TAMPA, Fla.--The selectors for the Pro Football Hall of Fame today elected a six-member class for enshrinement in Canton, Ohio, this summer that includes Bruce Smith, one of the greatest pass rushers in the history of the sport, but not former Washington Redskins guard Russ Grimm.
Also elected were Buffalo Bills owner Ralph Wilson and former players Rod Woodson, Randall McDaniel, Derrick Thomas and Bob Hayes.
Smith, who finished his career with four seasons with the Redskins after 15 seasons with the Bills, was elected in his first year of Hall of Fame eligibility. So was Woodson, a defensive back who played for the Pittsburgh Steelers and Baltimore Ravens, along with other teams.
Grimm failed to make the cut when the selectors reduced the field of modern era candidates from 10 to five.
Eliminated in the first cut from 15 to 10 were former NFL commissioner Paul Tagliabue and former players Dermontti Dawson, Cortez Kennedy, Bob Kuechenberg and Andre Reed.
Eliminated in the cut from 10 to five, along with Grimm, were Cris Carter, Richard Dent, John Randle and Shannon Sharpe.
Hayes was elected as a nominee of the seniors committee. Fellow seniors committee nominee Claude Humphrey was not elected.
Smith, the NFL's career sacks leader, goes in with Wilson, the owner of the franchise for which Smith had his finest seasons. The two embraced on the stage when Wilson arrived to speak.
"I remember when Bruce first came to Buffalo," Wilson said. "... Since this fellow left us, we haven't been so good."
Former Bills coach Marv Levy attended the announcement.
"He said, 'Bruce, I think you'll have something to celebrate. There's no curfew tonight,' " Smith said.
Smith spoke tearfully of his late father, George, during his comments soon after the announcement.
"I just had a moment thinking about my father," Smith said, "and all the sacrifices he and my mother made when I was a child growing up to be a man. He wanted me to have a better life than he had."
According to one voter, Smith's election was so automatic that the person who presented Smith's case to the other selectors was told to stop his speech shortly after beginning it. But Smith said he had his reservations about the vote even earlier today.
"You always have doubts," he said. "I just had to allow the process to unfold and take place."
Smith received the news on Super Bowl weekend, that after being part of Bills teams that lost four straight Super Bowls in the early 1990s.
"This kind of takes away some of the pain from those Super Bowls," Smith said.
Smith, a Virginia Tech alum, expressed appreciation toward Redskins owner Daniel Snyder for allowing him to finish his career in D.C.
"I built a relationship with an incredible person in Dan Snyder," Smith said in an interview just before leaving the convention center at which the announcement was made. "It was like a homecoming for me, being able to play three hours from my home. So many friends and family members were able to come see me play. I wish we would have won a little more. But I thought we did a pretty good job of establishing something. We took a defense that hadn't played very well the previous year and we turned it into a good defense."
Snyder said in a written statement released by the Redskins: "We were fortunate to have Bruce as a Redskin for his final four playing years, and as a Redskin when he set the all-time sack record. He's a consummate professional in life, as he was in the locker room and on the field. He's a personal friend, and the epitome of a Hall of Famer. He still joins us at games, and Redskins fans will always feel part of his stellar career."
McDaniel was elected over fellow offensive linemen Grimm, Kuechenberg and Dawson.
"I'm still in a little bit of shock about it," McDaniel said. "But I'm humbled. I'm overwhelmed. It feels great. I never thought it would happen, for some reason."
Two members of the class, Thomas and Hayes, were elected posthumously.
"Derrick Thomas was an incredible player, an incredible person," Smith said. "He did a number of charitable things involving children. It was a great loss to all of us the day that Derrick had that car accident. As a player, he probably had the greatest takeoff of any player ever. I'm overwhelmed with joy. This is a special class."
Said Chiefs Chairman Clark Hunt: "Derrick Thomas was the cornerstone of the modern era of the Kansas City Chiefs."
Thomas's mother, Edith Morgan, attended the announcement and said afterward: "It was a long time coming. I just thank God it's here. I knew it would happen eventually. I'm just so happy now that it did. His dream was to get to this point."
Hayes's sister also attended the announcement and read a letter that Hayes had asked her to read if he ever was elected. In it, Hayes thanked a long list of people, and concluded: "Just thank everyone in the whole world. I love you all."
Lucille Hester, Hayes's sister, also said: "It doesn't matter how long it took. It doesn't matter the wait. The day is here."
Woodson is the first Ravens player to be elected.
"I don't think any of us started playing football to be in the Hall of Fame," Woodson said. "I started playing football because my brothers played, to be near them. This is sinking in slowly. I'm just taking it all in."
