NFL FanHouse

Jerry Rice, Emmitt Smith Lead 2010 Hall Of Fame Nominees

Calvin Watkins — Sat, 19 Sep 2009 18:30:00 EST

Filed under: 49ers, Cowboys, Ravens, Steelers, Titans, Vikings, NFL Hall of Fame

The Pro Football Hall of Fame announced the nominees for induction into its Class of 2010 on Saturday.

Wide receiver Jerry Rice and running back Emmitt Smith headline a group of 131 players, coaches and contributors that make up the list of modern-era nominees for election. Former Lions cornerback and current Steelers defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau and former Broncos running back Floyd Little are the two senior nominees that were picked in August by the Hall of Fame's Senior Selection Committee.

The semifinalists will be announced on Nov. 27, and the modern-era finalists will be chosen on Jan. 7. The entire 2010 class will be revealed the day before the Super Bowl on Feb. 6 in Miami.

Several key, recognizable contributors to the game were also nominated -- including former NFL commissioner Paul Tagliabue, and owners Bud Adams (Oilers and Titans) and Art Modell (Browns and Ravens). First-year-eligible nominees outside of Rice and Smith include kicker Gary Anderson, wide receiver Tim Brown and running back Eddie George.

Running back Herschel Walker, wide receivers Cris Carter, Sterling Sharp and Andre Reed also were nominated. The complete list of 131 can be found on the NFL Hall of Fame's website.

Smith, the league's all-time leading rusher, and Rice, its all-time leading receiver, are heavy favorites to be voted in. LeBeau is also a popular pick to earn a spot.

Jerry Rice, Emmitt Smith Lead 2010 Hall Of Fame Nominees originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Sat, 19 Sep 2009 18:30:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Dick LeBeau, Floyd Little Are Seniors Nominees for Hall of Fame Class of 2010

Nancy Gay — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 16:45:00 EST

Filed under: Broncos, Lions, Steelers, NFL Hall of Fame

Pittsburgh Steelers defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau, one of the most respected coaches in the NFL, may finally get through the doors of the Pro Football Hall of Fame -- as a player.

The seniors committee on Tuesday named LeBeau, 71, a cornerback who played in an NFL-record 171 consecutive games (most at his position), and running back Floyd Little, 67, who amassed more than 12,000 all-purpose yards, as the two seniors finalists for the Class of 2010.

They will join 15 modern-era candidates on the complete list of finalists for the 2010 class. The modern-era candidates are still under consideration by the selection committee.

While there has been much discussion about LeBeau's Hall of Fame worthiness as a coach -- always a difficult sell due to the enormous backlog of contributors fighting for precious spots against deserving players -- his best chance to get a bust in Canton likely comes this year.

LeBeau has been involved in the NFL as either a player or a coach for 51 years. He was originally drafted by the Cleveland Browns in 1959 but never made their cut, signing instead with the Detroit Lions and starring there for 14 seasons at cornerback.

LeBeau intercepted 62 passes in his career, which he returned for 762 yards and three touchdowns. That interception total ranked 3rd all-time in the NFL at the time of LeBeau's retirement after the 1972 season, and is tied for seventh all-time today. He was also voted to three Pro Bowls (1965-67)

His finest season came in 1970, when LeBeau posted an NFC-leading nine interceptions for 96 yards.

LeBeau, currently the Pittsburgh Steelers defensive coordinator, is entering his 37th season as an NFL coach, and is known as the father of the zone blitz.

Little was the sixth player selected in the 1967 draft and was a five-time Pro Bowl pick for the Denver Broncos, gaining 6,323 career yards on 1,641carries and scoring 43 touchdowns. Little also had 215 catches for 2,418 yards and nine touchdowns. He retired in 1975 as the seventh-leading rusher in NFL history.

A prolific return man, Little also led the AFL in punt returns as a rookie and totaled 893 yards on 81 career punt returns, while returning 104 kickoffs for 2,523 yards in his nine-year career. Little became the first player in Broncos' history to surpass 1,000 yards rushing in a single season, when he won the NFL rushing title in 1971 with 1,133 yards.

The Hall of Fame selection meeting will be held on Feb. 6, 2010, the day before Super Bowl XLIV in South Florida. To be elected, candidates must each receive the same 80 percent voting support required of all finalists.

The Hall's Board of Selectors can elect a maximum of two senior candidates and five modern-era candidates for a class no smaller than four nor larger than seven.

Dick LeBeau, Floyd Little Are Seniors Nominees for Hall of Fame Class of 2010 originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Tue, 25 Aug 2009 16:45:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Explaining the Ins and Outs of NFL's Hall of Fame Voting Process

Dave Goldberg — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 17:00:00 EST

Filed under: NFL Hall of Fame

I used to get letters. Now I get e-mails in the hundreds. And DVDs. And even tweets (@deegle84).

All imploring me to vote for a prospective Hall of Fame candidate. Or non-candidate. Or even, in a case or two, someone I've never heard of.

To all those folks who write me: Anybody who hasn't been a voter can't understand how the voting works or why certain people get in and others don't. I'm in my 17th year as a voter and I'm often not sure I understand it either. But I also feel that 98 percent of the people in the Hall deserve to be there, and that 98 percent of those who aren't in shouldn't be, or will get in at some point.

I bring this up because next Tuesday, I will vote with four other members of the Hall's seniors committee on a list of 17 candidates. The list will be narrowed to two, who will be recommended to the full panel of 44 voters and be voted up or down on the Saturday before the Super Bowl in Miami in February.

I first voted in 1994 in Atlanta (shortly after appearing on a Buffalo radio station along with Hall of Famer O.J. Simpson, who five months later became famous for something other than his running ability and his running-through-airports commercial).

That year, Peter King of Sports Illustrated and I became the first at-large voters, presumed neutrals in a room full of media members cast as quasi-partisans, folks from every NFL city (past and present) whose job, in part, was to advocate candidates for their teams. Peter and I sat down at the end of the table -- "Whippersnapper Row,'' he cracked -- and spent the five-plus hours of debate listening to our elders, some of them folks who had been covering the NFL since the 1930s.

We've both become quite vocal since, most recently in support of former commissioner Paul Tagliabue, who is not in because there is an equally vocal group against him -- far more than the 20 percent needed to keep him out.

But that's not relevant here.

What's relevant are the misperceptions folks have about the Hall, even people who know it well. I recently saw an NFL Films piece enumerating the 10 best players not in the Hall that included Shannon Sharpe and Cris Carter at Nos. 2 and 3, and included Howard Eskin, a Philadelphia talk radio shouter, screaming that Carter's omission was an outrage.

It appalled me for this reason: Carter has been on the ballot for two years and last year was Sharpe's first. And both were finalists the first year they were eligible, an honor that is almost sure to result in their selection sooner rather than later. Putting them on a list like that only stirs passions that no one needs -- voters, fans or the players themselves.

No. 1 on the list of the overlooked was Green Bay's Jerry Kramer, who was bypassed by the regular voters (before my time) then made it as a seniors candidate and was voted down, something that rarely happens in a group that most often honors the committee choice. It happened again last year to Claude Humphrey, who was a victim of playing almost his entire career on a bad Atlanta team, and was bypassed for that reason, then was placed back in the finals by the seniors group and mysteriously was voted down.

Why? No one spoke against him and the voting is by secret ballot, but he didn't get the 80 percent needed. Those silent "no'' voters are sometimes described as "lying in the weeds,'' and votes like that have resulted in some movement toward a public ballot. That probably will never happen.

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Minnesota Vikings quarterbacks Brett Favre (4) and Tarvaris Jackson (7) look on during NFL football training camp Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2009, in Eden Prairie, Minn. (AP Photo/Hannah Foslien)

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Minnesota Vikings quarterback Brett Favre, right, chats with teammate Adrian Peterson (28) during NFL football training camp Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2009, in Eden Prairie, Minn. (AP Photo/Hannah Foslien)

Minnesota Vikings' Brett Favre, third from left, stretches with teammates Sage Rosenfels, second from left, John David Booty (9) and Tarvaris Jackson, front, during NFL football training camp Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2009, in Eden Prairie, Minn. (AP Photo/Hannah Foslien)

Minnesota Vikings quarterbacks Brett Favre (4) and Tarvaris Jackson (7) look on during NFL football training camp Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2009, in Eden Prairie, Minn. (AP Photo/Hannah Foslien)

Minnesota Vikings' Brett Favre (4) chats with running back Adrian Peterson (28) during NFL football training camp Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2009, in Eden Prairie, Minn. (AP Photo/Hannah Foslien)

Minnesota Vikings quarterback Brett Favre, center, talks with head coach Brad Childress, left, and and former NFL coach Steve Mariucci during NFL football training camp Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2009, in Eden Prairie, Minn. (AP Photo/Hannah Foslien)

Minnesota Vikings quarterback Brett Favre, right, chats with teammate Adrian Peterson (28) during NFL football training camp Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2009, in Eden Prairie, Minn. (AP Photo/Hannah Foslien)

The Dallas Cowboys new football stadium Cowboys Stadium is shown in Arlington, Texas, on Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2009. (AP Photo/Donna McWilliam)

Minnesota Vikings quarterback Brett Favre punts the ball during NFL football training camp, Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2009, in Eden Prairie, Minn. Teammate Adrian Peterson walks away at right. (AP Photo/Hannah Foslien)

Minnesota Vikings quarterback Brett Favre throws a pass during NFL football training camp, Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2009, in Eden Prairie, Minn. (AP Photo/Hannah Foslien)

Minnesota Vikings quarterback Brett Favre, right, stands behind center John Sullivan (65) during NFL football training camp, Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2009, in Eden Prairie, Minn. (AP Photo/Hannah Foslien)

Here are some things I've learned as a voter that helps explain what fans believe are injustices or worse.

- Class size. There are seven spots open every year. In most, there are players eligible for the first time who are what we call "slam dunks'' -- Bruce Smith and Rod Woodson made it last January, and Jerry Rice and Emmitt Smith will be up this year, reducing the openings for carryovers like Carter and Sharpe by two. Beyond that, many of us vote by seniority -- if a player has been in the finals for a number of years, someone often will stand up and say: "let's get him out of here,'' "out of here" meaning into the Hall. If it sounds demeaning, it's not. It's simply reality.

- Bad teams. Players on bad teams have problems (see Humphrey) because they're out of the spotlight. Their teams are rarely on national prime-time telecasts, and they rarely make the playoffs, so they disappear just when interest in the NFL peaks. Their stats are often ignored because who cares how many sacks Humphrey had in a season when the Falcons were 4-12.

- Good teams. Although there are a lot of guys from the Lombardi Packers, unbeaten Dolphins and Chuck Noll Steelers in the Hall, players on more recent good teams sometimes get overshadowed by superstar teammates. Bob Kuechenberg, for example, failed to make it in his final year of regular eligibility because there were already so many of his Miami teammates in the Hall.

One classic case was Harry Carson, who fits both the bad team and good team conundrums -- he was a star on some bad Giants teams in the '70s, then played in Lawrence Taylor's shadow in the next decade. So while Giants advocates (and Carson himself) got angrier and angrier, he was stalled, until he was finally pushed over the top by a voter who noted during the debate that members of the Bears of the '80s had told him that Carson was as good or better than Mike Singletary, a slam-dunk first-time electee.

- Partisanship. A couple of years ago, when Art Monk failed to get in, Dan (The Fan) Snyder, Washington's owner, denounced the voters, something that's way out of line from my perspective and, I feel, should have led to some sort of sanction against Snyder by the NFL. Instead, the opposite happened: Snyder was put on the Hall of Fame committee and a year later, when both Monk and Darrell Green made it, he seemed to imply that he had gotten them in. Snyder would be better off spending his time building a real team, not a collection of individuals.

