Tomlinson, Warner, Davis part of seven-man class
HOUSTON — The running backs were known simply by their initials: LT and TD. The quarterback served as ringmaster for “The Greatest Show on Turf.”
All unstoppable in their own way, LaDainian Tomlinson, Terrell Davis and Kurt Warner earned their spots in the Pro Football Hall of Fame on Saturday.
Joining them are sackmaster Jason Taylor — in on his first ballot, the same as Tomlinson — and Morten Andersen, the NFL’s all-time leading scorer, who joins Jan Stenerud as the second pure kicker to make the Hall.
Seattle Seahawks safety Kenny Easley made it as a senior nominee, while Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones is in as a contributor. Former NFL commissioner Paul Tagliabue did not make it, with his role in downplaying the severity of the league’s concussion problem playing a role.
In nine years with the San Diego Chargers, then two with the New York Jets, the 5-foot-10 Tomlinson reset the template for what had been known as a scatback, proving someone of his size and speed could be a game changer, not merely a change of pace.
As dangerous catching the ball (4,772 career yards) as he was running it (13,684), in 2003, LT became the first player to rush for 1,000 yards and catch 100 passes. He finished his career with 145 touchdowns, plus the seven he threw on halfback options.
In giving the thumbs-up to Davis and Warner, the 48 Hall of Fame voters answered ‘Yes’ to the question of whether a few truly dominating years are enough for someone to be enshrined. (They said ‘No,’ however, when it came to Jacksonville Jaguars tackle Tony Boselli, who didn’t advance beyond the final 10.)
Warner’s heyday was 1999 to 2001 with the Rams, whose offense was known as
Class of 2017
“The Greatest Show on Turf.” Warner quit his job bagging groceries, first for a stint in the Arena Football League, then landing in the NFL after getting a tryout with the St. Louis Rams.
An injury to Trent Green put Warner in the lineup for 1999. Sharing the backfield with future Hall of Famer Marshall Faulk, and throwing to Torry Holt and Issac Bruce (who was a finalist this year but did not get in), Warner won two league Most Valuable Player awards and one at the Super Bowl to close the 1999 season, when the Rams captured their only Lombardi Trophy.
Davis was a sixth-round draft pick out of Georgia in 1995 who became the starting tailback, and from 1996 to 1998 he complemented John Elway, helping the Broncos to 45 victories and finally pushing Elway over the top with two Super Bowl titles. In 1998, Davis became the fourth runner to surpass 2,000 yards, with 2008. He suffered a knee injury in 1999 and played only 17 more games before retiring in 2001.
Andersen lasted 25 seasons, played in 382 games and scored 2,544 points for five teams. He is the all-time leading scorer for both the New Orleans Saints and the Atlanta Falcons and was among the first to make the 50-plus-yard field goal routine.
Taylor was Defensive Player of the Year in 2006 with 131⁄2 sacks and finished his 15-year career, most of them with the Miami Dolphins, with 1391⁄2 sacks, eight interceptions and 29 fumble recoveries.
Easley was a four-time All-Pro selection.