Blogcasting the National Football League, Blogcasting the NFL

I received my credentials for the 2008 Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement a couple weeks ago. It will be my fifth straight year covering the event. And as I count down the days (39) to one of my favorite events on the NFL calendar, I came across this great clip.

Michael Irvin’s Hall of Fame induction speech last year was one of my favorites of all-time. And my interview with Michael prior to his induction was also one of my favorites. I have a great deal of respect for him. And that wasn’t always the case. In fact, there was a time I didn’t care for him, his cocky attitude or his bad-boy behavior at all. But I know that sometimes you just need to get a little older before you understand and appreciate certain things in life.

All NFL rookies will visit the Pro Football Hall of Fame as an expanded element of their annual orientation program. The trips are designed to teach incoming players about the history of pro football and give them a greater appreciation of the NFL and the opportunities and responsibilities ahead. Hopefully for these young players who are being given the opportunity to learn the history of this great game, they will understand and appreciate certain things in life a little sooner. If they listen to Michael Irvin, they certainly will.

Post from: Every Morning Quarterback

NFL Rookies to Visit Pro Football Hall Of Fame in New Orientation Program

A few days ago, I said the Dallas Cowboys were interested in Tennessee Titans CB/KR Pacman Jones. Well, the feeling is mutual. Pacman appeared on Michael Irvin’s ESPN radio show today amid speculation he could become the Cowboys’ next reclamation project. Pacman said, in-part:

“I’m not sitting here telling you I don’t own up to mistakes I’ve made. I accept everything, the punishment, everything that comes along with the bad decisions and bad choices I’ve made. In the end, I just pray to God I get a second chance ….. It’s like I’m on a cliff right now. Any slip-up and I’m off the cliff ….. This (Dallas) is where I want to be, and I hope it’ll work out in the long run and it’ll happen real quick. It’s obvious Jerry does give people a second chance. He has a great heart. Hopefully, I can get one of those second chances.”

Talks are apparently heating up and I expect a deal to be done sooner than later. I’m guessing Dallas will have to part with a third, fourth or fifth round Draft choice to get Pacman. The Titans will be happy to get whatever they can, so Dallas is in the driver’s seat here.

Post from: Every Morning Quarterback

Pacman Jones Wants to Play in Dallas

If I had to describe the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s Class of 2007 Enshrinement Ceremony in one word, I would say emotional. Sure there was plenty of humor. There were plenty of fond memories and a lot of thank you’s. But for each of the six inductees, it was an emotional evening.

The ceremony began with welcoming remarks from Pro Football Hall of Fame President/Executive Director Steve Perry and NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell. Sarah Rucker, a student at local Lake High School in Hartville sang the “National Anthem.” She did a wonderful job and the thunderous fighter jet flyover gave me chills. ESPN’s Chris Berman was the MC and he introduced many of the nearly 80 returning Hall of Famers. It gave a great sense of unity among the returning members and the new Class of 2007.

Seven-time Pro Bowler Charlie Sanders was the first inductee to the podium, introduced by Detroit Lions owner/chairman William Clay Ford. There was a new twist this year — video introductions before each presenter spoke. It added to the storyline for each inductee, but failed to cut back on the length of the actual introductions as they were intended. Charlie, a member of the NFL’s All-Decade Team for the 1970s, referenced his work ethic and upbringing and gave thanks to the many people who helped raise him — from his community to his many aunts and his strict U.S. Army father. But it was his first junior high school coach who inspired him the most athletically:

“I was preparing to attend Dudley High School, our senior high school, and Coach McKee calmly walked up to me and asked me, ‘Are you going to try out for the football team?’ Without hesitation, I responded, ‘Yes.’ He looked at me with a gleam in his eye, smile on his face, and he said, ‘I don’t think you’re tough enough.’ As I look back, I don’t think he doubted me; I think he wanted to see if I doubted myself. I have since learned that growth is a mental obstacle you overcome and not just a physical accomplishment you attain.”