But the team that comes up most often is Denver.

Despite a pretty decent on-field history, the Broncos didn't have a Hall of Famer until 2004, 45 years after they were founded. That was John Elway, a first-ballot lock. In 2008, Gary Zimmerman was inducted, but he was a hybrid -- seven years with the Vikings, his final five with the Broncos.

I get a lot of mail from folks claiming the Broncos "deserve'' more. Why? Whatever a player's value to his team, membership in the Hall of Fame is an individual honor. Denver has had a lot of players who belong in what we call "The Hall of Very Good,'' another phrase coined by King. No disgrace in that. A good NFL team needs very good players -- a Hall of Famer playing with a bunch of stiffs won't get it very far. Floyd Little is one of the seniors finalists, as he has been for a number of years, and probably won't make it again. I've discussed the process by e-mail both with Floyd and his son -- I understand their feelings and I think I've helped them understand the process.

In any event, voting is always difficult. How difficult? The Hall asked all living Hall of Famers to list the five players not in already who are most deserving of election. There were well over 100 names on the lists sent back including one (the most impressive) that listed only one player because the Hall of Famer considered him so worthy of election.

I hope I am as objective as I can be.

I've gone into sessions having what I thought was a pretty good idea of who deserved to get in. I've ended up voting for people I hadn't considered much at all because of convincing arguments in their favor: Jimmy Johnson, the old 49ers cornerback; Warren Moon in his first year of eligibility; Fred Dean and, in January, Ralph Wilson.

So I will go into the next week's voting with an open mind (never mind the wisecracks), although I have my own mental list of priorities, starting with Humphrey, who I doubt will be brought back this year because he was rejected by the full panel on Jan. 31. That happened with Bob Hayes, who finally made it the second time he came back as a senior.

The rest?

I've done my research. I'll listen to my colleagues and to the two Hall of Famers we use as consultants.

Then I'll vote my beliefs, untainted by team affiliation.

And wait for the letters, e-mails and tweets.

Explaining the Ins and Outs of NFL's Hall of Fame Voting Process originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Wed, 19 Aug 2009 17:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Former Viking Fran Tarkenton Still Doesn't Like Brett Favre

Bruce Ciskie — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 13:43:00 EST

Filed under: Vikings, NFC North, NFL Hall of Fame

Less than three months ago, it seemed obvious that Brett Favre would end up playing for the Minnesota Vikings. As the rumors really got going, former Vikings quarterback Fran Tarkenton lambasted Favre in a radio interview.

Wednesday morning, Tarkenton was back at it. He appeared on Sirius NFL Radio, and it's clear he still isn't a fan of the ol' gunslinger.

Tarkenton called the situation a "circus" multiple times during his appearance on "The Opening Drive."

"I really have no interest in what Brett Favre does. He kind of lost me a few years ago by retiring and un-retiring and here and there," Tarkenton said.

"I asked a few friends here, maybe 10 or 12 people we were out with last night. I said, 'What do you think about Brett Favre going back to the Vikings?' You know who cared? Nobody. It's good news for you guys. It's good news for television and so forth but the last time I heard ... football was a team sport, isn't it? It's not just about the quarterback."

He made it clear that Favre's signing is justifiably going to leave some Packers fans upset.

"I really think the whole Brett Favre saga of retiring, un-retiring, three weeks ago [saying] 'I can't play,' the Vikings said, 'We're moving on,' it's a circus," Tarkenton said Wednesday ... "It's an absolute circus, and it takes away from all the other things that are going on with the Vikings, with the NFL. We're getting ready for a football season and this is a circus and I just have no interest in it.

"Wouldn't you be upset if you're a Packer fan? I think you're going to have Packer fans burning the No. 4 Favre Green Bay jersey. I think the Packer fans have every right to be outraged."

While Tarkenton may have some decent points, he comes across like a bitter former Viking. It's hard to tell what he could be so bitter about, unless he thinks Favre's presence somehow takes away from his career in purple.

It's also hard to believe that he has "no interest" in what his former team is doing. You can argue that the Vikings are as close to a Super Bowl as they've been since that wonderful 1998 team fell just short. That should be a point of pride for many who have worn the uniform in the past, as well as the fans who have so loudly cheered those players through the years.

Former Viking Fran Tarkenton Still Doesn't Like Brett Favre originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Wed, 19 Aug 2009 13:43:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Vince Young, Terrell Owens Have Very Different Nights in Preseason Opener

Nancy Gay — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 01:55:00 EST

Filed under: Bills, Titans, NFL Hall of Fame

CANTON, Ohio -- The NFL's first preseason game of 2009 was billed as an AFL tribute contest honoring two charter members, the Houston Oilers and Buffalo Bills -- and no, that wasn't George Blanda handing off to Billy Cannon in the first quarter on Sunday night.

Most of the real nostalgia centered on whether Tennessee Titans quarterback Vince Young could recapture any of his 2006 rookie-season impact. Or even show anything of relevance after he sat on ice most of '08 following the loss of his starting job to veteran Kerry Collins in Week 1.

The verdict on Vince through one outing? Not so hot.

More: Complete Hall of Fame Weekend Coverage

"I know everybody wants me to go out and be perfect," Young said of his 5-of-10 for 39 yards passing performance in a 21-18 Titans' Hall of Fame Game victory over the Bills. "But it's not happening like that. You can't just jump into it."

Then there was the debut of wide receiver Terrell Owens in yet another uniform. The Buffalo Bills colors, even the vintage 1960s stuff, worked out well for him -- Owens effortlessly caught the only two passes thrown to him by starting quarterback Trent Edwards, both out of the no-huddle offense, for 27 yards.

How did the new uniform suit him?

"It doesn't matter what uniform I'm wearing. I could be in a paper bag and I could make it happen," said Owens, breaking out in a huge smile. "You can write it now -- pull out a marker and write an '81' on a paper bag, and I'll make it happen."

What else did the game's two most intriguing players have to say about their first meaningful work of 2009?

First, let's go to T.O., who faced a crushing postgame interrogation wearing ski goggle-sized sunglasses while displaying an impressive tolerance for too many repetitive, stupid questions.

"Learning the offense is pretty much down. It's all about executing right now," said Owens, who in his 14th season, will continue to be one of the NFL's most bankable stars despite now playing in one of the league's smallest markets. "I felt good. We've been practicing hard. With that no-huddle offense, I feel like I'm in great shape."

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CANTON, OH - AUGUST 9: Keith Ellison #56 of the Buffalo Bills tackles Chris Johnson #28 of the Tennessee Titans during the Pro Football Hall of Fame Game at Fawcett Stadium on August 9, 2009 in Canton, Ohio. The Titans defeated the Bills 21-18. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Keith Ellison;Chris Johnson

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CANTON, OH - AUGUST 9: Vince Young #10 of the Tennessee Titans looks to pass the football against the Buffalo Bills during the Pro Football Hall of Fame Game at Fawcett Stadium on August 9, 2009 in Canton, Ohio. The Titans defeated the Bills 21-18. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Vince Young

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CANTON, OH - AUGUST 9: Chris Davis #17 of the Tennessee Titans tries to get around Terrence McGee #24 of the Buffalo Bills during the Pro Football Hall of Fame Game at Fawcett Stadium on August 9, 2009 in Canton, Ohio. The Titans defeated the Bills 21-18. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Chris Davis;Terrence McGee

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CANTON, OH - AUGUST 9: Kerry Collins #5 of the Tennessee Titans looks to pass the football against the Buffalo Bills during the Pro Football Hall of Fame Game at Fawcett Stadium on August 9, 2009 in Canton, Ohio. The Titans defeated the Bills 21-18. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Kerry Collins

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Buffalo Bills wide receiver Terrell Owens smiles during the Hall of Fame game against the Tennessee Titans at the Pro Football Hall of Fame on Sunday, Aug. 9, 2009, in Canton, Ohio. The Titans won 21-18. (AP Photo/David Richard)

CANTON, OH - AUGUST 9: Terrell Owens #81 of the Buffalo Bills looks on against the Tennessee Titans during the Pro Football Hall of Fame Game at Fawcett Stadium on August 9, 2009 in Canton, Ohio. The Titans defeated the Bills 21-18. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Terrell Owens

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Buffalo Bills wide receiver Terrell Owens waves to fans during the fourth quarter against the Tennessee Titans in the Hall of Fame game at the Pro Football Hall of Fame on Sunday, Aug. 9, 2009, in Canton, Ohio. The Titans won 21-18. (AP Photo/David Richard)

Buffalo Bills wide receiver Terrell Owens, right, sits on the bench during the Hall of Fame game against the Tennessee Titans at the Pro Football Hall of Fame Sunday, Aug. 9, 2009, in Canton, Ohio. (AP Photo/David Richard)

The efficient, no-huddle scheme allowed Owens to shed the Titans' coverage with relative ease. On Owens' first reception, Edwards hit him in stride on a 16-yard slant that likely would have continued to the end zone had cornerback Cortland Finnegan not been in perfect position for the tackle.

Does the Bills' no-huddle scheme allow Buffalo's greatest offseason acquisition to get open more easily? "You know, you can never really tell," said Owens, who remained on the sidelines after the promising opening drive ended with an Edwards' interception. "It's just something that we're trying. We've been practicing it a lot. Sometimes you can get a no-huddle offense that can keep the defense off-balance a little bit with their personnel substitutions, things of that nature."

The chemistry between Owens and Edwards is developing nicely, according to both receiver and quarterback.

Owens: "Yeah. Until you get into a real-live situation as we were tonight, that's what the practices are for. It was good to just get under the lights and get something going. It's just practice -- I have knowledge of how things are, the concepts of the routes. And I'm no stranger to learning new offenses. So I just took it upon myself to just stick to what coach [Tyke] Tolbert, the receivers coach, went with and just hone down on the plays.

"If I'm knowing what I'm doing, and obviously Trent knows what's going on as far as dissecting and going through his progressions as far as the defense is concerned, we'll stay on the same page."

Said Edwards, who completed 3-of-4 passes for 34 yards, including the pick: "It's good to get the cobwebs out. [The rhythm] is just what we're trying to find right now."

Owens said there wasn't anything particularly meaningful about starting anew with his fourth NFL team since 1996. "This is my 14th season. A ball is a ball, when it comes to you. It's all about me just making the catch as the offense moves the chains."

Someone then asked Owens about playing next door to the Pro Football Hall of Fame, and whether he can envision himself enshrined in that building one day.

This loaded query brought about a scowl. "Man, that's a ways down the road, guys," Owens responded. "I'm not gonna get into all that Hall of Fame talk. If I get in, I get in. If I don't, I don't."

Does it matter to him? "No, it really doesn't," said Owens, adding that he did has yet to tour the Hall of Fame museum. "I play this game because I love it. I'm blessed to play it. Coming from UT-Chattanooga, a lot of people didn't expect me to get this far or as long as I have, so I'm proud. And I think I've had a successful career."

In the opposite locker room at a newly remodeled Fawcett Stadium -- a nicer facility, by the way, than any of the current California NFL yards -- Young was undergoing a different kind of inquisition.

So much has been made of how important this preseason will be for the former University of Texas star. Can he regain the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year form that made him seem bigger than life?

That was a long time ago, and Young knows it.

After Collins completed 7-of-10 passes for 82 yards and led two touchdown drives -- including an impressive 3-of-4 for 49 yards on third down -- the call went to Young at the start of the second quarter.

Tennessee's momentum abruptly stalled, behind a 26-year-old who is still maturing both on an off the field. Young went 1-for-5 for 13 yards in his first three series, tossing a badly thrown interception out of the shotgun and mishandling another shotgun snap.

