As per tradition on Super Bowl Eve, the NFL announced this year's inductees to the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Of note to Steeler fans, Jerome Bettis and Kevin Greene again failed to make the cut. So who did?
Michael Strahan
Strahan makes the cut in his first year of eligibility. The Giants' defensive end was a dominant pass-rusher throughout the 2000s and endeared himself to America through a combination of his goofy gap-toothed smile, his affable appearance in commercials (and later on FOX), and of course, beating the snot out of Tom Brady to force the Patriots to their legendary 18-1 record in Super Bowl XLII. Strahan rules, and is well-deserving of the honor.
Walter Jones
The longtime tackle of the Seattle Seahawks tackle was a 12-year starter in the Pacific Northwest and was a 9-time Pro Bowler. He anchored a good offensive line in the mid-2000s next to Steve Hutchinson and makes the Hall in his first year of elgibility.
Derrick Brooks
The speedy middle linebacker was a key cog in the Tampa-2 defense under Tony Dungy. The 2002 Buccaneers are one of the most underrated defenses in history (Mike Tomlin was their DB coach!) and to see a player like Brooks recognized (though John Lynch didn't make the cut) is a good thing.
Andre Reed
Anyone who played with Jim Kelly rules. Andre Reed played with Jim Kelly, and they formed a profilic passing duo in Buffalo, even during those cold winter months when you just don't throw footballs as well.
Aeneas Williams
I, uh… I don't actually know who this is. Whoops.
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Ray Guy
Woooo! Punter made the Hall of Fame! Finally, Jan Stenerud can have a friend. Jan Stenerud is the other kicker in the Hall. He's- it's Norwegian. No, yeah, look, just… it's cool, okay? Kickers are people too. Now let's get Steve Tasker in and maybe a long-snapper so we can really get the special teams rolling!
Claude Humphrey
Old guy, not really sure what his deal was because they didn't make NFL Network specials about the Falcons and I was born in 1991. Good job, dude.
SNUBS:
Jerome Bettis
Okay, it's been a couple of years without Jerome Bettis getting in. Perhaps people's perception of The Bus is being colored by the tail end of his career, when he was primarily a goal-line/short-yardage back. Let's not forget his decade-long run of being a dominant back in the NFL, putting up 1000-yard seasons like nobodies business and retiring in 5th place all-time on the rushing leaders list. Jerome Bettis' time will come for the Hall of Fame, that time just isn't 2014.
Kevin Greene
Poor Kevin Greene. He spent his NFL career as a crazy person and/or professional wrestler in a football uniform, and he had the art of tackling quarterbacks down to a science. The fact that he's moved from team to team over his career likely isn't helping, as most Hall of Famers are immediately identifiable to one franchise.
Will Shields
Shields was an aptly-named guard in Kansas City for over a decade. He made 11 straight Pro Bowls, but there's not much else you can say about an offensive lineman, unfortunately. I wouldn't be surprised if the voters didn't want Shields and Walter Jones to go in at once because they wouldn't have enough pretty passes and touchdowns to talk about, but then again maybe I'm just jaded (I am just jaded).
Marvin Harrison
Maybe they just don't want to make him a first-ballot guy, but Marvin Harrison is a slam-dunk in my mind. He was Peyton Manning's go-to guy for most of his career, had some of the best hands in football history, and put up stupid numbers playing in that Colt offense.
There isn't a ton for me to complain about in this draft class. It's nice to see some defensive players get some love for sure, especially if you include the punter. There's always next year for guys like Bettis, Shields, and Harrison, although next year's eligibles include, well… most of the Greatest Show on Turf: Kurt Warner, Isaac Bruce, Torry Holt, Orlando Pace. That's already some esteemed company and it's going to take a lot to crack the lineup next year.
Congratulations to the players that made it this year and best of luck to those left on the outside looking in.
