Easy route to Hall of Fame? Just follow the Dallas star
Jan. 12, 2006
By Howard Balzer
Special to CBS SportsLine.com
TIDBIT: With apologies to the New England Patriots, the last true NFL dynasty will begin its final step into the sport's lore when the Dallas Cowboys of the 1990s take a corner spot in Canton, Ohio, home of the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
With quarterback Troy Aikman and wide receiver Michael Irvin on the list of 15 finalists for induction in 2006, it's time for the coronation to begin for a team that won three Super Bowls in a four-year span.
Offensive tackle Rayfield Wright, who played for the Cowboys from 1967-79, gives Dallas a total of three Hall finalists.
"This is an important day for our organization and an impressive milestone," said Cowboys owner Jerry Jones. "These are three candidates who are more than worthy of induction, and I look forward to their selection in February."
Aikman appears to be a lock as a three-time Super Bowl champion quarterback.
"If I were to be selected for induction, it would be the most meaningful individual achievement of my athletic career," Aikman said.
"I came into the NFL wanting nothing more than to win a championship. My career unfolded in a way that exceeded all expectations and I am grateful to those who helped me along the way and shared in that success."
A slot will probably also go to Wright, a seniors committee recommendation from the great Cowboys teams of the 1970s.
And while there is no question that Irvin is deserving -- despite his renewed relationship with drug paraphernalia and off-field controversy -- the voting committee and its alleged Cowboys bias will not enshrine three members of America's Team in one year.
But even if Irvin waits another year, the march of Cowboys to the Hall of Fame is just beginning.
Consider Emmitt Smith, the league's all-time leading rusher, and Deion Sanders, the best shutdown corner in the history of the game, locks to make the hallowed halls of Canton in 2010 and 2011, respectively.
Sanders, who has not officially announced his retirement, would have gone in this year had he not come out of retirement and played the past two seasons with the Baltimore Ravens.
Another sure thing is guard Larry Allen, whenever he decides to retire. He was named to the Pro Bowl this season for the 10th time.
Add in Jones, coach Jimmy Johnson, defensive end Charles Haley, guard Nate Newton, safety Darren Woodson, tight end Jay Novacek and center Mark Stepnoski and the surge of Cowboys into the Hall could continue for some time.
Not all of them will make it, but they are all worthy of consideration, putting the '90s Cowboys in position to rival or possibly pass the Steelers of the '70s, who won four Super Bowls in a six-year span and placed nine players and their head coach in the Hall of Fame.
http://cbs.sportsline.com/nfl/story/9161477/rss
By Howard Balzer
Special to CBS SportsLine.com
TIDBIT: With apologies to the New England Patriots, the last true NFL dynasty will begin its final step into the sport's lore when the Dallas Cowboys of the 1990s take a corner spot in Canton, Ohio, home of the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
With quarterback Troy Aikman and wide receiver Michael Irvin on the list of 15 finalists for induction in 2006, it's time for the coronation to begin for a team that won three Super Bowls in a four-year span.
Offensive tackle Rayfield Wright, who played for the Cowboys from 1967-79, gives Dallas a total of three Hall finalists.
"This is an important day for our organization and an impressive milestone," said Cowboys owner Jerry Jones. "These are three candidates who are more than worthy of induction, and I look forward to their selection in February."
Aikman appears to be a lock as a three-time Super Bowl champion quarterback.
"If I were to be selected for induction, it would be the most meaningful individual achievement of my athletic career," Aikman said.
"I came into the NFL wanting nothing more than to win a championship. My career unfolded in a way that exceeded all expectations and I am grateful to those who helped me along the way and shared in that success."
A slot will probably also go to Wright, a seniors committee recommendation from the great Cowboys teams of the 1970s.
And while there is no question that Irvin is deserving -- despite his renewed relationship with drug paraphernalia and off-field controversy -- the voting committee and its alleged Cowboys bias will not enshrine three members of America's Team in one year.
But even if Irvin waits another year, the march of Cowboys to the Hall of Fame is just beginning.
Consider Emmitt Smith, the league's all-time leading rusher, and Deion Sanders, the best shutdown corner in the history of the game, locks to make the hallowed halls of Canton in 2010 and 2011, respectively.
Sanders, who has not officially announced his retirement, would have gone in this year had he not come out of retirement and played the past two seasons with the Baltimore Ravens.
Another sure thing is guard Larry Allen, whenever he decides to retire. He was named to the Pro Bowl this season for the 10th time.
Add in Jones, coach Jimmy Johnson, defensive end Charles Haley, guard Nate Newton, safety Darren Woodson, tight end Jay Novacek and center Mark Stepnoski and the surge of Cowboys into the Hall could continue for some time.
Not all of them will make it, but they are all worthy of consideration, putting the '90s Cowboys in position to rival or possibly pass the Steelers of the '70s, who won four Super Bowls in a six-year span and placed nine players and their head coach in the Hall of Fame.
http://cbs.sportsline.com/nfl/story/9161477/rss
posted by The Gryphon at 8:21 AM
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