Then the game slowed down for him again, and Young threw a perfectly placed five-yard touchdown pass that third-string receiver Paul Williams caught over his shoulder in the corner of the end zone with 37 seconds remaining before halftime.

"Everything was good," Young said. "Getting the rust out, getting the guys out of the huddle in time, didn't have any delay of games or anything like that. That was pretty much my whole plan. Just manage the game. A couple of throws I would take back, but hey, it's football."

Young is at a point in his young career where he's also learning to choose his words more carefully. But he has no regrets for recent comments he made to Esquire magazine about regaining his starting job with the Titans, and then some.

"I don't know when I'll start again," he told Esquire. "But I will be the next black quarterback to win a Super Bowl. And I will be in the Hall of Fame."

Sunday night in Canton, Young -- who wore a No. 9 McNair jersey after the game to honor his mentor, the late Steve McNair -- said his tour of the Hall of Fame only reinforced his desire to be enshrined there.

"It just makes you want to work even harder, to get yourself there," said Young, who admitted the place gave him butterflies in his stomach as he went through the various exhibits. "As a fourth-year guy, I wish I would have toured that a long time ago."

Were his statements about winning the Super Bowl and getting a bust in Canton overly cocky? "Those were just bold statements -- that's me being very confident in myself," Young answered. "Just like [center] Kevin Mawae -- he's very confident in himself. Doing all the hard work to get into the Hall of Fame.

"We're going to have a lot of guys that are doing great things to get into the Hall of Fame. That's basically what I was saying. That I want to work hard, to get to the point where I can be in the Hall of Fame."

Vince Young, Terrell Owens Have Very Different Nights in Preseason Opener originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Mon, 10 Aug 2009 01:55:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Bruce Smith, Bills' Stalwart, Soaks in Buffalo Adoration in Canton

Nancy Gay — Sun, 09 Aug 2009 01:30:00 EST

Filed under: Bills, NFL Hall of Fame

CANTON, Ohio -- Bills defensive end Bruce Smith seemed to bring the entire city of Buffalo with him to his Pro Football Hall of Fame induction ceremony on Saturday. His loyal fans were certainly vocal in expressing their support for the most dominant NFL end of his era.

"BRRRUUCCEE!" the Bills-heavy crowd chanted several times during the evening, giving the biggest shout to their pass rushing hero when he finally stepped to the microphone following a rousing introduction speech by defensive coach Ted Cottrell.

"This certainly feels like a home game," said a beaming Smith, who spent 19 seasons in the NFL and wrapped up a long night of induction speeches at the Hall of Fame with his own 18-minute ode to Bills coaches, teammates and fans alike.

More From Gay: Bills Owner Ralph Wilson Inducted Into Hall

The NFL's career leader for sacks with 200, Smith, 46, was the centerpiece of a Buffalo team that made it to four consecutive Super Bowls. He had 13 seasons with 10 or more sacks, also an NFL record, and was named to both the NFL's All-Decade teams of the 1980s and the 1990s.

Smith, the first player selected overall in the 1985 NFL draft out of Virginia Tech, finished his pro career playing four seasons with the Washington Redskins. It was there that he passed the mythical 200-sack mark.

"The crowning achievement in my career in terms of statistics occurred when I broke the NFL all-time sack record while playing for the Washington Redskins," Smith said.

But he'll always be a Bills' legend, and he acknowledged that Saturday night.

"In the annals of NFL history, the sum total of my career will forever be defined by the 15 years I spent playing for the Buffalo Bills," Smith said. "And what a ride it was.

"Four consecutive AFC championships. The potency of the no-huddle offense. The greatest comeback in NFL history. And the record-breaking attendance set by the greatest fans in the NFL."

Smith sacked 76 quarterbacks in his 19 seasons, with the New York Jets' Ken O'Brien being his most targeted victim (17 1/2 sacks).

He singled out many of his famous Bills' teammates, but had a special mention for fellow Hall of Fame running back Thurman Thomas.

"Thurman Thomas, known to his teammates as 'Squatty,' you undoubtedly are the most complete running back of our era," Smith said. "My life would be a little less bright if I didn't have you to laugh and joke with.

"P.S. -- I hid your helmet."

Bruce Smith, Bills' Stalwart, Soaks in Buffalo Adoration in Canton originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Sun, 09 Aug 2009 01:30:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Derrick Thomas, Forever in Chiefs' Hearts, Forever a Hall of Famer

Nancy Gay — Sun, 09 Aug 2009 01:00:00 EST

Filed under: Chiefs, NFL Hall of Fame

CANTON, Ohio -- Derrick Thomas' induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame may have taken longer than his family wanted. It took longer than the loyal Chiefs' Nation wanted. In the end, their perseverance paid off - even if Thomas is not alive to see it.

The Kansas City Chiefs' pass rushing legend, who was arguably the most feared defensive lineman of the 1990s, finally received his reward for an NFL-most 116 1/2 sacks on Saturday when his bust and legacy were enshrined posthumously in the Hall of Fame.

Thomas' NFL career spanned only 11 seasons, tragically cut short when he died on Feb. 8, 2000 at the age of 33 of complications from injuries sustained in a car accident.

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His son, Derrion, represented Thomas through the Enshrinement Week festivities in Canton, and longtime Chiefs president Carl Peterson did his best to speak for Thomas in a 26-minute speech that served a beloved Kansas City icon well.

"When Derrick Thomas passed from us in February 2000, I commented that the light had gone out in Kansas City," Peterson said. "Today, Derrick Thomas joins the company of the finest who have ever played the game of professional football. It's appropriate that he takes his place beside the two great Kansas City linebackers who are here, Bobby Bell and Willie Lanier.

Said Peterson, who drafted Thomas with the fourth overall pick in the 1989 draft out of Alabama, "For the next decade, he was the cornerstone of the success of the Chiefs' franchise."

Peterson noted how many quarterbacks became Thomas' targets on the field.

"All totaled, 46 different NFL quarterbacks became the victim of a Thomas sack, led by John Elway, who was taken down 17 times," Peterson said. "Appropriately, Derrick got his 100th career sack off of John, and a thrilling 24-22 win over the Broncos in 1997."

Thomas' death in 2000 may have dimmed the lights in Kansas City as Peterson said, but Saturday's emotional ceremony and honor changed all of that.

"For all Derrick Thomas fans, the light has gone back on," Peterson said, addressing an estimated 1,500 Chiefs' fans who traveled to Canton, "and it will now burn brightly in the community of Kansas City, in the middle of America. And it will also burn brightly in the shrine to pro football, the Pro Football Hall of Fame, and it will burn forever."

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Legends Enshrined at Canton

Darrion Thomas, left, son of former Kansas City Chiefs player Derrick Thomas, and presenter Carl Peterson, right, unveil a bronze bust of Darrion's father during the Pro Football Hall of Fame induction ceremony at the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Saturday, Aug. 8, 2009, in Canton, Ohio. (AP Photo/David Richard)

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Legends Enshrined at Canton

CANTON, OH - AUGUST 8: Randall McDaniel and presenter O.K. Fulton pose with McDaniel's bust at his induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame during the 2009 enshrinement ceremony at Fawcett Stadium on August 8, 2009 in Canton, Ohio. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Randall McDaniel;O.K. Fulton

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CANTON, OH - AUGUST 8: Buffalo Bills founder Ralph Wilson Jr. speaks to the crowd at his induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame during the 2009 enshrinement ceremony at Fawcett Stadium on August 8, 2009 in Canton, Ohio. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Ralph Wilson Jr.

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CANTON, OH - AUGUST 8: Buffalo Bills founder Ralph Wilson Jr. poses with his bust at his induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame during the 2009 enshrinement ceremony at Fawcett Stadium on August 8, 2009 in Canton, Ohio. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Ralph Wilson Jr.

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CANTON, OH - AUGUST 8: Buffalo Bills founder Ralph Wilson Jr. and presenter Chris Berman pose with Wilson's bust at his induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame during the 2009 enshrinement ceremony at Fawcett Stadium on August 8, 2009 in Canton, Ohio. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Ralph Wilson Jr.;Chris Berman

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CANTON, OH - AUGUST 8: Randall McDaniel poses with his bust at his induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame during the 2009 enshrinement ceremony at Fawcett Stadium on August 8, 2009 in Canton, Ohio. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Randall McDaniel

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CANTON, OH - AUGUST 8: Randall McDaniel speaks to the crowd at his induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame during the 2009 enshrinement ceremony at Fawcett Stadium on August 8, 2009 in Canton, Ohio. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Randall McDaniel

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CANTON, OH - AUGUST 8: Buffalo Bills founder Ralph Wilson Jr. poses with several former players and his bust at his induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame during the 2009 enshrinement ceremony at Fawcett Stadium on August 8, 2009 in Canton, Ohio. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Ralph Wilson Jr.

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CANTON, OH - AUGUST 8: Rod Woodson speaks to the crowd at his induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame during the 2009 enshrinement ceremony at Fawcett Stadium on August 8, 2009 in Canton, Ohio. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Rod Woodson

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CANTON, OH - AUGUST 8: Former Dallas Cowboys quarterback Roger Staubach speaks about former teammate Bob Hayes Sr. at his induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame during the 2009 enshrinement ceremony at Fawcett Stadium on August 8, 2009 in Canton, Ohio. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Roger Staubach

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CANTON, OH - AUGUST 8: Bob Hayes Jr. poses with the bust of his late father Bob Sr. at his induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame during the 2009 enshrinement ceremony at Fawcett Stadium on August 8, 2009 in Canton, Ohio. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Bob Hayes Jr.

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Derrick Thomas, Forever in Chiefs' Hearts, Forever a Hall of Famer originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Sun, 09 Aug 2009 01:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Rod Woodson's Passion for Game, Life Palpable in Induction Speech

Nancy Gay — Sun, 09 Aug 2009 00:10:00 EST

Filed under: Steelers, NFL Hall of Fame

CANTON, Ohio -- Rod Woodson's NFL statistics over 17 seasons were so gaudy and his place on the NFL's vaunted 75th Anniversary Team as an active player so impressive, he was a shoo-in to be voted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility.

"I've seen it from afar, but getting on this stage, it's a whirlwind," said Woodson, 44, who has spent the five years since his retirement from the league as an analyst for the NFL Network.

Woodson earned 11 Pro Bowl berths, was All-Pro six times at three positions -- cornerback, safety and kick returner -- and holds the NFL record for career touchdowns off interception returns with 12.

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He's always said he appreciates his fortune to have played on three Super Bowl teams for three different franchises, the Steelers, the 49ers and the Ravens. He spent his final two NFL seasons playing for his favorite team as a child, the Oakland Raiders.

On Saturday, when Woodson's Hall of Fame bust was unveiled in Canton, he gave an impassioned half-hour speech that showed his appreciation for a game he acknowledges has been incredibly good to him.

"Nothing great has ever been done alone," Woodson reminded the Fawcett Stadium crowd. "We are all the piece of a puzzle. We are not the puzzle itself. When we realize that, we are all better people."

Woodson -- who endured taunts early in his NFL career by Bengals receiver Carl Pickens, targeting his bi-racial heritage -- referred to himself as "a bi-racial mutt" in his induction speech.

"I think it's fitting that I played for so many different teams," said Woodson, who also mentioned his bi-racial pedigree hoping to inspire young people who are growing up like him.

"God made us all of one blood, and one spirit," he said, fighting off tears and his emotions. "You people who have mixed marriages, tell your kids they do not have to choose which side they're on.

"We always want to choose, but we don't have to choose. God made you who you are, remember that."