Charlie closed with a very emotional hello to his mother, who died when he was just two-years-old:

“Of all the things I’ve done in football, and there have been a lot, there’s one thing that I really, really regretted. Many times I’ve seen athletes, college, professional, often look into a television and say, ‘Hi, mom.’ I always thought that was special and always something I’d want to do but couldn’t. So I take this time right here, right now in Canton, Ohio, at the Pro Football Hall of Fame to say, ‘Hi, mom.’ Thank you for the ultimate sacrifice. This day belongs to you, for it was written.”

Next up was former St. Louis Cardinals DB Roger Wehrli. Roger played his entire career — and I mean entire career (high school, college and professional) — in the state of Missouri. Like Charlie Sanders, he was a member of the NFL’s All-Decade Team of the 1970s. He was introduced by a former teammate and Hall of Famer Larry Wilson who described Roger as having “the highest morals of anyone I’ve ever met.” I know from having interviewed Roger that he’s a man of few words — soft-spoken and kind — and his acceptance speech would prove to be the shortest. But the message he packed into his time was meaningful, filled with an abundance of thank yous to the people who have been a part of his life — his wife, children and grandchildren; coaches; family and friends from St. Louis; and his Cardinal teammates:

“Football is such a team sport that none of us are successful by ourselves. It takes a whole team for one person to succeed. I want to thank those players and coaches on those Cardinal teams and in some way share this with them. I hope they can feel the pride I have in being here on this stage as one of their teammates.”

Bruce Matthews was then also introduced by a Hall of Famer, a friend, a former teammate, and a coach — Mike Munchak. Ironically, it was Bruce who introduced Mike when he was inducted into the Hall of Fame back in 2001:

“Mike Munchak was my teammate for 11 years. He was my roommate in the hotel and the offensive lineman that I aspired to be like. He was my best friend, my advisor and an example of the man I wanted to be like ….. Introducing Mike for his induction in the Hall of Fame in 2001 was one of the biggest thrills of my life. I’m honored that he introduced me today. I thank God for my friendship with Mike. You’re like a brother to me and I love you very much.”

Bruce also referenced his role model and older brother Clay as “without a doubt the best all-around linebacker I have ever played with or against.” He commenced his speech by acknowledging his family, namely his wife whom he described as “the one thing that I cherish most on this earth.”

I remember former Buffalo Bills RB Thurman Thomas‘ playing days as though it was just last season. Introduced by his former head coach, the legendary Hall of Famer himself, Marv Levy, Thurman recounted the glory days of four-straight Super Bowl appearances, much to the delight of the pro-Bills crowd:

“Someone once told me I needed to enjoy every minute of my football career because when it ended I would miss it. I look at all of you today and every memory comes back. The memories are amazing, of a time when teammates were like brothers, regardless of race, religion or politics ….. to the fans of Buffalo, every guy has probably stood up here in all of these Hall of Fame jackets and said they probably have had the best fans in the world supporting them. I’m here to say that’s hogwash. No fans are like my fans, like Bills fans ….. I don’t know how to thank you for the support our team has shown over the years. It was a ride that none of us will ever forget, a ride we would all probably love to hop back on. Unfortunately, we can’t buy tickets for that ride any more, but we will always have those memories. To the city of Buffalo, to the Buffalo Bills organization, I love you.”

Thurman then acknowledged each of his children and asked his wife to marry him all over again.

Gene Hickerson was introduced by longtime friend and former teammate Bobby Franklin, but his illness prevented him from being able to stand and deliver an acceptance speech, so his son Bob spoke for him, thanking many and recounting events from his father’s career. In a lifetime Hall of Fame moment, Gene was wheeled out next to his bust by the three Hall of Fame running backs he helped pave the way for — Jim Brown, Bobby Mitchell and Leroy Kelly. There was not a dry eye in the stadium. It was a moment of support and friendship you want to watch over and over again.

