NFL.com Live - Hall of Fame '09
2:30 PM - 4:30 PM ETNFL.com
36 comments
The Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2009 was announced on Saturday, Jan. 31, at 2:30 p.m. ET, live on NFL Network and NFL.com/Live.
Chat during the news conference with NFL.com editors and veteran NFL analysts Vic Carucci and Gil Brandt.
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NFL.com
Hello, and welcome to today's live webcast of the Pro Football Hall of Fame class of 2009 announcement ceremony on NFL.com/Live. -
NFL.com
We'll be with you live throughout today's announcement ceremony with special guests Gil Brandt and Vic Carucci, who will be on hand to take your questions. -
NFL.com
The class of 2009 was just announced: Bob Hayes, Randall McDaniel, Derrick Thomas, Ralph Wilson Jr. and Rod Woodson. -
Gil Brandt, NFL.com
There are nine people here in town that were being considered for the honor. Bruce Smith is going to be up in a minute. Ralph Wilson is here, Woodson is here. Thomas is deceased. Hayes is deceased. I have not seen Mcdaniel. -
David, Huntington
2:46 PM ET
What does cris Carter have to do? There must be guys in that room who also did not vote for Rickey Henderson!
Gil Brandt, NFL.com
I'm not sure. he caught over 900 passes and really deserves to be in. sometimes you just vote five in and there are so many outstanding candidates and some get passed over. I wouldn't be surprised if he makes it in next year, when he'll automatically will be in to the top 25. -
Vic Carucci, Senior Columnist, NFL.com
I am so happy that the voting panel finally recognized Ralph Wilson's contributions to the NFL. He has been a pioneer, a contributor to the NFL and what we know as this great league would not be possible without men like Ralph Wilson. You put him in the same category as the Rooney's, as Lamar Hunt, and it especially moving to see how many panelists understood that. -
NFL.com
It's a very emotional room. The most emotional right now is Bruce Smith. He's having a hard time keeping his emotions inside as he's speaking.
There were cheers for each member as it was announced they were elected ... but the biggest cheers in the room were clearly for Ralph Wilson. -
Victor, Illinois
2:54 PM ET
How are the final decisions of the Hall Of Famers are made?
Vic Carucci, Senior Columnist, NFL.com
We entered the room with 17 finalists, including two senior category people picked seperately. We had a vote that widdled that down to a final 10, and a second vote to cut it to the final five. Before the voting, there was lengthy and spirited discussion about all of the finalists. It's a great process, and a lot of opinions can be altered along the way. -
NFL.com
Bruce Smith is taking questions now. This is a great part of today's event, getting the insights of the newest members of the Pro Football Hall of Fame moments after they found out. -
Carl Gonzalez, Orlando, FL
2:57 PM ET
Bruce Smith is probably the best defensive player of his time, was he a great choice?
Vic Carucci, Senior Columnist, NFL.com
Absolutely. The mark of a true Hall of Famer is someone who was a game-changing player every time he took the field. That was absolutely true with Bruce, because opposing offenses had to account for him on every snap. That's not true for every defensive players, even good ones. It's what seperates the great players from the greatest ones. -
Gil Brandt, NFL.com
Smith was the first player picked in the ‘85 draft and received just a few dollars over a million to sign. To give you an idea, today second round picks receive over 2 million dollars to sign. In that same draft, Jerry Rice, a future Hall-of-Famer, received just $675,000 to sign. -
Chris, Indianapolis
3:00 PM ET
Gil: When another one of the players that you have some responsibility for their careers such as Bob Hayes how does that make you feel?
Gil Brandt, NFL.com
It makes me feel great and makes me remember how at 2:30 in the morning in December we drafted Bob Hayes as a red shirt and that meant that he had another year of eligibility left. we watched him through the olympics where he won the 100-meter dash and signed him to his first NFL contract. I could not be happier, because he was most deservant. -
Patrick, MO
3:01 PM ET
What were the key reasons Derrick got in?
Vic Carucci, Senior Columnist, NFL.com
The fact that he didn't just make defensive plays such as sacks and tackles, he was as much of a scoring weapon as any other KC had. Keep in mind he played on some Chiefs' teams that were very offensively challenged. -
NFL.com
Just announced that next year's Hall of Fame Game will be the Titans vs. the Bills. -
NFL.com
Ralph Wilson is taking the stage, to a standing ovation from the room -- a room full of some of the most influential people associated with football. There is a tremendous amount of respect for Wilson in the room today. -
NFL.com
Ralph Wilson reacted to today's news this way:
"It's going to take a couple of minutes for me to get over this shock. It's such a tremendous honor." -
Gil Brandt, NFL.com
Ralph Wilson told me earlier today going up in the elevator that he thought his chances were 10,000 to 1. I told him they were 10,000 to 2 because I was voting for him. -
Mark G, Buffalo NY
3:07 PM ET
How close did Chris Carter & Andre Reed come to getting in?
