Sanders strained a hamstring muscle in the second quarter and tight end Todd Heap sprained his right ankle.
Maddox was hit in the pocket by cornerback Gary Baxter during the Steelers' first offensive series in the second half and fumbled. After the play, he gripped his right elbow while in obvious pain.
Coach Bill Cowher expects Maddox to be sidelined at least for a week.
"Ben's our guy right now," he said. "He's got an opportunity to play next week. He's going to make more throws and we're going to make more plays."
Sanders, who was playing in his second game since ending a three-year retirement, apparently hurt himself covering Plaxico Burress on the final play before the 2-minute warning.
In East Rutherford, N.J., Redskins quarterback Mark Brunell injured his left hamstring against the New York Giants in the third quarter. Brunell appeared to get hurt on a rollout on a pass to tight end Walter Rasby. On the next play, he handed off to Clinton Portis and fell to the ground. He walked off the field and was replaced by Patrick Ramsey.
Coach Joe Gibbs said Brunell's status is day to day.
WINSLOW ALSO INJURED: Cleveland rookie tight end Kellen Winslow Jr. sustained an apparent ankle injury at the end of the Browns' 19-12 loss to Dallas on Sunday. Winslow was hurt when the Browns recovered an onside kick. He was caught in the pileup for the ball and didn't immediately get up at the end of the play. After being helped off the field and tended to while the Browns threw one last desperation pass to end the game, Winslow was taken to the locker room on a cart. Courtney Brown and Gerard Warren, the left side of Cleveland's starting defensive line, both left the game with injuries. Running back Lee Suggs was inactive.
RAVENS ALLEGE CHEAP SHOT: The Baltimore Ravens won't soon forget the hit Pittsburgh linebacker Joey Porter leveled on an injured tight end Todd Heap during the second quarter of Sunday's 30-13 rout of the Steelers. Heap twisted his right ankle on the previous play when he gingerly took his place on the line as Ravens quarterback Kyle Boller prepared to spike the ball. As Boller thrust the ball downward, Porter shoved Heap backward with a show of brute force. Heap could barely lift himself off the turf and was removed for the remainder of the game. Afterward, the Ravens were livid over Porter's seemingly unnecessary hit.
"It just shows what type of character that guy has," linebacker Ray Lewis said. "When you take a cheap shot like that and just try to hurt somebody, it goes way outside of your character and shows what type of spirit he really has. You just pray for him."