Pro Football HOF Class of 2009

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The Pro Football Hall of Fame announced their Class of 2009 today in Tampa (site of tomorrow’s Super Bowl XLIII, of course). Wide receiver Bob Hayes, guard Randall McDaniel, defensive end Bruce Smith, linebacker Derrick Thomas, owner Ralph Wilson Jr., and defensive back Rod Woodson make up the Class of 2009 Pro Football Hall of Fame enshrinees.

The six-man class was elected by the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s Selection Committee. The newest members of the Hall were selected from a list of 17 finalists that had been determined earlier by the committee. I was somewhat surprised to see that Cris Carter came up short again. I was also kind of surprised to see that Shannon Sharpe, Andre Reed and former NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue didn’t make this year’s class despite being among the finalists. But as always, there are so many deserving names and only so many spots, so it’s really just a matter of time for these gentlemen.

• Bob Hayes, a gold medalist track star in the 1964 Summer Olympics, combined his world class speed with great hands. “Bullet Bob,” a three-time All-Pro pick, caught 371 career passes for 7,414 yards and 71 touchdowns. Because Bob passed away back in 2002 at the age of 59, his sister read a letter at today’s presser that he had previously written for just this occasion — if it ever happened. It was a tearful moment. Bob sure seemed like a great person. I wish I had been able to see him play more (he retired when I was eight-years-old) because his highlight reel is something to see.
• Randall McDaniel was named All-Pro nine straight seasons and voted to a record 12 consecutive AFC-NFC Pro Bowls during his 14-season career with the Minnesota Vikings (1988-1999) and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2000-01). I remember him as a monument on the Vikings offensive line (and what an ugly stance he had) and truly one of the best to ever play his position.
• Bruce Smith, the first overall pick in the 1985 draft by the Buffalo Bills, is the NFL’s all-time sack leader with 200 career sacks. A member of both the NFL’s All-Decade Teams of the 1980s and 1990s, Bruce was named first-team All-Pro nine times and voted to 11 Pro Bowls. Enough said right there. Bruce was a no-brainer, first-ballot Pro Football Hall of Famer. And a true gentleman.
• It’s going to be a big year for the Buffalo Bills at the Pro Football Hall of Fame because owner Ralph Wilson Jr. was also elected. Mr. Wilson founded the Bills in 1959 and watched his team win back-to-back AFL titles in the mid-1960s and become the only team ever to advance to four consecutive Super Bowls. He was an integral part of the AFL’s success and has also served on a number of important NFL committees over the years. Despite economic hardships here in Western New York, Mr. Wilson has managed to keep the Bills in Buffalo.
• Derrick Thomas amassed more sacks during the 1990s than any other player. He was selected to nine Pro Bowls, named All-NFL three times, and was All-AFC seven times in an eight-year stretch. He was relentless. I remember a game against Seattle where he had eight sacks. Yes, in one game! What is even more impressive was his work off the field. Did you know Derrick was the first NFL player to ever start his own charitable foundation, something that’s rather commonplace these days? Sadly, Derrick is also no longer with us. He died nine years ago from severe injuries sustained in an auto accident.
• Rod Woodson, a member of the NFL’s 75th Anniversary Team in 1994 and selected to the NFL’s All-Decade Team of the 1990s, intercepted 71 passes which he returned for an NFL record 1,483 yards and a record 12 touchdowns. He was named All-Pro six times and voted to 11 Pro Bowls. As good as Baltimore Ravens safety Ed Reed is today, he hasn’t reached the level of play of Rod Woodson, one of the best safeties of all-time. Rod is a class act.

The 2009 class will increase to 253 the number of all-time greats permanently honored in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. The Enshrinement of the Class of 2009 will take place at the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, on Saturday, August 8, 2009 at 7 p.m. ET. The Enshrinement Ceremony will be televised live by both ESPN and the NFL Network. I’m very impressed with this year’s class and I plan to attend and cover the ceremony for my 6th straight season.

Source: NFL Media, Photo: Newscom