Hall of Fame Saturday

Hall of Fame inductions are today! Here's to the new guys:

Derrick Brooks
Walter Jones
Michael Strahan
Andre Reed
Aeneas Williams
Claude Humphrey
Ray Guy

A very nice class. Derrick Brooks and Walter Jones made it in their first year of eligibility. That's not all that the great football players have in common. They were teammates at Florida St. They are the second set of college teammates to be inducted in the same year. University of San Francisco teammates Ollie Matson and Gino Marchetti entered the Hall of Fame together in 1972.

There are now 287 Hall of Famers.

There's likely four Hall of Fame "moments" for each Hall of Fame inductee. The most gut-wrenching moment is the one that is broken with that call in February telling them that they have been elected to the Hall of Fame. The next moment is the presentation of their Gold Jackets. The best known and most watched moment is their induction into the Hall of Fame. The last, and perhaps least known, is the presentation of their Hall of Fame rings. That's often done at a home game during the season. The Gold Jacket presentation might be the most special moment for the inductees. This is when they are welcomed by the Hall of Famers. The NFL Network provided a terrific treat with the broadcast of the event. It had never been seen before by anyone but those in attendance. It was a grand event. Walking around on a stage, modeling their snappy new jackets can be an awkward moment but no one really cares. It's a very a special moment. They are now part of a very exclusive club. Aeneas Williams showed that he will probably be the most likely to shed some tears today. They flowed easily and often last night.

The best moment of the broadcast was seeing Jim Kelly on his feet and in Canton. Andre Reed has been by his quarterback's side throughout his fight with cancer. It was heartwarming to see Kelly there for Reed's big day. I hope to see him tonight.

When Adrian Peterson is inducted into the Hall of Fame, five years after a very long playing career, I will attend the Gold Jacket event and every other event that is held in Canton. Gold Jacket presentation. Parade. Induction ceremony. Day after luncheon. Hall of Fame Game. All of it. Canton and the Hall of Fame is a very special place. Especially this time of year.

The Pro Football Hall of Fame has decided to create a separate category for contributors to the game of football. They will be nominated through a separate process much like that for the senior nominees. Contributors are the owners, commissioners, and others (such as the Sabols) that make the game go. The Hall of Fame believes that there is a backlog of contributors, so in 2015, 2017, and 2019 it will allow up to two contributors to be enshrined. In other years only one contributor can be enshrined per year. I like this idea. It's tough for the contributors to go up against players and coaches. But, I really don't see a backlog. I don't see any reason to add two for a few years. Former commissioner Paul Tagliabue and former San Francisco 49ers owner Eddie DeBartolo Jr. are frequently mentioned as deserving. I can see that. Former Cleveland Browns owner is often mentioned as well. I can't see that. He fired Paul Brown and Bill Belichick and he moved the beloved Browns out of Cleveland. Those blemishes are tough to hide. I'd like to see Carl Storck inducted. He was a founding owner. He was secretary-treasurer under league president Joe Carr from 1921-39. He was league president from 1939-41 following the sudden death of Carr. He really did as much for the league as anyone outside of George Halas and Carr in the early decades. Steve Sabol has to join his father in the Hall of Fame. I wish that it had happened while he was alive. At least he had the chance to present his father.