Woodson, who is third on the NFL's all-time list with 71 interceptions, returned for an NFL-record 1,483 yards, said his small-town roots in Fort Wayne, Ind., kept him grounded and humble.

He thanked the many coaches who guided him throughout his playing career, and Woodson gave a special shout to the Steelers' franchise and ownership for drafting him in the first round (10th overall) in 1987 out of Purdue, and a Pittsburgh fan base that cheered him.

"And booed me when I left," he said.

Eddie DeBartolo, the former 49ers' owner, also was singled out by Woodson for praise, as was former Ravens owner Art Model and Raiders owner Al Davis.

"Oh, and you Steeler fans? You booed me when I was a Raider," Woodson said with a huge grin. "But I love you anyway."

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Legends Enshrined at Canton

CANTON, OH - AUGUST 8: Derrion Thomas, son of the late Derrick Thomas, and presenter Carl Peterson pose with the bust of Thomas at his induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame during the 2009 enshrinement ceremony at Fawcett Stadium on August 8, 2009 in Canton, Ohio. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Derrion Thomas;Carl Peterson

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Legends Enshrined at Canton

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CANTON, OH - AUGUST 8: Bruce Smith and presenter Ted Cottrell unveil the bust of Smith at his induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame during the 2009 enshrinement ceremony at Fawcett Stadium on August 8, 2009 in Canton, Ohio. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Bruce Smith;Ted Cottrell

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CANTON, OH - AUGUST 8: Kansas City Chiefs general manager Carl Peterson acknowledges the family of the late Derrick Thomas at his induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame during the 2009 enshrinement ceremony at Fawcett Stadium on August 8, 2009 in Canton, Ohio. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Carl Peterson

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CANTON, OH - AUGUST 8: Bruce Smith speaks to the crowd at his induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame during the 2009 enshrinement ceremony at Fawcett Stadium on August 8, 2009 in Canton, Ohio. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Bruce Smith

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CANTON, OH - AUGUST 8: Bruce Smith looks on with former Buffalo Bills teammates Thurman Thomas (center) and Jim Kelly following his induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame during the 2009 enshrinement ceremony at Fawcett Stadium on August 8, 2009 in Canton, Ohio. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Bruce Smith;Thurman Thomas;Jim Kelly

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CANTON, OH - AUGUST 8: Bruce Smith acknowledges Buffalo Bills fans during the 2009 Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement Ceremony at Fawcett Stadium on August 8, 2009 in Canton, Ohio. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Bruce Smith

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From left to right, Bruce Smith, Thurman Thomas, and Jim Kelly pose during the Pro Football Hall of Fame induction ceremony at the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Saturday, Aug. 8, 2009, in Canton, Ohio. (AP Photo/Tony Dejak)

From left to right, Rod Woodson, Randall McDaniel, Bruce Smith, Bob Hayes Jr. and Ralph Wilson Jr. stand with bronze busts during the Pro Football Hall of Fame induction ceremony at the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Saturday, Aug. 8, 2009, in Canton, Ohio. (AP Photo/Tony Dejak)

CANTON, OH - AUGUST 8: The newest members of the Pro Football Hall of Fame (from left) Rod Woodson, Randall McDaniel, Bruce Smith, Bob Hayes (represented by his son Bob Jr.) and Ralph Wilson Jr. look on following the 2009 enshrinement ceremony at Fawcett Stadium on August 8, 2009 in Canton, Ohio. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)

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Bruce Smith of the Buffalo Bills and the Washington Redskins, left, is joined by his former Bills teammates Thurman Thomas, center, and Jim Kelly at the Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2009 Enshrinement ceremony at Fawcett Stadium in Canton, Ohio, Saturday, August 8, 2009. (Mike Cardew/Akron Beacon Journal/MCT)

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Rod Woodson's Passion for Game, Life Palpable in Induction Speech originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Sun, 09 Aug 2009 00:10:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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'Bullet' Bob Hayes Finally Gets His Hall of Fame Recognition

Nancy Gay — Sat, 08 Aug 2009 23:23:00 EST

Filed under: Cowboys, NFL Hall of Fame

CANTON, Ohio - "Bullet" Bob Hayes hated his reputation as a track star who played football. He reminded anyone who would listen that he had been a football player first at Florida A&M University.

Hayes, of course, will always be remembered for his title as World's Fastest Human after winning two gold medals as a sprinter in the 1964 Olympic Games. On Saturday, his NFL greatness as a wide receiver was recognized when Hayes was immortalized posthumously as a Pro Football Hall of Fame legend, member of the Class of 2009.

The former Dallas Cowboys and San Francisco 49ers star remains the only man to win a Super Bowl ring and an Olympic gold medal, and is the second gold medalist in the Hall of Fame, following Jim Thorpe.

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Hayes' entry, as a senior candidate following years of controversial failure to win election by the Hall of Fame selection committee, was considered long overdue by his family and many in the NFL. Hayes' incredible speed and his unique talents, after all, are largely credited as the reason why teams went to bump-and-run defenses.

Hayes nearly made the Hall of Fame cut in 2004, but he failed to make it past the final round of voting -- angering many of his staunchest supporters, including famed Sports Illustrated writer Paul Zimmerman.

Why did it take so long? Was it Hayes' football reputation as a one-dimensional speed receiver, punt returner and decoy? His Cowboys' status? Or was it Hayes' history of legal problems and drug abuse, an off-field factor that Hall of Fame selectors are instructed not to consider?

All of that was forgotten Saturday, along with Hayes' myriad of personal struggles and his many debilitating health problems, including prostate cancer and the kidney disease that ultimately claimed his life on Sept. 18, 2002 at the age of 59.

"In his last days he used to talk about the Hall of Fame," said his son, Bob Hayes Jr, who introduced his father's speaker, Roger Staubach. "It hurts because he should have been here to witness this special occasion. But unfortunately, he didn't make it to see it."

Staubach was Hayes' quarterback on the Cowboys' 1971 championship team that captured Super Bowl VI, and he spoke admirably of a teammate who averaged a touchdown every 5.2 catches during his career - a mark better than even Jerry Rice could muster (7.8 catches per touchdown).

"Bob was lightning fast. So you had to double cover him," said Staubach, who praised Hayes for being a good, humble man and a great teammate. "He was impactful.

"I don't know if he ever showed me his gold medals from the Olympics. He just was a big guy. A great athlete. Faced some challenges. Some a little more than most of us go through. And his family was always there for them. He was always there for them."

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Legends Enshrined at Canton

Darrion Thomas, left, son of former Kansas City Chiefs player Derrick Thomas, and presenter Carl Peterson, right, stand with a bronze bust of Darrion's father during the Pro Football Hall of Fame induction ceremony at the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Saturday, Aug. 8, 2009, in Canton, Ohio. (AP Photo/Tony Dejak)

Legends Enshrined at Canton

Founder and owner of the Buffalo Bills Ralph Wilson Jr., left, kisses his wife, Mary, during the Pro Football Hall of Fame induction ceremony at the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Saturday, Aug. 8, 2009, in Canton, Ohio. (AP Photo/Tony Dejak)

Rod Woodson of the Pittsburgh Steelers, San Francisco 49ers, Baltimore Ravens andOakland Raiders, and his high school friend and business associate Tracy Foster unveil Woodson's bust at the Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2009 Enshrinement ceremony at Fawcett Stadium in Canton, Ohio, Saturday, August 8, 2009. (Mike Cardew/Akron Beacon Journal/MCT)

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Rod Woodson of the Pittsburgh Steelers, San Francisco 49ers, Baltimore Ravens and Oakland Raiders, thanks his brothers during his induction speech at the Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2009 Enshrinement ceremony at Fawcett Stadium in Canton, Ohio, Saturday, August 8, 2009. (Mike Cardew/Akron Beacon Journal/MCT)

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Bob Hayes, Jr. and Hall of Fame quarterback Roger Staubach of the Dallas Cowboys unveil the bust of Bob Hayes, of the Dallas Cowboys and the San Francisco 49ers, presented during Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2009 Enshrinement ceremony at Fawcett Stadium in Canton, Ohio, Saturday, August 8, 2009. (Mike Cardew/Akron Beacon Journal/MCT)

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Darrion Thomas, son of former Kansas City Chiefs player Derrick Thomas, stands with a bust of his father during the Pro Football Hall of Fame induction ceremony at the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Saturday, Aug. 8, 2009, in Canton, Ohio. (AP Photo/Tony Dejak)

Class of 2009 members Rod Woodson, left, and Bruce Smith, right, give a congratulatory pat to Darrion Thomas before he unveiled the bust of his father, Derrick Thomas of the Kansas City Chiefs, at the Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2009 Enshrinement ceremony at Fawcett Stadium in Canton, Ohio, Saturday, August 8, 2009. (Mike Cardew/Akron Beacon Journal/MCT)

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Former Pittsburgh Steelers, San Francisco 49ers, Baltimore Ravens and Oakland Raiders player Rod Woodson speaks during the Pro Football Hall of Fame induction ceremony at the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Saturday, Aug. 8, 2009, in Canton, Ohio. (AP Photo/David Richard)

Former Pittsburgh Steelers, San Francisco 49ers, Baltimore Ravens and Oakland Raiders player Rod Woodson, center, speaks during the Pro Football Hall of Fame induction ceremony at the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Saturday, Aug. 8, 2009, in Canton, Ohio. (AP Photo/David Richard)

'Bullet' Bob Hayes Finally Gets His Hall of Fame Recognition originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Sat, 08 Aug 2009 23:23:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Vikings' Anchor, Randall McDaniel, Gets His Hall of Fame Moment

Nancy Gay — Sat, 08 Aug 2009 22:10:00 EST

Filed under: Vikings, NFL Hall of Fame

CANTON, Ohio - Randall McDaniel played in 202 consecutive games as a dominant guard for the Minnesota Vikings and Tampa Bay Buccaneers, a remarkable streak that also included 12 consecutive Pro Bowl berths.

Despite that ironman achievement, McDaniel was, and remains, one of the NFL's most humble standouts.

"As an offensive linemen, I really don't feel comfortable standing up here without the other four guys around me," said McDaniel, 44, who picked his Agua Fria Union (Avondale, Ariz.) high school athletic director, O.K. Fulton, to be his presenter Saturday when he was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

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Much like the way he conducted himself during an impressive 14-year NFL career, McDaniel -- one of football's outstanding players and gentlemen -- gave a speech that was equal parts understated and appreciative of everyone who helped him obtain the game's ultimate honor. Not surprisingly, McDaniel graciously thanked his parents, his family as well as his teammates from high school through the pros.

McDaniel, the anchor of an offensive line that helped the 1998 Vikings score a then-record 556 points, then spoke directly to his students at the Westonka School District in Mound, Minn., where McDaniel works as an educator.

He urged his young charges to seek a mentor to guide them, like he found in Fulton, his presenter. McDaniel, who was a first-round pick of the Vikings (19th overall) in 1988 out of Arizona State, also credited football for giving him the opportunity to be the first in his family to earn a college degree.

"I was blessed to play 14 years in the NFL, and I was blessed to spend 12 years for the Vikings," said McDaniel, who blocked for six different 1,000-yard rushers and five 3,000-yard passers, and finished his career playing for the Bucs. "I was fortunate to play the last two years for coach Tony Dungy."

For a young man growing up in the desert of Arizona, McDaniel's roots now are firmly planted in the tundra of Minnesota. And McDaniel made special note of his adopted home.

"It must be a special place when you get a kid who grew up in Arizona to make his home in the Arctic," McDaniel said with a laugh.