Lastly, Dallas Cowboys Owner/President/GM Jerry Jones introduced Michael Irvin and described him as the “heart and soul” of the 1990s Dallas Cowboys’ championship teams. Michael stepped to the podium with no notes whatsoever. He proceeded to spend the next 25 minutes speaking from his heart about the highs and lows of his NFL career. I know from having interviewed him last week that he’s sincere, passionate and honest about his feelings. I enjoyed speaking with him probably as much as I’ve enjoyed speaking with any NFL player — ever. Tears rolled down his face when he denounced himself as a true Hall of Famer. And this is a long excerpt, but I think it’s important in showing Michael’s true colors and the man he is today:

“You know the Bible speaks of a healing place. It’s called the threshing floor. The threshing floor is where you take your greatest fear and you pray for help from your great God. I want to share something with you today. I have two sons. Michael, he’s 10, and Elijah, he’s 8 ….. That’s my heart right there. That’s my heart. When I am on the threshing floor, I pray. I say, ‘God I have my struggles and I made some bad decisions, but whatever you do, don’t let me mess this up.’ I say, ‘Please help me raise them for some young lady so that they can be a better husband than I. Help me raise them for their kids so that they could be a better father than I.’ And I tell you guys to always do the right thing so you can be a better role model than your dad. I sat right here where you are last year and I watched the Class of 2006: Troy Aikman, Warren Moon, Harry Carson, Rayfield Wright, John Madden, and the late, great Reggie White represented by his wife Sara White. And I said, ‘Wow. That’s what a Hall of Famer is. Certainly, I am not that.’ I doubted I would ever have the chance to stand before you today.”

Again, there was not a dry eye in the silent stadium. I really respect him for essentially baring his soul to the world and being a humble recipient of an award he feels he isn’t worthy of. I have a great deal of respect for what he did. I can’t imagine how difficult it was to stand before the world and reveal his feelings like that. He closed with a positive message of hope:

“God, why must I go through so many peaks and valleys? ….. Why must I go through so much? At that moment a voice came over me and said, ‘Look up, get up, and don’t ever give up.’ You tell everyone or anyone that has ever doubted, thought they did not measure up or wanted to quit, you tell them to look up, get up and don’t ever give up.”

As I packed my belongings and walked out of the Hall and around Fawcett Stadium to the parking lot, fireworks boomed in the distance, providing a fitting end to another amazing year at the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Photo credits: Charlie Sanders, Bruce Matthews and Thurman Thomas (AP Photo/Phil Long); Roger Wehrli and Michael Irvin (AP Photo/Tony Dejak)

Post from: Every Morning Quarterback

Pro Football Hall of Fame: Class of 2007

Michael Irvin has made his share of mistakes. And as a five-time Pro Bowler and three-time Super Bowl champion with the Dallas Cowboys, those mistakes were greatly magnified. I could never fully embrace Michael during his playing days because while I enjoyed and appreciated his play on-the-field, I could not understand his reckless behavior off it. While making 750 career receptions for 11,904 yards and 65 TDs, and setting NFL records and being named to the league’s All-Decade Team of the 1990s, Michael made terrible choices in his personal life that will live with him forever. His slate will unfortunately never be wiped clean by his fellow man. People cannot so easily forgive and forget. But the person I see is a man who has admitted his wrongdoings and feels regret for his actions. He said, “I will continue to live and try to do the right things … I don’t regret my career on the football field, but at 41-years-old, I regret the mistakes I made off the football field.” Really, what more can you ask from him?

I think a lot of people want to nag Michael about the negative things. Sadly, negative stories sell. And so does dredging up a troubled past, over and over again. But at this time in his life, in this brilliant Hall of Fame moment, it’s a celebration of all the good things about Michael Irvin. And you don’t need to look far to find them. Just a few days before I pack my bags for Canton, I spoke with a very real, very candid, and very sincere Michael Irvin on a national conference call and asked him the following questions:

DAVID: When you step up to the podium Saturday, what will you be thinking about? Will you be able to reflect on your career at that moment?

MICHAEL: Well, that’s an interesting question because I’m looking to see how I handle it all when I step to the podium. There are so many things that go through my mind at this time, but to actually step to the podium (pause) ‑‑ it’s something that I really can’t even imagine what’s going to be on my mind. I’m trying to piece it together, ok? What will I be thinking about? How will I handle this? How can I deliver what I want to say? That actual moment, if you’re asking me what the actual moment is going to be like, I’m waiting on that myself. I’ve heard from people about what it’s like, but hearing things and experiencing them are two different things. I’m looking forward to taking it all in. I’m a bit afraid, but I’m anxious, also.

