Parade of great stars take stage in Canton
Tagliabue among new enshrinees
How ’bout them Cowboys! Jimmy Johnson, who in 1989 replaced Tom Landry, the only man to coach Dallas from the franchise’s inception in 1960, generally is credited with coining that phrase. He could take pride in it considering the Cowboys won two consecutive Super Bowls under his guidance, and took a third with the roster he put together even though Johnson had left the team in a dispute with owner Jerry Jones.
Johnson has been inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame as part of the centennial class. He quickly rebuilt the Cowboys when Jones bought the team in ’89, using the draft and perhaps the most lopsided trade in pro sports history — Herschel Walker to Minnesota for a slew of draft picks who formed much of the core of those title teams — to revitalize America’s Team. He made 51 deals in his five seasons with the Cowboys.
“We made history not only for the Dallas Cowboys, but for the NFL,” Johnson said of himself, Jones and the team, which was 1-15 in his first season and soon enough was winning Super Bowls. “From the bottom of my heart, thank you, Jerry.”
Johnson also coached the Dolphins from 1996-99.
When you are a wide receiver contemporary of Jerry Rice, measuring up can be difficult. Almost impossible.
Isaac Bruce was the closest thing to Rice, considered the greatest pass catcher in NFL history. Bruce was so good he has been inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame after a 16-year career, 14 with the Rams and two with the 49ers.
One of 15 children, Bruce starred at Memphis, was a second-round draft choice by the Rams in 1994, and broke through the next season with 119 catches for 1,781 yards. Bruce had eight 1,000yard receiving seasons and 91 touchdowns. His most famous score came on the winning touchdown in the 2000 Super Bowl, a 73-yarder from Kurt Warner.
“Coming from the heart tonight,” Bruce said before saluting his 14 siblings.
Judging the value of blockers is a tricky proposition. Not when it comes to Steve Hutchinson.
The outstanding guard for 12 NFL seasons — five with Seattle, six with Minnesota and one with Tennessee — was the prime reason running backs on his teams were practically unstoppable with him leading the way.
Hutchinson was a fivetime All-Pro and member of the NFL 2000s All-Decade Team. Along with strong work as a pass protector, he opened holes for rushers who averaged just under 1,400 yards and 14 touchdowns a season.
“If you told me after I graduated from the University of Michigan that I’d be excited standing in Ohio in the middle of August,” he joked, “...to me, there’s no
place better than Canton,
Ohio.”
Hutchinson then told his sonnot to “fear failure but fear tohave not given my all.”
When Paul Tagliabue succeeded Pete Rozelle as NFL commissioner, the challenge already was monumental. Rozelle generally is considered the most successful league leader in sports history.
Then Tagliabue was faced with so many more obstacles, from the outbreak of the Gulf War to 9/11 to Hurricane Katrina during his stewardship from 1989-2006. His skills at overcoming those tests, keeping labor peace, guiding the NFL through expansion, significantly increasing revenues and helping pass the Rooney Rule have led to his induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame as part of the centennial class.
“This is like a dream come true,” he said. “The centennial class spans pro football history.”
Tagliabue noted that he took Rozelle’s advice to “think league first.”
Steve Atwater was considered by his peers — including other safeties — the most punishing tackler in the NFL. Such work, along with leadership traits and a knack for big plays, has led to the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Atwater, a mainstay in Denver for 10 seasons, including two Super Bowl victories, and a final year with the Jets, was at his best in big games. In the Broncos’ Super Bowl victory against Green Bay, he had six tackles, a sack and two pass breakups.
“I am humbled and honored to wear this gold jacket,” Atwater said before looking around at the other Hall of Famers on the stage.
When the Colts selected running back Edgerrin James with the fourth overall draft pick in 1999, many observers shook their heads that Indianapolis passed on Heisman Trophy winner Ricky Williams.
The head-shaking soon stopped as James established himself as one of the NFL’s best rushers, and they surely have ceased now.