The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Hall opens doors for star backs
Tomlinson, Davis among 7 inductees to Canton shrine.
CANTON, OHIO — Moments after one of the best running backs in NFL history entered the Pro Football Hall of Fame, another followed: LaDainian Tomlinson.
Preceded Saturday by Terrell Davis, the record-setting Tomlinson became the fifth inductee of the night.
The fifth overall selection in the 2001 draft, Tomlinson won rushing titles in 200607, taking league MVP honors in ‘06 when he set a record with 31 touchdowns. Also a strong receiver, he added 4,772 yards and 17 TD receptions to his career numbers for 13,684 yards rushing and 145 scores. Tomlinson was voted to the 2000s All-Decade Team.
In a powerful speech filled with religious references and a call to Americans to be open-minded and openhearted, Tomlinson asked “Team America” to “choose to be for one another.”
Jerry Jones
Jerry Jones joined the likes of George Halas, Art Rooney and Al Davis as team owners in the Hall of Fame.
Jones took the NFL by storm when he bought the Dallas Cowboys and within three years won the Super Bowl. He added two more in the next three seasons, but his inclusion in the Class of 2017 was built on his overall contributions to the NFL.
A key figure as the league grew to a multibillion-dollar business, Jones has had a hand in many important decisions, from TV contracts to sponsorships to labor issues.
Yet he admitted in his speech that before buying the franchise, he had “become afraid of business heights” after having several failed enterprises.
But he also had learned, “Don’t let anyone know you are scared and just keep on keeping on.”
Kenny Easley
Kenny Easley, a hard-hitting safety for the Seahawks and a member of the 1980s All-Decade Team, was inducted into the Hall of Fame. A seniors committee choice, Easley played only seven seasons and 89 games for Seattle. But what an impact he made.
The 1981 NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year, Easley was the league’s top overall defender in 1984 when he had a league-leading 10 interceptions, a career high.
Easley retired after the 1987 season and had to wait 24 years before being voted in.
Jason Taylor
Sackmaster Jason Taylor was elected in his first year of eligibility for the Hall.
A star mostly with Miami, Taylor also spent one season with the Redskins and one with the Jets. In his 15 NFL seasons, the versatile end was a three-time AllPro and the 2006 Defensive Player of the Year. Taylor’s 139.5 career sacks helped him make the All-Decade Team of the 2000s.
Morten Andersen
Morten Andersen, the NFL’s career scoring leader (2,544 points), became just the second placekicker inducted into the Hall.
Andersen played 25 seasons, a league record, for the Saints, Falcons, Giants, Chiefs and Vikings.
The left-footer from Denmark paid homage to his two homes in his speech.
Terrell Davis
Terrell Davis’ seven seasons were brilliant enough to get him into the Hall.
The former Broncos running went from an obscure sixth-round draft pick from Georgia to a league MVP, two-time Super Bowl winner and a member of the 1990s All-Decade Team.
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.