The San Antonio Spurs can’t be thrilled that they have to face them first. ”In a statement, the Cardinals called the death “a grief that is beyond words and one which no family should experience. A confidant of three commissioners, he played a major role in negotiations with the players’ union and in league expansion in 1976 to Seattle and Tampa. The Baltimore Ravens, Heap’s longtime former team, called the accident “knee-buckling news and an overwhelming tragedy.