America’s favorite sport is back in action tonight (NBC, 8:30 p.m. ET) in the first game of NFL Kickoff 2009 Weekend. This year, two 2008 division winners are featured as the Super Bowl XLIII champion Pittsburgh Steelers host the Tennessee Titans. The Titans had an NFL-best 13-3 record and were AFC South champions last year. The game is the first meeting between the teams since the Titans defeated the Steelers 31-14 on December 21, 2008. Tennessee was the last team to beat the Steelers before they went on to win Super Bowl XLIII. This will mark only the fifth time …read more

Rod Woodson did it all during his college career at Purdue. He played running back and wide receiver on offense, played cornerback and safety on defense, and returned punts and kickoffs. As a result, it was no surprise when the Pittsburgh Steelers drafted the modern-day “triple threat” star in the first round of the 1987 NFL Draft.
Then-Steelers head coach Chuck Noll acknowledged Rod’s versatility by playing him at cornerback and as a kick returner, but Rod was too valuable to risk playing on both offense and defense. Rod responded by earning Pro Bowl honors in just his third season. It …read more

This is my sixth consecutive year working the Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement. Familiarity sure makes things easier in terms of getting around. But it never diminishes from the excitement of attending another event. The Pro Football Hall of Fame remains one of my favorite places to visit. From my seat in the Fawcett Stadium Press Box or Media Work room—to roaming the grounds or through the Hall itself (still, the best part)—I’m continually enamored by the whole thing. I mean, nothing beats game day. But, I say the same thing every year: this is the most important event …read more

National Football League Blogcast, NFL Blogcast
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 …read more

National Football League Blogcast, NFL Blogcast
And then there were 17. There are four first-year eligible players — John Randle, Shannon Sharpe, Bruce Smith, and Rod Woodson — among the 17 finalists who will be considered for election into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. The HOF’s Board of Selectors meets in Tampa on Saturday, January 31, the day before Super Bowl XLIII. There are nine modern-era players, two contributors and two players nominated earlier by the Hall of Fame’s Senior Committee. The nine modern-era players are Cris Carter; Dermontti Dawson; Richard Dent; Russ Grimm; Cortez Kennedy; Bob Kuechenberg; Randall McDaniel; …read more

National Football League Blogcast, NFL Blogcast
Four first-year eligible players — John Randle, Shannon Sharpe, Bruce Smith, and Rod Woodson — are among the 25 semifinalists being considered for the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s Class of 2009. The Hall of Fame’s Board of Selectors announced the 25 semifinalists today from the recently revealed list of 133 preliminary nominees. Even though he has been eligible since 1999, this is first time that Roger Craig has been a semifinalist. Each of the remaining 20 nominees has been on the semifinalist list at least once prior to this year. And while no coaches …read more

National Football League Blogcast, NFL Blogcast
Defensive end Bruce Smith, defensive back Rod Woodson and tight end Shannon Sharpe are among the first-year eligible candidates on a list of 133 players, coaches and contributors who make up the preliminary list of modern-era nominees for election to the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s Class of 2009. From this preliminary list of modern-era nominees, Hall of Fame selectors will choose 25 candidates who will advance as semifinalist nominees. The list of 25 modern-era semifinalists will be announced later next month. The 25 modern-era semifinalists list will be reduced by a mail ballot to …read more