Brett Favre leads the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s class of 2016
SAN FRANCISCO — The Pro Football Hall of Fame voters meet the day before the Super Bowl, hear presentations for each of the finalists, then vote.
Pete Dougherty of the Green Bay Press-Gazette presented former Green Bay Packers quarterback Brett Favre. Dougherty’s presentation took six seconds.
Because, really, nothing more needed to be said. It’s Brett Favre.
“It’s a really long meeting and anything more would have been a waste of time,” Dougherty said on Saturday evening.
Favre led a class that had one easy decision and many tough ones. Receiver Marvin Harrison, coach Tony Dungy, linebacker Kevin Greene, offensive tackle Orlando Pace were the other modern-day players voted in, according to numerous reports on Saturday night. 49ers owner Eddie DeBartolo got in as a contributor, and quarterback Ken Stabler and guard Dick Stanfel were senior picks.
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The most notable name among the finalists not to get in was receiver Terrell Owens. Owens was a five-time first-team All Pro, and is still sixth in NFL history in catches (1,078), second in receiving yards (15,934) and third in receiving touchdowns (153). Although he clearly has a Hall of Fame resume, it would seem that his off-field controversy kept him from being a first-ballot pick. Rick Gosselin of the Dallas Morning News said that Owens’ candidacy was argued for more than 43 minutes. Only DeBartolo, at more than 50 minutes, had a longer debate among voters according to Gosselin.
Quarterback Kurt Warner and running back Terrell Davis were among the other finalists who weren’t voted into the Hall of Fame in his class.
Favre was one of the biggest locks as a first-ballot Hall of Famer in many years. Favre became the NFL’s first three-time MVP, winning in consecutive years from 1995-97. He led the Packers to a Super Bowl XXXI championship. He started an amazing 297 straight games, a testament to his toughness. He finished his career as the NFL’s all-time leader in completions, passing attempts, passing yards and passing touchdowns. He became bigger than life because of his enthusiasm and playing style. There was no question Favre was going to be elected into the Hall as soon as he was eligible.
“There were many times I could have and should have failed, but I knew I had ability,” Favre said after being elected to the Hall. “All I needed, in my mind, was a chance.
“It’s exciting. I don’t know what else to tell you. I’m honored. I have a tremendous respect for this game and wouldn’t trade any of my career, the good or the bad.”
Harrison was like Owens, in that he put up tremendous numbers in his career but had to wait to get elected to the Hall of Fame. Harrison had 14,580 receiving yards and 128 receiving touchdowns for the Indianapolis Colts. Harrison was not present at the “NFL Honors” show, which is unusual. But Harrison was always a mysterious figure off the field.
Harrison was coached for a while by Dungy, who coached with the Colts and Tampa Bay Buccaneers, had a 139-69 record and one Super Bowl title with the Colts. Greene was a great pass rusher, with 160 sacks. That ranks third in NFL history. St. Louis Rams offensive tackle Orlando was a remarkable player for many years, after the Rams made him the first overall pick of the 1997 draft.
Stabler, a great quarterback for the Oakland Raiders in the 1970s, and later with the Houston Oilers and New Orleans Saints, finally got the call after becoming a senior candidate. Unfortunately, the long-awaited call came after his death last summer. Stanfel was a five-time All Pro with the Detroit Lions and Washington Redskins at guard. DeBartolo owned the 49ers through a glorious dynasty in the 1980s and early 1990s. He was the owner of five Super Bowl championship teams.
But Favre was the only lock in the Hall’s class of 2016. Players like Harrison and Pace had to wait their turn, but they’re finally going in. Presumably Owens will likely be in soon as well, but he’ll have to wait at least another year.
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Frank Schwab is the editor of Shutdown Corner on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at [email protected] or follow him on Twitter! Follow @YahooSchwab
