TAMPA, Fla. -- Although their careers overlapped, Bruce Smith and Randall McDaniel only played against each other a handful of times. But when it was announced today that both Smith and McDaniel had been selected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame, I asked them both what it was like to play against each other."Randall was a beast," Smith said. "This was an incredible talent. I cannot remember facing another guard who possessed the ability, the tenacious strength. He was just incredible. Once he locked on to you, you weren't going anywhere. You could not bull rush this guy."
McDaniel, who didn't come to Tampa for Super Bowl weekend because he's now a teacher in Minnesota and didn't want to miss school, joined the press conference by phone. He had similar words of praise for Smith, referring to him as one of the toughest opponents he's ever faced.
One of the nice things about the Hall of Fame is the respect the men who are inducted invariably have for each other. In the case of McDaniel, who played guard for the Vikings from 1988 to 1999 and the Buccaneers in 2000 and 2001, and Smith, who played defensive end for the Bills from 1985 to 1999 and the Redskins from 2000 to 2003, the only thing sweeter than getting selected was getting selected alongside a great opponent.