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Kansas City Chiefs fan Charli Houck, of Wichita, Kansas, takes in the sights at the Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2009 Enshrinement ceremony at Fawcett Stadium in Canton, Ohio, Saturday, August 8, 2009. (Mike Cardew/Akron Beacon Journal/MCT)

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Ralph Wilson, Jr., founder and owner of the Buffalo Bills, waves to the crowd as he is introduced at the start of Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2009 Enshrinement ceremony at Fawcett Stadium in Canton, Ohio, Saturday, August 8, 2009. (Mike Cardew/Akron Beacon Journal/MCT)

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Green Bay Packers' Jason Spitz looks out over Lambeau Field as it rains during a family night scrimmage at NFL football training camp Saturday, Aug. 8, 2009, in Green Bay, Wis. The Scrimmage was delayed due to lightning. (AP Photo/Mike Roemer)

Lightning is seen near a scoreboard at Lambeau Field during a Green Bay Packers family night scrimmage at NFL football training camp Saturday, Aug. 8, 2009, in Green Bay, Wis. The scrimmage was delayed due to lightning. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)

Buffalo Bills fans cheer as Ralph Wilson, Jr., founder and owner of the Bills, is inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame at the Class of 2009 at Fawcett Stadium in Canton, Ohio, Saturday, August 8, 2009. (Mike Cardew/Akron Beacon Journal/MCT)

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Ralph Wilson, Jr., founder and owner of the Buffalo Bills, and his presenter, ESPN personality Chris Berman, unveil his bust during the Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2009 Enshrinement ceremony at Fawcett Stadium in Canton, Ohio, Saturday, August 8, 2009. (Mike Cardew/Akron Beacon Journal/MCT)

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Bob Hayes, Jr. looks at the bust of his father, Bob Hayes of the Dallas Cowboys and the San Francisco 49ers, during the Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2009 Enshrinement ceremony at Fawcett Stadium in Canton, Ohio, Saturday, August 8, 2009. (Mike Cardew/Akron Beacon Journal/MCT)

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O.K. Fulton, Randall McDaniel's former high school athletic director and assistant principal from Agua Fria Union High School in Avondale, Arizona, left, and McDaniel of the Minnesota Vikings and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers unveil McDaniel's bust during the Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2009 Enshrinement ceremony at Fawcett Stadium in Canton, Ohio, Saturday, August 8, 2009. (Mike Cardew/Akron Beacon Journal/MCT)

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Randall McDaniel of the Minnesota Vikings and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers touches his bust after unveiling it during the Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2009 Enshrinement ceremony at Fawcett Stadium in Canton, Ohio, Saturday, August 8, 2009. (Mike Cardew/Akron Beacon Journal/MCT)

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Randall McDaniel of the Minnesota Vikings and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers gives his induction speech at the Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2009 Enshrinement ceremony at Fawcett Stadium in Canton, Ohio, Saturday, Aug. 8, 2009. (Mike Cardew/Akron Beacon Journal/MCT)

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The Vikings' Anchor, Randall McDaniel, Gets His Hall of Fame Moment originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Sat, 08 Aug 2009 22:10:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Bills Owner Ralph Wilson, 'Conscience' of the NFL, Inducted Into Hall

Nancy Gay — Sat, 08 Aug 2009 21:23:00 EST

Filed under: Bills, NFL Hall of Fame

CANTON, Ohio -- A Buffalo Bills fan at Saturday's Pro Football Hall of Fame induction ceremony honored the franchise's founder/owner Ralph Wilson in an appropriate way: the man wore a Bills-emblazoned hard hat adorned with spinning covered wagons.

That symbolizes how Wilson staunchly defends his small market franchise, which has experienced large market success under his loving watch: two AFL championships (1964-65) and four AFC titles in 1990-93 that led to an unprecedented four consecutive Super Bowl appearances.

Often described as the "conscience" of the NFL, Wilson's legacy as one of the founding fathers of the American Football League received the ultimate validation when he was the first of the Class of 2009 to be formally inducted into the Hall of Fame.

Nancy Gay: Latest Stories From Canton

"I always wanted to own a football team so I would have a little something to say about it," said Wilson, who chose ESPN personality Chris Berman as his presenter.

Wilson's cemented his place in pro football lore when he loaned his struggling AFL rival Oakland Raiders $400,000 to help keep the fledgling league afloat.

"I went to my first pro football game in 1935," Wilson, 91, told a Fawcett Stadium crowd dominated by Bills fans that braved midday thunderstorms in Canton. "The Lions were playing the Bears. Since that time, I have been an avid pro football fan."

Wilson recalled reading in 1959 that future Hall of Famers Lamar Hunt and Bud Adams were starting a football league. Always willing to take risks, Wilson sold his share of the Detroit Lions and ponied up the $25,000 AFL founder's fee. The AFL folks offered him the Miami franchise.

"I picked Buffalo," he told the estimated crowd of 12,000, drawing huge cheers.

The original eight AFL owners became known as "The Foolish Club" for their audacity, starting their own football league to rival the established NFL. Half a century later, Wilson's persistence has more than paid off, for the league and for his franchise.

Wilson thanked his late daughter, Linda Bogdan, who was the first female scout in the NFL and served as the Bills' corporate vice president until her death earlier this year following a bout with cancer. Bogdan was 61.

"She was the only female scout in the league, and she was a good one," Wilson said.

Wilson closed with a line that left the Fawcett Stadium crowd laughing and served as a perfect setup for pass rusher Bruce Smith's induction that was to come later in the evening.

"I share the stage with some great players who played the game. I didn't," said Wilson, who enters the Hall as a contributor. "I played tennis. Because when you play tennis, you don't have to face the rush of Bruce Smith. And you go home without any bruises, and clean clothes."

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Ralph Wilson, Jr., left, founder and owner of the Buffalo Bills, unveils his bronze bust with his presenter Chris Berman during the Pro Football Hall of Fame induction ceremony at the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Saturday, Aug. 8, 2009, in Canton, Ohio. (AP Photo/David Richard)

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Founder and owner of the Buffalo Bills' Ralph Wilson Jr. speaks during the Pro Football Hall of Fame induction ceremony at the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Saturday, Aug. 8, 2009, in Canton, Ohio. (AP Photo/David Richard)

Ralph Wilson Jr., fourth from left, owner of the Buffalo Bills, poses with his bust and former Buffalo Bills players, from left to right, Bruce Smith, Thurman Thomas, Marv Levy, Joe DeLamielleure, James Lofton, Billy Shaw and Jim Kelly during the Pro Football Hall of Fame induction ceremony at the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Saturday, Aug. 8, 2009, in Canton, Ohio. (AP Photo/Tony Dejak)

Founder and owner of the Buffalo Bills, Ralph Wilson Jr., stands with his bronze bust during the Pro Football Hall of Fame induction ceremony at the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Saturday, Aug. 8, 2009, in Canton, Ohio. Wilson is part of the Class of 2009. (AP Photo/Tony Dejak)

Ralph Wilson, Jr., left, founder and owner of the Buffalo Bills, stands with his bronze bust and his presenter Chris Berman, right, during the Pro Football Hall of Fame induction ceremony at the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Saturday, Aug. 8, 2009, in Canton, Ohio. (AP Photo/Tony Dejak)

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In a photo made Aug. 1, 2009, Minnesota Vikings defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier is shown at NFL football training camp in Mankato, Minn. As far as Jared Allen was concerned, Minnesota Vikings defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier was as good as gone. In two seasons in Minnesota, Tony Dungy's protege helped the Vikings rise to the No. 6 ranking in total defense, all the while exhibiting a quiet authority and eliciting the universal respect that were hallmarks of Dungy's Super Bowl-winning coaching career. (AP Photo/Jim Mone)

A Pittsburgh Steelers fan, right, waves his Terrible Towel during the Pro Football Hall of Fame induction ceremony at the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Saturday, Aug. 8, 2009, in Canton, Ohio. Former Pittsburgh Steelers, San Franscisco 49ers, Baltimore Ravens and Oakland Raiders player Rod Woodson is part of the Class of 2009. (AP Photo/Tony Dejak)

A Buffalo Bills fan, center, cheers during the Pro Football Hall of Fame induction ceremony at the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Saturday, Aug. 8, 2009, in Canton, Ohio. Founder and owner of the Buffalo Bills' Ralph Wilson Jr. and former Buffalo Bills and Washington Redskins player Bruce Smith are part of the Class of 2009. (AP Photo/Tony Dejak)

A Pittsburgh Steelers fan, right, waves his Terrible Towel during the Pro Football Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony at the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Saturday, Aug. 8, 2009, in Canton, Ohio. Former Pittsburgh Steelers, San Franscisco 49ers, Baltimore Ravens and Oakland Raiders player Rod Woodson is part of the Class of 2009. (AP Photo/Tony Dejak)

A Bob Hayes fan cheers during the Pro Football Hall of Fame induction ceremony at the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Saturday, Aug. 8, 2009, in Canton, Ohio. Former Dallas Cowboys and San Fransisco 49ers player Hayes is part of the inducted Class of 2009. (AP Photo/Tony Dejak)

Bills Owner Ralph Wilson, 'Conscience' of the NFL, Inducted Into Hall originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Sat, 08 Aug 2009 21:23:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Rod Woodson Talks About Hall of Fame Career and Trusting Roger Goodell

Nancy Gay — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 11:14:00 EST

Filed under: Ravens, Steelers, NFL Hall of Fame, NFL Interviews, FanHouse Exclusive

When Rod Woodson takes his place among other revered Pro Football Hall of Fame members during the August 8 Enshrinement Ceremony in Canton, Ohio as part of the Class of 2009, the 11-time Pro Bowler says he won't be thinking about his special status: the 63rd player among 253 members to be elected in his first year of eligibility.

"Just think about how long pro football has been going on -- it's over a hundred years old!'' Woodson marveled during a lengthy one-on-one interview with FanHouse on Monday. "And to think I'm one of the 200-some-odd guys to be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame ... I think it's just so surreal."

More Steelers: Q & A With Beat Writer Jim Wexell

Woodson, 44, is one of pro football's greatest defensive backs, and he earns distinction as being one of the easiest "no-brainer" votes this selector has ever made. Often, worthy players are debated and analyzed on Selection Saturday for hours, and must endure waiting periods that extend more than decade. Some never make it in football's most exclusive fraternity, despite stellar playing careers.

The debate for Woodson this past February was almost non-existent -- rather than argue his merits, the 44-person board of selectors merely discussed how deserving he was for this honor.

In a wide-ranging interview, Woodson -- now a popular analyst on the NFL Network and its flagship show NFL Total Access -- touched on who made him an elite NFL player (does the name Rod Rust ring a bell, Steelers fans?).

He also weighed in with his thoughts on the Hall of Fame selection process; the challenge of being an All-Pro player at three positions (cornerback, safety, kick returner); his roles as a student and mentor through 17 NFL seasons; what he thinks of his time with the Steelers, 49ers, Ravens and Raiders; and why he thinks NFL commissioner Roger Goodell is doing the right thing in administering his all-powerful Personal Conduct Policy.

This much is clear -- we can expect a spectacular acceptance speech from Woodson on August 8.

Nancy Gay: Aside from being a first-year eligible player, what does this Hall of Fame honor mean to you?

Woodson: "It's just so surreal. I talked to Mike Singletary a couple of months ago and asked, 'Did it ever sink in? When did you really realize that you're a Hall of Famer?' Mike told me he still doesn't see it. And I understand what he's saying because when I look in the mirror, I don't see Ray Nitschke, a Joe Montana, I don't see a Gale Sayers or a Jim Brown, or even a Mike Singletary, for that matter. I just see this nappy-headed kid from Fort Wayne, Ind. that played football. I see a dad, a friend, a coach, a husband. I don't see a pro football player. It's surreal. It's remarkable that it's happened to me. It's definitely a huge individual honor that has come upon me. I'm just so humbled and it's truly hard to express what it means deep, deep down inside."