Grimm failed to be elected, but does have one consolation prize this weekend: He's coaching in Sunday's Super Bowl as the offensive line coach of the Arizona Cardinals, who face the Steelers at Raymond James Stadium.
Washington Post.
Also elected were Buffalo Bills owner Ralph Wilson and former players Rod Woodson, Randall McDaniel, Derrick Thomas and Bob Hayes.
Smith, who finished his career with four seasons with the Redskins after 15 seasons with the Bills, was elected in his first year of Hall of Fame eligibility. So was Woodson, a defensive back who played for the Pittsburgh Steelers and Baltimore Ravens, along with other teams.
Grimm failed to make the cut when the selectors reduced the field of modern era candidates from 10 to five.
Eliminated in the first cut from 15 to 10 were former NFL commissioner Paul Tagliabue and former players Dermontti Dawson, Cortez Kennedy, Bob Kuechenberg and Andre Reed.
Eliminated in the cut from 10 to five, along with Grimm, were Cris Carter, Richard Dent, John Randle and Shannon Sharpe.
Hayes was elected as a nominee of the seniors committee. Fellow seniors committee nominee Claude Humphrey was not elected.
Smith, the NFL's career sacks leader, goes in with Wilson, the owner of the franchise for which Smith had his finest seasons. The two embraced on the stage when Wilson arrived to speak.
"I remember when Bruce first came to Buffalo," Wilson said. "... Since this fellow left us, we haven't been so good."
Former Bills coach Marv Levy attended the announcement.
"He said, 'Bruce, I think you'll have something to celebrate. There's no curfew tonight,' " Smith said.
Smith spoke tearfully of his late father, George, during his comments soon after the announcement.
"I just had a moment thinking about my father," Smith said, "and all the sacrifices he and my mother made when I was a child growing up to be a man. He wanted me to have a better life than he had."
According to one voter, Smith's election was so automatic that the person who presented Smith's case to the other selectors was told to stop his speech shortly after beginning it. But Smith said he had his reservations about the vote even earlier today.
"You always have doubts," he said. "I just had to allow the process to unfold and take place."
Smith received the news on Super Bowl weekend, that after being part of Bills teams that lost four straight Super Bowls in the early 1990s.
"This kind of takes away some of the pain from those Super Bowls," Smith said.
Smith, a Virginia Tech alum, expressed appreciation toward Redskins owner Daniel Snyder for allowing him to finish his career in D.C.
"I built a relationship with an incredible person in Dan Snyder," Smith said in an interview just before leaving the convention center at which the announcement was made. "It was like a homecoming for me, being able to play three hours from my home. So many friends and family members were able to come see me play. I wish we would have won a little more. But I thought we did a pretty good job of establishing something. We took a defense that hadn't played very well the previous year and we turned it into a good defense."
Snyder said in a written statement released by the Redskins: "We were fortunate to have Bruce as a Redskin for his final four playing years, and as a Redskin when he set the all-time sack record. He's a consummate professional in life, as he was in the locker room and on the field. He's a personal friend, and the epitome of a Hall of Famer. He still joins us at games, and Redskins fans will always feel part of his stellar career."
McDaniel was elected over fellow offensive linemen Grimm, Kuechenberg and Dawson.
"I'm still in a little bit of shock about it," McDaniel said. "But I'm humbled. I'm overwhelmed. It feels great. I never thought it would happen, for some reason."
Two members of the class, Thomas and Hayes, were elected posthumously.
"Derrick Thomas was an incredible player, an incredible person," Smith said. "He did a number of charitable things involving children. It was a great loss to all of us the day that Derrick had that car accident. As a player, he probably had the greatest takeoff of any player ever. I'm overwhelmed with joy. This is a special class."
Said Chiefs Chairman Clark Hunt: "Derrick Thomas was the cornerstone of the modern era of the Kansas City Chiefs."
Thomas's mother, Edith Morgan, attended the announcement and said afterward: "It was a long time coming. I just thank God it's here. I knew it would happen eventually. I'm just so happy now that it did. His dream was to get to this point."
Hayes's sister also attended the announcement and read a letter that Hayes had asked her to read if he ever was elected. In it, Hayes thanked a long list of people, and concluded: "Just thank everyone in the whole world. I love you all."
Lucille Hester, Hayes's sister, also said: "It doesn't matter how long it took. It doesn't matter the wait. The day is here."
Woodson is the first Ravens player to be elected.
"I don't think any of us started playing football to be in the Hall of Fame," Woodson said. "I started playing football because my brothers played, to be near them. This is sinking in slowly. I'm just taking it all in."
Grimm failed to be elected, but does have one consolation prize this weekend: He's coaching in Sunday's Super Bowl as the offensive line coach of the Arizona Cardinals, who face the Steelers at Raymond James Stadium.
Washington Post.
