The younger players on the San Francisco 49ers showed class and put together one of the best moments of the NFL season on Sunday when they carried defensive tackle Bryant Young off the field following their win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
"I was just trying to enjoy the moment and focus on the game, and just trying to focus on my job," said Young. "I was trying not to get too emotional and break down, because I had a job to do out there."
Young was the 49ers' first-round draft pick in 1994 and is the last remaining player from that year's Super Bowl team. He's had a long and distinguished career, and I think you can make a pretty good case that he deserves a spot in the Pro Football Hall of Fame some day.
Young has been one of the most versatile linemen in football, playing both tackle and end, and he's one of the few defensive linemen of his era who could get double-digit sacks (which he did twice) while still being first and foremost a run-stopper.
If I had to guess, I'd say he'll fall short of actually getting voted into the Hall of Fame. But he'd have my vote.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
12-24-2007 @ 11:41AM
John said...
I say Bryant Young is a Hall of Famer
I hope retirement is good for you Bryant.
Reply
12-29-2007 @ 11:44AM
bachslunch said...
Bryant Young's chances of getting into the HoF are likely not good. He was a 1st team all-pro once, a pro bowler 4 times, and is on the all-90s team. Some HoF voters, like Dr. Z, think he belongs.
But Young's all pro/pro bowl profile is the same as Richard Dent's, and he hasn't gotten very far. And Cortez Kennedy has a 3/7 profile with all-90s team membership and he's never even been a finalist. Young will also be going up against Warren Sapp (4/7, all-90s team) and John Randle (6/7, all-90s team). I'm thinking Young will have a really tough time making it if he makes it at all.
Reply