2007 Pro Football Hall Of Fame Inductees Named

[Seth Drakin of Monster Crap]

The Pro Football Hall of Fame's Class of 2007 was announced today. Here is a capsule look at the six members who will be enshrined in August:


Gene Hickerson
Guard, 6-3, 248
Played: 1958-1973 Cleveland Browns. 15 seasons, 202 games.
Selected as future choice in seventh round of 1957 draft. ... A tackle in college, was shifted to guard. ... Was lead blocker for three Hall of Famers: Jim Brown, Bobby Mitchell and Leroy Kelly. ... Suffered broken leg in 1961 preseason opener, missed entire season. ... Fractured leg again later in year when hit while standing on sideline. ... After sitting out two games in 1962, never missed another game during his career. ... First-team All-Pro five consecutive seasons (1966-1970). ... Voted to Pro Bowl six straight times (1966-1971). ... During Hickerson's tenure, Browns never had a losing season. ... Started at right guard in four NFL title games, including Browns' 27-0 win over Colts in 1964. ... Before Hickerson joined Browns, just seven runners in NFL history reached 1,000 yards rushing. With Hickerson as lead blocker, Browns posted 1,000-yard rushers in nine of his first 10 seasons. ... Cleveland featured league's leading rusher in seven of those 10 seasons. ... Chosen for NFL's all-decade team of the 1960s.


Michael Irvin
Wide receiver, 6-2, 207
Played: 1988-1999 Dallas Cowboys. 12 seasons, 159 games. Cowboys' first-round pick (11th overall) in 1988 draft. ... Became the first rookie wide receiver to start a season opener for Dallas in more than 20 years. Irvin's 20.4-yards per catch average during his rookie year led the NFC. ... Led league with 1,523 yards on 93 catches in 1991. ... Had 1,000-yard seasons in all but one year from 1991-1998 ... In 1995, Irvin played his finest season: 111 catches for 1,603 yards. He also established an NFL record with 11 100-yard games and scored 10 touchdowns. ... Cowboys made four straight appearances in NFC championship game (1992-1995) and won three Super Bowls. ... Finished career with 750 receptions for 11,904 yards and 65 TDs. ... Selected to five straight Pro Bowls. ... Picked for NFL's all-decade team of the 1990s.




Bruce Matthews
Guard, tackle, center, 6-5, 289
Played: 1983-2001 Houston Oilers/Tennessee Oilers/Titans. 19 seasons, 296 games.
Selected by Houston in first round (ninth overall) of 1983 draft. ... Regarded as one of game's finest offensive linemen for nearly two decades. ... Played in more games than any positional player in NFL history. ... Started 292 of 296 games he played and 15 playoff games. ... Played at every position on line. ... Was also team's long snapper for majority of career. ... Most starts came at guard (99 on left side, 67 as right guard) and at center (87). ... Also had 22 starts at right tackle, 17 at left tackle. ... Was anchor on offensive line that contributed to team's seven consecutive playoff seasons. ... Voted to first of 14 consecutive Pro Bowl teams (nine at guard, five at center) following 1988 season, tying Hall of Famer Merlin Olsen for most ever. ... Was voted All-Pro nine times. ... Selected as guard on NFL's all-decade team of the 1990s.



Charlie Sanders
Tight end, 6-4, 230
Played: 1968-1977 Detroit Lions. 10 seasons, 128 games.
Selected by Detroit in third round (74th player overall) of 1968 draft. ... In an era of blocking tight ends, he became team's secret weapon as a receiver. ... Combined great leaping ability, big hands, strength, speed and elusiveness. ... As a rookie recorded impressive 40 receptions for 533 yards. ... Had a 10-reception, 133-yard game against Redskins in rookie season finale. ... Was only rookie selected to play in Pro Bowl following 1968 season. ... Was voted to seven Pro Bowls. ... In second season, caught 42 passes for 656 yards and three TDs, earning first of three consecutive All-Pro honors. ... Missed five games due to injury in 1972, but still managed 27 receptions for 416 yards. ... Made 30 or more receptions in a season seven times and had more than 500 yards receiving in six seasons. ... At time of retirement was Lions' all-time receptions leader (336), his career yards receiving (4,817) ranked second. ... Was Lions' leader or co-leader in receptions six of his 10 seasons. ... Chosen for NFL's all-decade team of the 1970s.




Thurman Thomas
Running back, 5-10, 198
Played: 1988-1999 Buffalo Bills, 2000 Miami Dolphins. 13 seasons, 182 games.
Selected in the second round of the 1988 draft. ... A key part of Bills' unprecedented run of four straight Super Bowl appearances. They lost all of them. ... Set record by leading NFL in total yards from scrimmage four consecutive seasons. ... In 1991, gained over 2,000 yards from scrimmage and was voted league's MVP. ... At time of retirement, ranked sixth all-time in career yards from scrimmage (16,532). ... Rushed for 12,074 yards. ... Only Emmitt Smith and Barry Sanders ran for more yards in the 1990s. ... One of only three running backs (Walter Payton and Marcus Allen) to have over 400 receptions and 10,000 yards rushing. ... Played in six AFC title games and four Super Bowls. ... Set playoff records for career points (126), touchdowns (21), and consecutive games with a TD (9). ... Selected to play in five consecutive Pro Bowls.