Gay: "Did you ever think during your 17 NFL seasons, 'I might be on the path to the Hall of Fame?'''

Woodson: "C'mon now! You know that's not me. I played the game because I loved it. We all started playing the game as a little kid and we fall in love with it, and it becomes a part of us. Most guys in the National Football League have been playing the game since they were nine, 10 years old. So it's embedded in our DNA, basically. Me, I never thought about it.

"Even after retirement, (NFL Network co-host Rich) Eisen would bring it up all the time, and I was really uncomfortable. Because I think it's a dishonor to all of those who have made it, to talk about me being there (beforehand)."

Gay: "Why would you say that?"

Woodson: "Because the players that are there, that have been inducted, they're immortalized. Their bust is there (in Canton) forever. I shouldn't put myself in that category until I'm actually placed in that category. I don't think athletes should laud ourselves as Hall of Famers until you as voters put us in there."

Gay: "On that subject, Rodney Harrison spoke to FanHouse recently and was very critical of the Hall of Fame selection process being limited to a 44-person board of media selectors. What's your opinion of the current process?"

Woodson: "I heard a little bit about what Rodney said, and he sounds a little more concerned because of his image, rather than about the process. But I don't completely agree with the process. I would like a broader base. I agree with writers and media being there. But I would like to see, maybe, 12 Hall of Famers join in and have those guys rotate on a yearly basis. And they don't know who's going to vote until, maybe, two weeks prior to the votes being cast. I just think that would give it a better balance. Just like we do when we vote for the Pro Bowls."

Gay: "Steelers coach Chuck Noll drafted you (10th overall in 1987, out of Purdue) and recognized your extraordinary gifts as an all-purpose player, returning kicks and playing different positions in the secondary. Did he get the most out of you, or did your career blossom further under coach Bill Cowher's direction?"

Woodson: "Chuck gave me a foundation of the fundamentals of football. When I got there, Chuck Noll and (defensive coordinator) Tony Dungy were there, two tremendous, gifted individuals who knew how to coach football and how to play football. Tony taught me how to play corner; remember, I'd been a safety my whole career, from little league to college. It was a process for me to learn how to play corner. And it took quite a while.

"By that time, Tony Dungy left and a gentleman named Rod Rust came in after my third year. I went to my first Pro Bowl as a kick returner. But Rod was there (as coordinator) and he was the one coach who really challenged me as a player. He told me after a walk-though if I wanted to just go to a couple of Pro Bowls, just keep doing what I was doing. But he challenged me to think like a coach on the field.

"He pulled me aside after practice, we went into his office and he would break down film of how offenses would try to attack defensive players or systems. And how simple offenses are if you really look out of the box. That little green light clicked in when Rod Rust was there and it was amazing how easy it was. "Most players only get one coach that has the knowledge that he can really impart to a player, about the game, the position and how to win. Me? I was blessed with Chuck Noll, Tony Dungy, Rod Rust, Bill Cowher, Dom Capers and Dick LeBeau, all in Pittsburgh."
"

"In my fourth and fifth year I made the Pro Bowl as a corner and then Bill Cowher came in, with Dom Capers and Dick LeBeau. And that just added to what Chuck Noll, Tony Dungy and Rod Rust had already given me. Now we have this "Blitzburgh" going. I got to play nickel, blitz and still play kick returner and punt returner. It was a good balance for me in Pittsburgh.

"Most players only get one coach that has the knowledge that he can really impart to a player, about the game, the position and how to win. Me? I was blessed with Chuck Noll, Tony Dungy, Rod Rust, Bill Cowher, Dom Capers and Dick LeBeau, all in Pittsburgh. Then I had Johnny Fox in the defensive backfield. I had an enormous amount of knowledge at my disposal."

Gay: "What specifically did these 'teaching' coaches impart to you?"

Woodson: "They teach you how to be a professional, on the field, on the practice field, in the meeting rooms, how to study, break down film. That is so critical for young players.

"Chuck Noll told me my rookie year that this game is played 85 percent mental. Everyone is talented in the National Football League. Everybody's tall, fast, quick, strong. But it's the individuals who can take all that coaching knowledge and apply it back on the field, those are the elite players."

Gay: "Are they any coaches today whom you would describe as 'thinking' coaches?"

Woodson: "When you start looking at teams that have been successful as far as on a system basis, you've got to go to New England first and Bill Belichick. The guy just teaches. You may not like his social skills, but he's a teacher. His guys will know how to play. They aren't going to be surprised during the game and they're going to be composed throughout the game.

"I think Mike Smith from the Atlanta Falcons is going to be a wonderful coach because he's a teacher first and a motivator second. I think Mike Singletary is going to be an outstanding teacher because he's going to demand of his players what he demanded of himself when he played -- and that's a lot.

"I think Mike Tomlin from the Steelers, he's a teacher. There are more, but those guys come to the top of my head. Their teams will come out knowing how to play, they're not going to beat themselves and they're going understand game situations."

Gay: "You were an All-Pro at cornerback, safety and kick returner. Can players today excel at different positions like that, or are they more specialized?"

Woodson: "I don't know if they're going to be asked to do that. Honestly -- if you're a middle linebacker, where can you go? I went (back) to safety because I slowed down. They moved me to corner because I was that fast, and I had the natural gifts to be a kick and a punt returner. And then they moved me back to safety when I slowed down. I have to go back to giving credit to those coaches giving me the understanding on how to play football and be a professional. Without that, I don't know if I would have been a Hall of Famer."

Gay: "In 17 NFL seasons as a player, you evolved from a student to a coach. Your career ended with the Oakland Raiders as a mentor. How satisfying is that part of your journey?"

Woodson: "The teaching aspect really started in Baltimore. I went to the 49ers right after (10 seasons with) the Steelers, really, in search of a Super Bowl win and came up short losing to Green Bay in the NFC Championship game that year (1997). But when I went to Baltimore, I realized that I really had to teach. These guys were raw and talented, but didn't understand it all. That's the reason why (defensive coordinator) Marvin Lewis called me and Mr. (Art) Modell allowed me to be a Raven, because they wanted me to teach these guys how to win at that stage.

"They put me right between Ray Lewis and Jamie Sharper in the locker room. My seat was right there in between the young guys. They called me grandpa and all that, but I embraced that because I got that when I was younger from Donnie Shell, Mike Webster and John Stallworth, who were there in Pittsburgh when I arrived. So it was my turn to give back to those young guys."

"When I did get to Oakland, they had Charles Woodson and he was a veteran already. But I still felt the need to give back to the younger players, like Nnamdi Asomugha. Nnamdi came in hungry, wanting to learn, wanting to understand it all. It took him a couple of years to 'get it,' just like it did me. It's hard for someone to come in as a rookie and be a dominant player. I normally say it takes about three years, and then you start seeing the flashes of how good a player is.

"For me, it was fitting for me to go to Oakland to end my career because I started my career with the PAL (Police Athletic League) Raiders when I was nine years old. And really, I never had a favorite player but one of my favorite teams growing up was the Raiders. I don't know if it was the mystique of the Silver and Black or because of how good they were. But the one player who probably had the best nickname in pro football history is (HOF, Class of 2002) "The Ghost," Dave Casper.

"Stuff like that just intrigued me about the Raiders. And for Al (Davis) to allow me to be a Raider for two years was kind of a childhood dream come true. I started as a Raider, and I finished as a Raider."

Gay: "In 1995, you tore your ACL in Week 1 and returned to play in Super Bowl XXX, the first NFL player to sustain that knee injury and return in the same season. That must have been rewarding and bittersweet at the same time, watching your team succeed while you rehabbed the knee."

Woodson: "It was. But the light of the end of the tunnel, I could see. I give all the credit for Bill Cowher, because normally when a guy hurts his ACL, he goes in IR right away, and we all know they don't come back. Bill and I and the doctors all sat down that Monday morning (after the injury) and talked about it. The doctor (Richard Steadman in Vail, Colo.) said four to six months. Well, six months ... that would be the playoffs. I looked at Bill and said, 'Well, that would be the playoffs.'

Bill left that spot open for me. He had enough respect for me and obviously we didn't have a lot of injuries to the secondary and Carnell Lake did a great job, moved to corner, took my spot and held his own. But without Bill leaving that spot open for me, all the hard work would have been for naught."

Gay: "You played on three different Super Bowl teams and won a ring with one of them. There are Hall of Famers, such as Dan Marino, who never played in a Super Bowl. (Ed. Note: Marino played in Super Bowl XIX) Does that seems remarkable to you, or lucky, or both?"

Woodson: "You have to be in the right place in the right time. When I first got to Pittsburgh, we weren't that good. The heyday was over. My first year, we were 6-10. So we had to rebuild it, basically. I think in Chuck's last year we made the playoffs and won a wild-card game, lost to Denver. And then Bill Cowher came in and put the pieces together and we put some strings of playoff runs in there.

"I think it's skill, luck, being blessed. A little of all of the above. As a team, the ball has to bounce the right way throughout the whole year for you to win the Super Bowl or to even get there. But to get there three times with three different teams, I would like to think I chose the right teams and helped them get to that point. I knew with the 49ers, they had Jerry (Rice) and Steve (Young) there, and that was my opportunity to try to get a ring. In Baltimore, it was all about projecting greatness.

"With the Raiders, Bill Callahan stepped in and (quarterback) Rich Gannon had the best year of his career. So that's one of the main reasons we went to the Super Bowl, because of Rich."

Gay: "During your playing career, you did not run afoul of the law. Now, as an NFL analyst, when you hear players today complain about Commissioner Roger Goodell's strict Personal Conduct Policy and see how he administers it, what do you think about that?"

Woodson: "There was a conduct policy; it was written in every contract, and it prohibited conduct detrimental to the team and to the league. It's always been there. But Roger was the first one to pull it out and say, 'This is what it's going to be. We can't have this anymore.'

"The difference between when I played and today is the number of media outlets. You can't do anything wrong nowadays. You might have gotten pulled over for DUI in the 1970s and nobody would have heard about it. But if you get a DUI today, it's on the front page the next day. There are so many media outlets and avenues to get information out there, from the Internet to Tweeting, to cell phones to texting, there are so many strings for that. It's much more today than back in the day."I agree with Roger wholeheartedly that you have to put your foot down about being disciplined and protecting 'The Shield.' Because it's a privilege to play in the National Football League."

"I agree with Roger wholeheartedly that you have to put your foot down about being disciplined and protecting 'The Shield.' Because it's a privilege to play in the National Football League. What I did for 17 years and what these guys do now -- at the end of the day, it's just a game. It's called a football game. So to play in a game is a privilege and it's a privilege to don a uniform and to make that type of money and represent your individual franchises, and to represent the NFL shield as a whole.

"I think Roger has done a good job of not baselining anyone. He's bringing those guys in individually, talking to them. He's using a human heart. And I think that's OK. We're given a conscience for a reason. Roger is letting these guys know that if you mess up, you're going to sit down for awhile. It's a great message to send to collegiate players, high school players who are projecting as pro players. You guys are role models, and we are not going to accept guys who come in here and act criminal on a daily basis."

Gay: "You're active in a campaign with Depend.com and other athletes to promote prostate cancer awareness, including having a video of yourself posted on the Internet undergoing a simple PSA test. Why is this important to you?

Woodson: "The PSA test is so easy. All they do is draw blood. And when they called me, my wife (Nikki) and I did some research. My wife told me African-American men are 2 ½ times more likely to have traces of prostate cancer in their body upon their death. Once she said that to me, I called the company back and said, 'I'll be a spokesperson.'' At age 44, I'd never even thought about prostate cancer. My doctor told me African-American men should get tested earlier. This work has really opened my eyes. Now that I'm aware of this, I want men to understand that prostate cancer can kill you, but it's treatable if you can catch it early."

