View Full Version : HOF inductees announced
ATLFalcons
01-31-2009, 04:56 PM
TAMPA, Fla. -- Bruce Smith, Rod Woodson and Derrick Thomas, all witnesses for the defense. All of them now Pro Football Hall of Famers.
The three were elected on Saturday, along with longtime Buffalo Bills owner Ralph Wilson, who at age 90 will be the oldest person ever inducted; former Minnesota Vikings guard Randall McDaniel; and the late Bob Hayes, a standout wide receiver for Dallas and the 1964 Olympic gold medalist in the 100 meters.
The induction ceremony will be Aug. 8 in Canton, Ohio.
http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=3874838
football junkie
01-31-2009, 06:33 PM
This years class has three defensive super stars. Next years class will have three offensive supernova: Emmitt Smith, Jerry Rice, Tim Brown.
I don't know if I'm crazy about Wilson getting into the HOF. His legacy might just be another moved/lost franchise.
Hey, I'm the one who's supposed to post this. ;)
Minutes before they held the press conference making the announcement, Warren Sapp spilled the beans about the players, but not Wilson, during the DirectTV Beach football game. I know the press conference had not started yet, and ESPN News did not release the names on their ticker until the press conference started. At least, that's how it appeared.
Emmitt Smith and Rice are bigger first-year locks than Bruce Smith and Woodson. At the time they retired there was talk that Bret Favre would also be part of that class, and it would be the biggest induction ceremony turnout ever. It still might be with those two.
Right now Wilson's legacy is solid, half a century with a franchise that had some big years pre-Super Bowl and a few good runs since. If the Bills do move to Toronto or wherever they might go, Wilson's bust would get as cold a reception as OJ's does currently. Moving has probably been why Art Modell and Bud Adams haven't been elected.
I do like the class overall, although I think Cris Carter deserved more support. Rice is among football's elite elite, and Brown's candidacy doesn't help him. Since Claude Humphrey made it to the final cut, I do believe he's a finalist for next year, as well. That's how it works for the Non-Seniors candiates, at least.
efin98
02-02-2009, 01:19 PM
[QUOTE=CCN;15011]Right now Wilson's legacy is solid, half a century with a franchise that had some big years pre-Super Bowl and a few good runs since. If the Bills do move to Toronto or wherever they might go, Wilson's bust would get as cold a reception as OJ's does currently. Moving has probably been why Art Modell and Bud Adams haven't been elected. QUOTE]
Hard to put those two in before Wilson when their teams haven't been as influential on the game or won as many championships or made as many Super Bowls or championship game appearances(NFL or AFL) under their ownership as Wilson with his teams...
[QUOTE=CCN;15011]Right now Wilson's legacy is solid, half a century with a franchise that had some big years pre-Super Bowl and a few good runs since. If the Bills do move to Toronto or wherever they might go, Wilson's bust would get as cold a reception as OJ's does currently. Moving has probably been why Art Modell and Bud Adams haven't been elected. QUOTE]
Hard to put those two in before Wilson when their teams haven't been as influential on the game or won as many championships or made as many Super Bowls or championship game appearances(NFL or AFL) under their ownership as Wilson with his teams...
Very true. Modell's biggest case lies with his impact as a league executive. He's evidently very influential in terms of the competition and rules committees. I say evidently because I've only heard this mentioned a few times. It's not something that's actually documented. Wilson was called a calm voice in the storm on Saturday, and that's as important as the guy shouting at the end of the table pushing for resolution.
efin98
02-03-2009, 10:19 PM
[QUOTE=efin98;15015]
Very true. Modell's biggest case lies with his impact as a league executive. He's evidently very influential in terms of the competition and rules committees. I say evidently because I've only heard this mentioned a few times. It's not something that's actually documented. Wilson was called a calm voice in the storm on Saturday, and that's as important as the guy shouting at the end of the table pushing for resolution.
Wilson's biggest impact is financial- Revenue sharing, gate receipt sharing were his ideas. He also had a good habit of loaning money to Boston and heavily to Oakland to keep them afloat to ensure the survival of the league.