Darryl Stingley, paralyzed by one of the most infamous hits in the history of professional football, was remembered yesterday for the grace with which he accepted his life-altering injury.

"For almost 30 years, people wanted to hear Darryl curse God or at least curse the man who took his dreams away," said the Rev. Edward C. Brown, Stingley's cousin. "Darryl was a good man. He didn't stop serving God just because he had a life of suffering and pain. ... He lived a life focused on the future and not on the past."

Stingley, a star receiver with the New England Patriots, was left a quadriplegic after a hit by the Oakland Raiders' Jack Tatum while trying to catch a pass in an exhibition game on Aug. 12, 1978. Stingley's neck was broken, and he spent the rest of his life in a wheelchair.

He died last Thursday at age 55. An autopsy found that bronchial pneumonia, quadriplegia, spinal cord injury and coronary atherosclerosis contributed to his death.

Yesterday's 90-minute funeral service in Forest Park, Ill. was attended by Stingley's family and friends from his Chicago boyhood, as well as his college and professional football careers.

Before the service, former New England coach Chuck Fairbanks and teammate Mike Haynes praised Stingley as someone who refused to be defined by his injury, and was determined to have a life, be a good father and do things for the community.

"He made up his mind that he was going to try to live a new life and to give things to other young kids, particularly the inner city kids, that maybe he could help somebody and show them that you could overcome adversity," Fairbanks said.

The hit was debated for years, replayed on television whenever the violence of football was discussed.

Packers

The Green Bay Packers signed Nick Barnett, 25, to a contract extension, assuring the middle linebacker will not become a free agent after next season. The extension replaces the final year of Barnett's five-year rookie contract and runs through 2012. Terms were not disclosed. The 6-foot-2, 232-pound Barnett has led Green Bay in tackles three of the past four years.

Elsewhere

Pro Football Hall of Fame quarterback Warren Moon was recently arrested for investigation of drunken driving after a trooper stopped him for allegedly speeding in Kirkland, Wash.