Gay: "Do you see yourself getting emotional during your Enshrinement Speech on Aug. 8?"

Woodson: "I'll probably get teary eyed. I think it's an emotional thing. It's a once-in-a-lifetime experience. You go over your speech and think about what you'll say. That's key for me; I need to thank everyone who sacrificed from themselves to put me in the Hall of Fame. So that's what my speech is about. Thanking everyone who took from themselves, to give to me, to put me up there on that stage. And that will be emotional. People have given up a lot for me.

"I just hope I don't boo-hoo and break down so hard that I lose my breath. That's all I'm hoping."

Rod Woodson Talks About Hall of Fame Career and Trusting Roger Goodell originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Tue, 28 Jul 2009 11:14:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Warren Moon Hopes Current NFL Players Don't Repeat His Mistakes

Nancy Gay — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 18:30:00 EST

Filed under: NFL Hall of Fame, FanHouse Exclusive, NFL Quarterbacks

During much of his 23-year Hall of Fame career as a quarterback in the Canadian Football League and the NFL, Warren Moon kept his inner turmoil simmering beneath a poised, polished exterior.

As a trailblazing African-American quarterback, he tackled racism and stereotyping to hone a wildly successful playing career. But Moon never shook the psychological burden of becoming man of his household at age seven when his father died of liver disease, and forever feeling he had to financially provide for a huge family that included his mother, six sisters and other relatives.

Ultimately, Moon's personal demons wouldn't hide forever. As his playing career wound down, years of pent-up pressure, stress, frustration and anger led the popular NFL star to make news off the field -- embarrassing, troubling arrests for domestic violence and DUI that led him to undergo years of therapy and renewed accountability to his family, friends and those who idolize him.

"There is a lot on your plate for professional athletes -- the pressure to perform, to provide for your family, friends, everyone -- that a lot that people don't really know,'' said Moon, 52, who talks about his life, career and his myriad personal mistakes in a new book, Never Give Up on Your Dream: My Journey, co-written with Don Yaeger. "Eventually, if you're not careful or not aware of what's happening, it can come out and destroy you."

Moon told FanHouse he hopes his personal tale of the pitfalls that often accompany athletic success can serve a cautionary tale for young NFL players. And there are plenty of guys who can use this life lesson.

Thursday, former NFL running back Travis Henry was sentenced to three years in prison for his role in a cocaine trafficking ring. And how's this for a damning character trait -- Henry also is universally reviled for his admission that he can't afford child support for the 11 kids he has fathered with 10 different women.

On Monday, former Falcons quarterback Michael Vick, who remains under indefinite suspension by the NFL, will begin life as a free man when his two months of home confinement ends. Vick served 19 months in federal prison after being convicted of financing a dogfighting operation.

"Doing time in the pen" isn't part of the NFL experience, but off-field mayhem often is. From Donte' Stallworth's guilty plea to DUI manslaughter after striking and killing a Miami pedestrian with his Bentley, to Plaxico Burress' gun charges, to soon-to-be-inducted Hall of Famer Bruce Smith's DUI conviction last month, these incidents assume their sorry place in what's become an NFL Hall of Shame.

"There are plenty of young guys that I'd like to grab around the collar and shake some sense into them,'' Moon said. "A lot of those guys are going through probably the same stuff I was, at that time.

"I probably wish someone would have shook me."

As a player, Moon largely maintained a stoic demeanor on the field and a quiet life off of it. He was respected as a model athlete, husband and father, and revered as a role model.

That sterling reputation quickly unraveled one awful night in 1995, when Moon and his wife, Felicia, were involved in a widely publicized domestic violence incident at their Texas home.

Although acquitted by a jury of charges that he punched, scratched and choked his wife in a physical dispute over credit cards, and despite Felicia's controversial pleas that prosecutors abandon the case before it went to trial, the Moon family remains haunted by that incident.

"My wife and I had our squabble; that's the biggest negative of my career, personally,'' Moon said. "We dealt with that as well as we possibly could, and I made sure I took steps to make sure nothing like that ever happens again. She did the same thing, because we were both fault. It was just a very public situation because of who we were at the time."

Later, two 2007 DUI stops in Washington that led to admissions of guilt in court, but reduced sentences for negligent driving, would tarnish his image further.

"I went to dinner and had a few drinks. I made a mistake but I thought everything was overblown,'' said Moon, who still believes the DUI charges were unwarranted since he tested under the limit in the first stop and was arrested for refusing field sobriety and breathalyzer tests in the other.

Still, Moon knows his fans and the public will not forget, nor will many forgive, these personal blemishes.

"Once you're in the news for something like that, it's hard to erase,'' Moon admitted.

Former eight-time Pro Bowl wide receiver Cris Carter knows all about demons. He battled alcohol and cocaine addictions that nearly derailed his 16-year NFL career, but he resurrected his life and image to win the Walter Payton Man of the Year award in 1999 and a spot on the NFL's 1990's All-Decade Team.

During the 2009 NFL Rookie Symposium earlier this month, Carter tore into the incoming class of NFL stars after one of them -- still unnamed -- fell asleep during his fiery speech about the challenges they face trying to earn a living "in a grown man's league."

Carter recalled seeing Burress, Vick, Ryan Leaf (indicted in May on one count of burglary and eight drug-related counts associated with the narcotic painkiller hyrocodone) and Adam "Pacman" Jones (trouble ad nauseum) in the audience at his previous "avoid the pitfalls" lectures to rookies.

"Every one of 'em said, 'You know something, Cris? It ain't gonna be me,' '' Carter recounted.

Moon hopes that Carter's powerful words got through to these incoming NFL players, and he wants his message to do the same.

He offers some simple advice to the younger, wealthier breed of NFL stars as these players negotiate their way through challenging playing careers and equally challenging personal choices.

"Watch the people who are around you and the people you associate with and hang out with,'' Moon cautioned. "A lot of times these are the guys you grew up with, that you don't want to turn your back on. But those guys aren't going in the same direction as you.

"These young players, these guys, really need to pay attention who they associate with and where they associate, the places they hang out. If they eliminate those two things, for the most part, they're gonna be OK."

Warren Moon Hopes Current NFL Players Don't Repeat His Mistakes originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Thu, 16 Jul 2009 18:30:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Rodney Harrison Demands Your Respect

Nancy Gay — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 21:45:00 EST

Filed under: NFL Hall of Fame, NFL Media Watch, NFL Interviews, FanHouse Exclusive

Rodney Harrison has a perception problem. He knows how many in the NFL viewed him during his 15-year career: as the dirtiest player in the league. A player fined more than $200,000 for countless illegal hits. An admitted user of Human Growth Hormone (HGH) to speed recovery from his many injuries -- a breach that led to a four-game suspension in 2007.

Cognizant of this, the recently retired Harrison -- who is embarking on a new career as a studio analyst for NBC's Football Night in America -- is convinced he won't get a fair shake from the Pro Football Hall of Fame selection committee five years from now, when he's eligible for induction.

"Probably not," the former Chargers and Patriots safety told FanHouse, "because just look how the NFL has looked at me all these years. Ignoring my stats and my impact as a player and a teammate. Focusing on the negative.

"Do I believe I'm a Hall of Fame player? Absolutely. Will I make it in there? That's up to you guys. But I know that I did all I could do."

As a member of the Hall's 44-person board of selectors, I understand Harrison's frustration. I also know how carefully the selectors weigh, debate and dissect the merits of each candidate. There is nothing knee-jerk about a process that takes months to complete each year.

Can you write the history of the NFL without mentioning this player or contributor? That's a question that's often posed by selectors.

Harrison put up excellent numbers in his era, as he points out. He played big in big games for the Patriots' Super Bowl teams. He started in 159 of 186 games and was fairly durable until injuries caught up to him at the end of his career -- he started just 31 games in his final four seasons.

"I know it's up to you guys. But I think [the selection board] should be made up of football archeologists, historians, personnel managers, people that know the game and have played the game,'' Harrison says. "No disrespect to you guys. Maybe, even a handful of reporters should be part of it.

"But can they do it without any biases? I don't know if they can, if that's fair."

What burns Harrison most about this discussion? The lofty NFL honors that he believes masquerade as popularity contests.

Harrison, despite his status as the only player in NFL history to record 30 sacks (30.5) and 30 interceptions (34) and being an integral part of two Super Bowl winning teams, was selected to the Pro Bowl only twice in 15 seasons.

"The Pro Bowl is an absolute joke,'' Harrison says. "When you look at the guys who can't even play safety and they're getting in. You've got guys going in with 70 tackles, one or two interceptions, no sacks, no passes defensed, no impact on the game. I mean, it's crazy how the Pro Bowl voting is.

"You mean to tell me a guy like John Lynch, who I respect to death, you tell me he's an eight, nine-time Pro Bowler, and I'm a two-time Pro Bowler?"

Harrison's got a strong point there.

In 15 seasons, Harrison averaged 6.5 tackles per game along with his 34 interceptions, 15 forced fumbles and 30.5 sacks.

Lynch, in 16 seasons, averaged 4.7 tackles per game and recorded 26 interceptions, 10 forced fumbles and 13 sacks.

In 2003, when Harrison led the Patriots with 140 regular-season tackles and three interceptions, he was voted All-Pro by The Associated Press media panel. But he failed to make the Pro Bowl roster that season.

"Look at these stats!" Harrison says emphatically. "All you have to do is pull 'em up and look at 'em -- my interceptions, my tackles, my impact on the game. Everything! What does that tell you?

"But guess what: Because I'm Rodney Harrison, because everyone wanted to put this 'dirty player' stigma on me, no one would vote for me. But if you asked these guys, would they want me on their team, yes they would."

Throughout his career, Harrison earned a reputation as a heavy hitter.

What about the negatives?

o. The HGH suspension in 2007: Was it cheating? "I don't think so. Because if you look at the reports, it was done over a couple of months, not a couple of years,'' Harrison says. "If you look at my numbers before and my numbers after that, I don't think it had any impact as far as performance.

"Of course, people will use that as a way to keep me out, and that's fine, because I won't trade my Super Bowl rings for the Hall of Fame, any day."

o. His history of questionable hits and personal fouls: "It was always about the team and I did everything in my power to make sure my teammates were OK," Harrison says. "And that's why I got fined a lot of the time and got into fights, because I always wanted to protect my teammates, my coach, the city that I played for. That's the passion."

o. Being fined more than $200,000 by the NFL: "It didn't matter!" Harrison contends. "What did the fine or the money mean to me? I was out there playing football, OK? You've got [recently retired NFL director of football operations] Gene Washington, he [was] a wide receiver. Of course he didn't like me. Because if he had played against me, of course I would knock his freakin' head off, too. They didn't want me hitting Jerry Rice in the nose."

You have to appreciate the man's honesty. Harrison's not the first player to lash out at the Hall of Fame selection process and he won't be the last.

Giants linebacker Harry Carson was all class as a player, but he was so steamed after failing to garner the required 80-percent approval of the board as a five-time finalist, he demanded the Hall remove his name from consideration.

The keepers of the Hall in Canton, Ohio declined, and the board comprised of pro football writers and broadcasters voted Carson into the Class of 2006 after seven consecutive years as a finalist. He accepted graciously.

As longtime Hall of Fame selector Len Pasquarelli of ESPN.com reminds us, there are only five safeties among the 111 players selected for the Hall from the "Super Bowl era" -- Ken Houston, Paul Krause, Larry Wilson, Ronnie Lott and Rod Woodson, who will go in a month from now with the Class of 2009.

