Post by MizzouTiger on Feb 3, 2008 11:38:37 GMT -5
www.kansascity.com/sports/story/473080.html
Pro Football Hall of Fame adds six players
By RANDY COVITZ
The Kansas City Star
PHOENIX | Washington may be the only team in the NFL without a head coach, but the franchise boasted two new members in the Pro Football Hall of Fame on Saturday.
Cornerback Darrell Green was elected in his first year of eligibility, while wide receiver Art Monk was selected in his eighth year.
They were joined in the Class of 2008 by Chiefs cornerback Emmitt Thomas — who served as Green’s position coach at Washington for eight seasons — Minnesota/Denver offensive tackle Gary Zimmerman; New England linebacker Andre Tippett and San Francisco/San Diego defensive end Fred Dean.
Induction ceremonies will be Aug. 2 in Canton, Ohio.
Former Chiefs linebacker Derrick Thomas, in his fourth year of eligibility, made the cut from 17 to 10 but was not among the final six.
“This transcends football,” Green said. “Before they paid me $120,000 as a rookie, I was overpaid. For 20 years, I was overpaid to play this game.”
Monk, who helped Washington win three Super Bowls, caught at least one pass in 183 consecutive games and retired with 940 receptions, both the most in NFL history at the time. But those records were shattered in a more wide-open era of football, and Monk didn’t help his cause with his reticence with the media.
Monk said that was nothing personal, but “just who I am. I loved to play the game. I loved to be around the guys. I wasn’t expecting this.”
Tippett, the Patriots’ director of community affairs, was considered the best linebacker in the AFC during an era in which the Giants’ Lawrence Taylor ruled the other conference. An outstanding pass rusher who also could handle coverage, he was a force against the run after coming out of junior college.
Dean was a fearsome pass rusher and held the league record with six sacks in a game before Derrick Thomas broke it in 1990.
Zimmerman was a standout for the Vikings during 1986-92 and the Broncos during 1993-97, winning a Super Bowl in his final season. He made his reputation in the USFL before joining Minnesota.
Other finalists on the ballot who were not elected included Minnesota wide receiver Cris Carter, in his first year of eligibility, and former NFL commissioner Paul Tagliabue.
Senior committee nominee Marshall Goldberg was not elected, either.
Pro Football Hall of Fame adds six players
By RANDY COVITZ
The Kansas City Star
PHOENIX | Washington may be the only team in the NFL without a head coach, but the franchise boasted two new members in the Pro Football Hall of Fame on Saturday.
Cornerback Darrell Green was elected in his first year of eligibility, while wide receiver Art Monk was selected in his eighth year.
They were joined in the Class of 2008 by Chiefs cornerback Emmitt Thomas — who served as Green’s position coach at Washington for eight seasons — Minnesota/Denver offensive tackle Gary Zimmerman; New England linebacker Andre Tippett and San Francisco/San Diego defensive end Fred Dean.
Induction ceremonies will be Aug. 2 in Canton, Ohio.
Former Chiefs linebacker Derrick Thomas, in his fourth year of eligibility, made the cut from 17 to 10 but was not among the final six.
“This transcends football,” Green said. “Before they paid me $120,000 as a rookie, I was overpaid. For 20 years, I was overpaid to play this game.”
Monk, who helped Washington win three Super Bowls, caught at least one pass in 183 consecutive games and retired with 940 receptions, both the most in NFL history at the time. But those records were shattered in a more wide-open era of football, and Monk didn’t help his cause with his reticence with the media.
Monk said that was nothing personal, but “just who I am. I loved to play the game. I loved to be around the guys. I wasn’t expecting this.”
Tippett, the Patriots’ director of community affairs, was considered the best linebacker in the AFC during an era in which the Giants’ Lawrence Taylor ruled the other conference. An outstanding pass rusher who also could handle coverage, he was a force against the run after coming out of junior college.
Dean was a fearsome pass rusher and held the league record with six sacks in a game before Derrick Thomas broke it in 1990.
Zimmerman was a standout for the Vikings during 1986-92 and the Broncos during 1993-97, winning a Super Bowl in his final season. He made his reputation in the USFL before joining Minnesota.
Other finalists on the ballot who were not elected included Minnesota wide receiver Cris Carter, in his first year of eligibility, and former NFL commissioner Paul Tagliabue.
Senior committee nominee Marshall Goldberg was not elected, either.