Seven players were elected Saturday to the Pro Football Hall of Fame:
Derrick Brooks, a linebacker for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1995-2008) who was a tackling machine (from 1996 to 2000, he averaged at least 130 tackles a season) and was a key part of the Buccaneers' Super Bowl XXXVII championship team. He picked off 25 passes, returning six of them for touchdowns.
Walter Jones, an offensive tackle for the Seattle Seahawks (1997-2008), who, during an outstanding 12-year career at left tackle, surrendered only 23 sacks in more than 5700 pass plays.
Andre Reed, a playmaking wide receiver (Buffalo Bills, 1985-99; Washington Redskins, 2000) who helped lead the Bills to four straight Super Bowl appearances (after the 2000-2003 seasons). He was a master at gaining yards after receiving the ball.
Michael Strahan, a defensive end for the New York Giants (1993-2007) who set the single-season record for sacks with 22.5 and whose 141 sacks ranks fifth all time. Here was someone who certainly knew how to find the quarterback.
Aeneas Willians, who played cornerback for the Phoenix/Arizona Cardinals (1991-2000) and St. Louis Rams (2001-04) who missed one game in his first ten years in the league. He intercepted five passes during each of five different seasons (and led the league with nine in 1994). He's tied for fourth on the all time list with nine interception returns for touchdowns.
Two former players were selected by the Senior Committee, somewhat similar to baseball's Veteran Committee:
Ray Guy, who played with the Oakland/Los Angeles Raiders from 1973 to 1986, became the first true punter to be selected to the Hall of Fame. In fact, the former Southern Mississippi Golden Eagle was selected by the Raiders in the first round of the 1973 college draft. Mr. Guy's 42.4 yards-per-punt career gross average now seems antiquated, but he led the league in average three times and was a part of three Super Bowl championship teams.
Claude Humphrey, a talented defensive end for the Atlanta Falcons (1968-78) and Philadelphia Eagles (1978-81) who was a six-time Pro Bowler and who was twice elected to the All-Pro team. As an Eagle, Mr. Humphrey registered 14.5 sacks as the Eagles advanced to their first (and his only) Super Bowl, following the 1980 season. In the days before sacks became an official statistic, Claude recorded 122 sacks.
To all seven, congratulations!
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