"You mean to tell me a guy like John Lynch, who I respect to death, you tell me he's an eight, nine-time Pro Bowler, and I'm a two-time Pro Bowler?"Only the center position, with four inductees, is more overlooked.

"Safety has always been looked as a hybrid position -- 'Well, he can't run, he can't cover man-to-man, he's back 10 to 12 yards' -- they took it for granted,'' Harrison explains. But he says the great safeties of today, such as Ed Reed, Troy Polamalu and Bob Sanders, are finally being appreciated because of the foundation laid by hard-hitting players such as Lott, Woodson, Steve Atwater and, yes, himself.

When Harrison's turn at the Hall first comes up in 2014, he'll be a controversial candidate. A player of his caliber, however, will not be dismissed solely because of his on-field reputation.

Like Carson, it may take a few years before Harrison's complete contribution to the NFL and to his championship teams can be fairly assessed in comparison to other candidates.

"As I walk off that field, I have no regrets,'' Harrison says, "because I respected my peers, I respected the game and I played the game the right way. It wasn't about the money, a big check, it wasn't about the big cars, the houses, none of that. It was about respecting what everyone laid out before us.

"If you look at the numbers, my numbers don't lie. My impact is there."

Rodney Harrison Demands Your Respect originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Tue, 07 Jul 2009 21:45:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Former Viking Lineman Ron Yary is a Brett Favre Fan

Bruce Ciskie — Sun, 07 Jun 2009 12:20:00 EST

Filed under: Packers, Vikings, NFC North, NFL Hall of Fame

Ron Yary was quite the offensive lineman for the Minnesota Vikings. He played for them from 1968 until 1981, building up Hall of Fame credentials while being part of four Super Bowl teams. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2001.

Of course, the Vikings failed to win any of those Super Bowls, but Yary says that a certain someone who may or may not be retired could have made a difference on those Viking teams.

Yary told the St. Paul Pioneer Press that his Viking teams would have had a little more success in Super Bowls with Brett Favre at quarterback.

"If the Vikings would have had Brett Favre during the time of my career, we would have been 7-0 in Super Bowls. Absolutely," Yary said.

"I'm a fan of Brett Favre, and so is my wife (Jamie)," Yary said from his home in Murrieta, Calif. "And if my wife's a fan, he's got to be a good guy. I'm a fan for different reasons."

Yes, he really said that.

Of course, you could take a couple of thoughts from this outlandish, ridiculous statement.

For starters, Fran Tarkenton, publicly critical of Favre's waffling and attempt to hold the Packers hostage last summer, wasn't worth a crap, even though he's also in the Hall of Fame.

That Packers team Favre led to the Super Bowl in 1997 must have been terrible. After all, not even Favre could keep them from losing to Denver.

Finally, the 2008 season wasn't a fluke for Green Bay. Without Favre, they're really going to stink.

In fairness to Yary, football was a bit different when he played. Since I wasn't alive for most of the 1970s, I honestly couldn't tell you how much difference a guy with Favre's arm strength and smarts could have made, or if a guy like that even existed back then.

I have, however, watched the old film of the Vikings' Super Bowl losses. A better quarterback might have helped them against Miami and Kansas City (Joe Kapp played for the Vikings in their Super Bowl IV loss to the Chiefs), but Tarkenton was constantly under siege in the Pittsburgh loss. Moreover, the Vikings' defense was pretty dreadful against Oakland, allowing over 250 yards rushing.

On the bright side, that old-timers reunion this year should be fun. I'm sure Yary and Tarkenton will have a lot to talk about.

Former Viking Lineman Ron Yary is a Brett Favre Fan originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Sun, 07 Jun 2009 12:20:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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After Hall of Fame Selection, Doubts Cast on Letter Read by Bob Hayes' Sister

Michael David Smith — Wed, 04 Feb 2009 17:45:00 EST

Filed under: Cowboys, NFL Hall of Fame

On Saturday, the late Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Bob Hayes was selected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame. I and dozens of other journalists sat in the room at the Super Bowl Media Center and listened to Lucille Hester, who was introduced as Hayes' sister, read a letter that she said Hayes gave her and wanted her to read in the event that he ever became a Hall of Famer.

It was a touching moment. But some claim it was complete fiction.

In the days since Hayes' Hall of Fame selection, several people have come forward to say that Hester isn't really Hayes' sister. Hester insists that she is Hayes' sister, and others have come forward to say that Hayes introduced them to Hester and referred to her as "my sister." It's hard to know who to believe on that front.

But now the letter itself has been called into question. The Dallas Morning News quotes a typeface expert saying the letter (which I photographed on Saturday as Hester held it up) is printed in Calibri typeface, which Microsoft introduced in 2007. Hayes died in 2002 and the letter is dated October 29, 1999.

For her part, Hester says she doesn't know whether Hayes typed the letter himself or dictated it to someone else, and she doesn't know anything about analyzing fonts. But she insists that Hayes gave her the letter himself before he died.

So it's simple: Either the typeface expert and the people who say Hayes and Hester weren't siblings are flatly wrong, or Hester is flatly lying. I spoke to Hester after she read the letter, and she struck me as a warm and sincere woman. If she's a liar, she's as good at lying as Bob Hayes was at football.

After Hall of Fame Selection, Doubts Cast on Letter Read by Bob Hayes' Sister originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Wed, 04 Feb 2009 17:45:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Joe Namath Presents Title Trophy, Suzy Kolber Nowhere To Be Found

Chris Burke — Mon, 02 Feb 2009 01:20:00 EST

Filed under: NFL Hall of Fame, NFL Media Watch, Super Bowl

It is impossible to go through a Super Bowl without being reminded of Joe Namath's famous guarantee before Baltimore's Super Bowl III update.

It's perfectly fitting, then, that the 65-year-old Namath brought the Vince Lombardi Trophy onto the field after the Steelers' exciting victory -- especially since the game turned into a classic dual between two talented quarterbacks. After Pittsburgh celebrated on the field, Namath appeared with the trophy, which he then had to carry through a hoard of jubilant Steelers players, all of whom took turns trying to grab the Lombardi as it passed.

Video of Namath being mobbed by Steelers as he walked to the podium, along with the presentation ceremony itself, is after the jump.

It's always nice when Namath makes an appearance in front of the national network cameras given his disastrous appearance with Suzy Kolber at a Jets game in 2003 still gets talked about:

Broadway Joe apologized for that appearance, then later checked into an alcoholism treatment program, so football fans everywhere must appreciate seeing Namath confidently stride into the public eye.

Joe Namath Presents Title Trophy, Suzy Kolber Nowhere To Be Found originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Mon, 02 Feb 2009 01:20:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Cris Carter Will Get the Art Monk Treatment in Hall of Fame Voting

Michael David Smith — Sun, 01 Feb 2009 09:55:00 EST

Filed under: Vikings, NFL Hall of Fame

TAMPA, Fla. -- I believe Cris Carter will one day be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. But in talking to some Hall of Fame voters both before and after Saturday's selection meeting, I also believe that Carter, like fellow possession receiver Art Monk before him, will have a long wait before enshrinement in Canton.

When I talked to some Hall of Fame voters before the selection meeting, it sounded like Carter would be a very close call: Some voters said his raw numbers alone (1,101 catches,130 receiving touchdowns and 13,899 receiving yards) were enough to get him in, while there was a minority opinion that he didn't make enough big plays.

But I've heard from a couple of Hall of Fame voters after the meeting who said there is a fair amount of anti-Carter sentiment in the room when the 44 voters get together. Carter made it past the first round of voting, when the field of 15 candidates was cut to 10, but not past the second round of voting, when the 10 semifinalists were cut to five finalists. (Senior candidates are voted on separately.)

It also appears that some voters were persuaded during the meeting to vote "no" on Carter and "yes" on Bills owner Ralph Wilson. Jim Trotter of SI.com writes of Wilson, "there was a groundswell of support once his candidacy was discussed, particularly with the coming season representing the 50th anniversary of the AFL."

I like and respect the Hall of Fame voters I know, but that's just stupid. The fact that the coming season will be the 50th since the AFL began should have no bearing on Wilson's candidacy. And yet all of the finalists are competing against each other for a limited number of slots, which means this year being the 50th anniversary of the AFL hurt Carter's candidacy.

It's not going to get any easier for Carter. Next year two of the Hall of Fame spots will be taken by Jerry Rice and Emmitt Smith, both of whom become eligible for the first time. Carter will also be hurt by the fact that Tim Brown, whose statistics are similar to Carter's, becomes eligible next year. I don't think Brown is getting in ahead of Carter, but if even a few voters pick Brown over Carter, that hurts Carter's chances even more.

And yet I do think Carter is eventually getting in. Just as Monk finally got in after many years of being voted down, I believe that eventually enough voters will come around on Carter to get him a bust in Canton. But it's not going to happen in 2010.

Cris Carter Will Get the Art Monk Treatment in Hall of Fame Voting originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Sun, 01 Feb 2009 09:55:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Hall of Famers Bruce Smith, Randall McDaniel Recall Past Battles

Michael David Smith — Sun, 01 Feb 2009 08:45:00 EST

Filed under: Bills, Buccaneers, Redskins, Vikings, NFL Hall of Fame

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.

Hall of Famers Bruce Smith, Randall McDaniel Recall Past Battles originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Sun, 01 Feb 2009 08:45:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Bob Hayes' Sister Reads His Words After Posthumous Hall of Fame Selection

Michael David Smith — Sat, 31 Jan 2009 15:55:00 EST

Filed under: Cowboys, NFL Hall of Fame

TAMPA, Fla. -- The best moment of this Super Bowl week took place this afternoon in a conference room at the Super Bowl media center, when Lucille Hester, the sister of former Cowboys wide receiver Bob Hayes, read a letter that her late brother wrote to her before he died, detailing what he wanted to say if he was ever selected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

That selection came today, and the letter that Hester read brought goose bumps and audible gasps to those in the room.

Hayes' letter said:

I would like to thank everyone who supported me to get into the NFL Hall of Fame. Thank the Dallas Cowboy organization, all of my teammates and everyone who played for the Cowboys. Thank the San Francisco 49ers too.

Thank the fans from all around the country and the world. Thank the committee who voted for me and also some who may not have. Thank mother and my family. Thank Roger Staubach and tell all my teammates I love them. Thank the Pro Football Hall of Fame, all the NFL teams and players, Florida A&M University.

Thank you to everyone who attended Matthew Gilbert High School. Thank everyone in Jacksonville and Florida and everyone especially on the East Side of Jacksonville, where we were raised. Thank everyone in the city of Dallas, and the state of Texas, and just thank everyone in the whole world. I love you all.

[Signed]
Bob Hayes.

Hester also thanked Rick Gosselin and Paul Zimmerman, two Hall of Fame voters who have long championed Hayes' induction.

Hayes won two Olympic gold medals in 1964 and was the world's fastest man, with a 10.0-second 100-meter dash. The Cowboys drafted him that year, thinking a player with his raw athletic ability had a chance to become a threat as a wide receiver.

Hayes exceeded all expectations on the football field. He led the league in receiving touchdowns in each of his first two seasons, as opposing defenses simply had no answer for his blazing speed. Eventually teams began to use zone defenses against the Cowboys and Hayes became less effective, but the very fact that new defensive tactics were deployed to stop Hayes was considered a strong point in his favor, according to Hall of Fame voters I talked to.

Hayes retired after one year with the San Francisco 49ers in 1975. He died in 2002 at age 59.

Bob Hayes' Sister Reads His Words After Posthumous Hall of Fame Selection originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Sat, 31 Jan 2009 15:55:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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