DAVID: Has continuing to stay in football through broadcasting kind of dulled the negative effects of retirement?

MICHAEL: Certainly. But also ‑‑ and this I will talk about Saturday ‑‑ it also gives me a different perspective on this game — how great of a game this really is. And that’s it’s not just our (players) game. Other people love the game like we love it. You get on the football field and you think, “I’m putting in the time and we’re working hard as football players and this is a game we love and that’s why I played it since I was five-years-old and this is how I identify myself.” But, being an analyst and getting an opportunity to visit and be around the fans, you better believe that I have a whole new perspective of this game, because I’ve come face-to-face with people that love the game like I love it, and they’ve never played one down.

DAVID: Do you still have the itch to play?

MICHAEL: No, no, no. I still have it in my mind, but my body says no. I go out and play basketball now and maybe a little flag football with my boys, little kids and everything. I can see some things, but I can’t do anything anywhere near like what I used to. So I love being around it. As a matter of fact, when we were traveling last year with ESPN, we would go down on the field and I would watch the games. These balls were flying by me. Guys coming to hit each other, and I was like, “God, did I play this?” (laughing) You know, because you forget when you get away from it how fast this game really is. And being back on that football field is a whole different thing.

DAVID: What do you miss most about playing?

MICHAEL: I miss the same thing everyone misses when they walk away from the game. The camaraderie. It’s a game that’s more than a game. The locker rooms, the closeness, the common goal. All of those things that cross over all barriers. It’s just that, “Hey, we are one. We are a family.” I miss that. Gameday and the yell from the crowds and all of that is fun, but it’s really those things behind the scenes that I really miss. And you really don’t feel connected to it any longer when you leave the game.

DAVID: What did football teach you about life?

MICHAEL: Many life lessons. Many. Think about the whole structure of it. Each week you have a game. What does that mean? Each week I get a new opportunity. Regardless of how last week went, we can make it better right now. Regardless of how things may have gone against you, you can fix it right now. It teaches you to get back up. You’ve got to have battles. You’ve got to lose battles and fight through the losses, and football teaches you that. Jimmy Johnson’s favorite quote ‑‑ and I say it all the time when I’m talking to people ‑‑ “Each day you get better or worse. There is so such thing as staying the same.” You either make a choice to get better or make a choice to get worse. And that’s the truth. Each day you get an opportunity to get better or get worse. Which of them are you choosing to do? There are so many lessons. The famous head football coaches, whatever they are teaching you on the football field, trust me, you can apply it in life. The great ones, they do that. That’s why they’re so successful.

DAVID: If, as Coach Madden says, the busts come to life inside the Hall of Fame at night after everyone has left the building and talk to each other — if there was one bust in the Hall you could talk to, what player would it be and what would you ask him?

MICHAEL: I would imagine since you’re asking me about the bust, the first person that I’m going to ever want to talk to is my quarterback (Troy Aikman). But since I can talk to him all the time, maybe my bust goes and say to him, “We talk all the time. Let me go ask this other guy something.” There is no player — no player — that I admire more than my own quarterback. Period. Bar none. Don’t tell me or try to convince me about anything else. Don’t say anything to me about it. There is nobody I admire more than my own quarterback. Now, if you asked me of the guys that I played with, things like that, I absolutely loved growing up watching guys like Kellen Winslow. I watched that game he played against Miami. I was a man, and I’ve always been all-man. But after that game, I wanted to ask him to marry me. (laughing) I loved him. I was like, that’s how I would like to play. He left everything on the football field, exhausted, dead, and he came back on. And for some reason, that, to me, to have the ability to give all you have and leave it all on the field where they’re carrying you off after you caught the first down, you have to rest for the second down ‑‑ and the team doesn’t move the ball and then you’ve got to get back on the field and get another big third down and they have to carry you off again. That’s a player’s dream right there. I’d ask him how he did that.

Post from: Every Morning Quarterback

Q&A With Class of 2007 Pro Football Hall of Famer Michael Irvin