Super Bowl XL in Detroit ended a 27-year wait for Dallas Cowboys Offensive Tackle Rayfield Wright. He retired in 1979, but after being a finalist in 2004, he was finally voted into the NFL Hall of fame. He can thank to the Seniors Committee, which can add players they feel have been overlooked.
Dallas Cowboys Quarterback Troy Aikman was also voted in the Hall of Fame during his first year of eligibility, becoming the second Cowboys quarterback to enter the Hall. Roger Staubach is already in the NFL Hall of Fame, being inducted in 1985.
Talk about a bias against the Cowboys overshadowed the days leading up to the vote, which failed to make Wide Receiver Michael Irvin a Hall of Famer. One member of the committee, indicated he was a “great player,” but that the class of 2006, consisted of “great, great, great players.” The feeling is that his time will come.
Others elected were Head Coach John Madden, Linebacker Harry Carson, Quarterback Warren Moon, and Defensive End Reggie White.
Said Wright, “I never dreamed I would be a professional football player, and didn’t even want to play football. I am so overwhelmed at this time, and so honored.”
Wright couldn’t hold back his excitement and emotions after a long, long wait. The converted tight end recalled his first assignment as a Cowboys tackle, and was called upon to block Deacon Jones, perhaps the greatest defensive end ever. “I kind of wanted to change my mind,” he joked.
Like Wright, Madden was also elected by the seniors committee. Madden was hired as head coach of the Oakland Raiders at age 32. Over the next 10 seasons he compiled a .759 regular season winning percentage, the highest in NFL history of any coach with 100 career wins.
The six-man class was elected by the Hall of Fame’s 39-member Selection Committee. The newest members of the Hall were selected from a list of 15 finalists that had been determined earlier by the committee.
Aikman led the Dallas Cowboys to three Super Bowl victories during his 12-season career. His 90 wins during the 1990s makes him the winningest quarterback of any decade in NFL history. Aikman was elected to six Pro Bowls in his career.
Aikman credited his coaches and teammates, mentioning in particular Emmitt Smith, the NFL's career rushing leader, and Irvin. Both were present during the announcement. "When I think of all the great players who have played the game over the history of it," Aikman said, "to be considered one of the great players that helped define the game itself, it is a humbling experience."
Irvin failed to make the final six in his second year of eligibility, but he didn’t take it nearly as hard as last year.
Smith, a strong supporter of his former teammate, said the panel of 39 media members who vote were swayed against Irvin because of his off-field problems, including pleading no contest to felony cocaine possession in exchange for four years of deferred probation, a $10,000 fine and dismissal of misdemeanor marijuana possession charges. However, the Hall's voting bylaws preclude consideration of non-football issues. The members I talked to said his off the field problems weren’t a factor.
"Any level of disappointment I have is undermined by my joy for Troy," Irvin said. "Last year this time, I was in my room crying. I couldn't move. Now, I'm out here and I'm going to laugh and enjoy this moment for Troy. "It's not about me, it's about Troy. When you show highlights of Troy, your going to have to show me, so I’m happy for him."
Carson made his presence felt during his 13 seasons as a linebacker with the New York Giants. Voted to nine Pro Bowls, he recovered 14 fumbles during his career that spanned from 1976 to 1988.
White began his career in the USFL, but by the time he was finished in the NFL, he'd gone to 13 straight Pro Bowls and been chosen for the league's 75th anniversary team.
As for the Cowboys, the induction of Aikman and Wright, gives the Cowboys seven players in the Hall of Fame. They include Bob Lilly 1980, Roger Staubach 1985, Randy White and Tony Dorsett, both in 1994, and Mel Renfro 1996. Tom Landry was inducted as a Head Coach in 1990, and Tex Schramm in 1991 as the teams President and General Manager.
No comments:
Post a Comment