Roger Wehrli
Cornerback, 6-0, 190
Played: 1969-1982 St. Louis Cardinals. 14 seasons, 193 games.
Selected in first round (19th overall) of 1969 draft. ... Starter as rookie, making three interceptions and leading team in punt returns. ... In 1970 picked off career-high six passes (a feat he matched in 1975) to earn first All-Pro and Pro Bowl honors. ... Led or tied for lead in interceptions for Cardinals four times. ... Maintained enough speed and savvy to play demanding position for 14 seasons. ... Registered interception in all but two seasons and amassed 40 career interceptions, two for touchdowns. ... From 1974-76, picked off 12 passes as Cardinals put together string of three straight double-digit win seasons, including back-to-back NFC East titles (1974, 1975). ... Intercepted three of Roger Staubach's passes during key 31-17 win over division rival Dallas, Dec. 7, 1975. ... In 1981, was moved to left cornerback position. ... Recovered franchise record-tying 19 fumbles during career. ... Voted to NFL's all-decade team of 1970s, was first-team All-Pro five times (1970, 1974-1977) and made Pro Bowl seven times.

[kitsunestar]

Irvin shouldn't be going anywhere except the Cocaine Snorters' Hall of Fame.

[Garcia Vega]

kitsunestar said:

Irvin shouldn't be going anywhere except the Cocaine Snorters' Hall of Fame.

He was a key player in one a the best football teams of all time. Regardless of your personal feelings toward him, give him his due. It has been a long time coming.

Congrats to Irvin and the rest of 2007 HOF class.

[nisi]

Just caught this on yahoo--Aikman and other clean cut types were arguing that Irvin had been passed over. No Tagliabue this time around, interesting.

[anticonscience]

hell yeah @ Thurman Thomas

[Seth Drakin of Monster Crap]

Irvin had two tough years before this year and he finally got in because of a lower class although I would replace him with Art Monk because Monk deserves in.

[Garcia Vega]

zillawrath said:

Irvin had two tough years before this year and he finally got in because of a lower class although I would replace him with Art Monk because Monk deserves in.

That's crazy to me. Monk deserves in, but not before Irvin, in my opinion.

[Seth Drakin of Monster Crap]

I say before Irvin because Irvin has many years to wait, Monk doesnt. Besides, Monk was Irvin in his day without the drug issues.

[Deleted]

I wish it was like Baseball where off-the-field contributions become a factor. I'd hate to go to the hall of fame with my kids someday or discuss people in the hall of fame and have to talk up the greatness of someone who acted like a complete ass off the field.

Not directed torwards Irvin, but it just bugs me. Could you imagine one day having to explain why Terrell Owens is in the hall?

Whereas in baseball, a few cases aside, I can sit there and know whos there was an icon in the sport and a class act to boot.

[Milkman Norm]

zillawrath said:

I say before Irvin because Irvin has many years to wait, Monk doesnt. Besides, Monk was Irvin in his day without the drug issues.

No he wasn't. Art Monk was the Alvin Harper of his day. Gary Clark was the Michael Irvin of his day/

[Maidpool w/ Cleaning Action]

I'm happy for Irvin, but wish he could have gone in a year or two ago so he could go in with Aikman. I'm sure those guys would have liked that.

As for my feeling on the off-the-field issues, I think the only off-the-field issues that should be taken into account are ones that directly effect what could be happening on the field. For instance steroids, betting (which is why Pete Rose shouldn't get in as a manager, but SHOULD as a player), Paying people off, taking bribes, attacking other players. These things can directly effect the outcome of both a game and a players performance. Simply doing the wrong things, sleeping with the wrong people, and hanging with the wrong people won't effect the game.

[Jew4Bacon]

Good to See TT get in, After all those Bills Losses a HOF snub might have ended it for Thurman

[B.A.]

Irvin!! woooooooooooooooooooooooo

[Agent P]

flairchopped said:

Good to See TT get in, After all those Bills Losses a HOF snub might have ended it for Thurman

With Jim Kelly already in, all I need is for Andre Reed and Bruce Smith to get in and I will live as a happy man the rest of my life.

[Vice honcho room temperature]

Irvin was outstanding all those years so he's not shoe in for the Hall and I just hate the guy.

[Hulkshi Tanahashi]

My feelings are good players should get into the Hall of Fame regardless of their behavior unless said behavior affected their performance on the field. Irvin's behavior did not; therefore he should get in.