NFL’s newest inductees into the Hall of Fame 2012..welcome to Canton Gentlemen!!!
Willie Roaf (Offensive Tackle) – Roaf was a 1st round pick (#8)of the New Orleans Saints in ’93. Roaf made 11 Pro Bowls during a career with New Orleans and Kansas City. He was one of the best players in New Orleans Saints history during his nine seasons with the team. Of the 189 games Roaf played in for New Orleans and the Kansas City Chiefs he was able to start all of them right there in the trenches on the offensive line.
Dermontti Dawson (Center) – Dawson drafted in 1988 (44th player overall) by the Pittsburgh Steelers. A multiple Pro bowler 7x, 6 consecutive (from ’93-’98) he was the rare mix of speed, strength, knowledge and leadership which provided the crux to Pittsburgh’s five AFC Central and one AFC title(s)!
Chris Doleman (Defensive End) – Doleman was drafted in 1985 as the #4 pick by the Minnesota Vikings, an 8x pro bowler (consecutively from ’87-’90) and a member of the 100 sack club. Doleman ended his career with 150 sacks, 8 interceptions and 2 touchdowns!
Cortez Kennedy (Defensive Tackle) – Kennedy was a 1st round pick in 1990 (a #3 pick) by the Seattle Seahawks and played his entire career for the Seahawks! A 8x pro bowler (consecutively from ’91-’96) Kennedy was also named defensive player of the year in ’92! Kennedy ended his career with 668 tackles, 58 sacks and 3 interceptions!
Curtis Martin (Running back) – Martin was a 3rd round pick (#74) out of Pitt picked up by the New England Patriots in ’95. Martin was NFL offensive & PFWA ROY in ’95. Martin was able to touch the greatness of two franchises with his historical free agent signing by NY Jets in ’98 and touched off the NFL’s rule on the poison pill contracts. A 5x pro bowler/5x all-pro Martin was able to amass 14,101 yards and 90 touchdowns during his prolific career that ended in ’05!
Jack Butler (Cornerback) – Butler had the distinction of being the only 2012 NFL hall of fame inductee not to have played football in high school. Butler went undrafted out of St. Bonaventure University in 1951, a 4x pro bowler (1955-58) while playing his entire career with the Pittsburgh Steelers. Butler would end his pro career with 52 interceptions for a positive yardage total of 827 yards with four touchdowns!
Congratulations to the six new members of NFL’s professional football hall of fame as they are inducted in Canton’s hallowed halls tonight, August 4, 2012!!! Next up the Hall of Fame game – Arizona Cardinals at New Orleans Saints 8/5/2012