Former Bulldog made most of NFL chance
CANTON, Ohio — Terrell Davis had one of the most spectacular short careers in NFL history.
His seven seasons were brilliant enough to get him into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
The former Denver Broncos running back was inducted Saturday night, part of a seven-man class that included another player with a concise but convincing pro career — former Seattle Seahawks safety Kenny Easley, who delivered plenty of big hits and interceptions during his seven seasons.
On the other end of the spectrum was kicker Morten Andersen, whose 25 seasons in the league included two stints with the Atlanta Falcons. Also inducted were Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones, DE Jason Taylor, versatile running back LaDanian Tomlinson and quarterback Kurt Warner.
Davis went from being an obscure sixth-round draft pick out of the University of Georgia to an NFL MVP and two-time Super Bowl winner. He was the catalyst for the league championships Denver won in 1997 and ‘98 with another Hall of Famer, John Elway, at quarterback.
The 1996 and ‘98 NFL Offensive Player of the Year, 1997 Super Bowl MVP and ‘98 NFL MVP, Davis’ meteoric stint came to an ugly end with a devastating knee injury in 1999. That in great part kept him out of the hall for more than a decade.
Now he’s in, with a résumé that includes one of the greatest seasons in NFL annals. In 1998, Davis became the fourth runner to rush for 2,000 yards in season (2,008) and led the NFL with 21 rushing touchdowns. In the playoffs, he rushed for a franchise postseason-record 199 yards against the Dolphins, 167 against the Jets and 102 in the Super Bowl victory over the Falcons.
During his speech Davis talked about once “staring down the barrel of a shotgun” as a troubled teenager.
“Thank God someone talked the guy out of pulling the trigger,” said Davis, who then determined to turn his life around but still had to deal with migraines through his high school, college and pro careers.
Andersen, the NFL’s career scoring leader, became just the second placekicker inducted as he joined Jan Stenerud.
His league-record 25 seasons were spent mostly with the Saints, but after joining the rival Falcons, he gave Atlanta one of its biggest sports moments ever, making the overtime kick that sent the Falcons to the Super Bowl for the first time after the 1998 season.
The left-footed kicker from Denmark — his selection in February set off celebrations back home, where American football hardly is a sports staple — scored 2,544 points and was a five-time All-Pro.
He retired in 2004 with 40 field goals of 50 yards or longer, then an NFL mark.
A soccer and team handball player back home, Andersen then delivered an often hilarious speech emphasizing how strange the adjustment to kicking a ball that was not round could be. He also paid homage to his two homes.
“Good evening, Canton, Ohio,” he began. “Good morning Denmark. My story isn’t only about my love for my country of Denmark and its people, but also my deep appreciation and respect for what I discovered here in the United States of America.”