N.F.L. executives on Sunday gave Al Davis something he seldom gave them: a moment of silence.

From the instant he became a central figure in the American Football League, Davis, the owner of the Oakland Raiders, who died Saturday morning, inspired more shouting than silence. But now that he and his penchant for litigation against the N.F.L. are gone, the league is left with a disquieting question: what will become of the Oakland Raiders without him?