Vic Carucci, Senior Columnist, NFL.com
Hi Mark. Carter made it to the final 10. He received strong consideration, I thik voters respected not only his numbers, but that he was so effective in clutch situations and postseason games even though he never got to a Super Bowl.
Reed also received strong consideration, as someone who is extremely tough, who withstood a lot of punishment and succeeded as a receiver in a place where the weather wasn't always condusive to passing. -
NFL.com
Chiefs chairman Clark Hunt is on the podium to speak about Derrick Thomas. -
NFL.com
Clark Hunt began his speach by desribing Derrick Thomas this way:
"Derrick Thomas was the cornerstone of the modern era for the Chiefs."
Thomas' mother, Edith, is also here today and received warm applause from the audience. -
MOE, DETROIT
3:15 PM ET
was Ralph Wilsons father a football player
Vic Carucci, Senior Columnist, NFL.com
I do know this Moe: His father sold the first group medical insurance plan to a major American company when Henry Ford accepted his sales pitch on a cold call. That obviously held great ramifications on future American industry. -
Scott, Baltimore
3:17 PM ET
I see that nobody wants to address the snubs at all. Way to take only the fluff questions.
Gil Brandt, NFL.com
Any time that somebody doesn’t get in, because there’s so much publicity about it it’s considered that the presenter failed. But you can only have so many. There are so many talented players in the NFL. There are so many players that are so good and it's just a select few each year. eventually I think all of the people that were in the top ten this year will get in. the Richard Dents and Shannon Sharpes will get in. The thing you have to remember is that next year there are some great players coming as well. -
NFL.com
Rod Woodson has just entered the room, and is off to the side of the stage. -
Pat, IL
3:21 PM ET
DO you think Richard Dent will make the HOF?
Gil Brandt, NFL.com
He's going to make it. I don't think there's any question. sometimes it just takes longer. When you talk about Dent, he holds the record for the playoffs with 6.5 sacks. It's possible that LaMarr Woodley could break that this Sunday. with one game to go, he has six. I think the trade off this year is that Dent didn't get in because Thomas did.
Vic Carucci, Senior Columnist, NFL.com
I do too. He was an exceptional player on an exceptional team. His day will come. -
NFL.com
Rod Woodson just finished speaking, and said he only started playing football because his brothers played, and wanted to be close to them.
"I'm still pinching myself a little bit. It's a little surreal."
Woodson didn't become emotional until he thanked his wife. It was a touching moment. -
NFL.com
The three Hall of Famers with us today -- Bruce Smith, Rod Woodson and Ralph Wilson -- are now all on stage, and the press conference portion of today's ceremony has begun. -
Vic Carucci, Senior Columnist, NFL.com
For the second time since 2002, Canton, Ohio, will feel like Buffalo, Ohio, because the entire Bills Nation will descend on the home of the Hall of Fame. In 2002, when Jim Kelly was inducted, and fellow hall of famer Marv Levy presented him, the number of Bills' fan in attendance was overwhelming. So much, that, the ceremony was held inside Fawcett Stadium. Now, with two Bills going into The Hall, and the team playing in the Hall of Fame game, I can't imagine how thrilling it will be for everyone with a rooting interest in the Bills to witness that great weekend in person, or on TV, and of course on NFL.com. -
Ian S, Roy Washington
3:34 PM ET
How close was Cortez Kennedy to getting in?
Gil Brandt, NFL.com
We don't lknow how close anybody is to getting in because they don't give a vote count to anybody -- the hall or the league. I do think he'll be elected to the hall in the future because he was a great football player and played so well for the Seattle Seahawks. I even remember him as a high school player in Arkansas and a college player at the University of Miami. -
Rhodri Jones, Tredegar, Wales.
3:39 PM ET
Hi guys. How close was Shannon Sharpe to getting in. Do you think with Rice and Emmitt Smith coming in for consideration next year his chances will be better or worse ?
Gil Brandt, NFL.com
I think when you look at it that Rice and Smith are probably going to be first ballot entries which leaves just three other players. when you've allotted 2 of 5 possible spots it makes it harder. Sharpe will be in the Hall of Fame, it's just a matter of next year or the following year, but he will be in. -
mike , nj
3:43 PM ET
do players pick what team the go in the hall as?NFL.com
Hi Mike. There seems to be some confusion on this topic. The answer is no -- NFL players do not go into the Pro Football Hall of Fame with a specific team. It's not like baseball, where they have to chose a team to be inducted with. -
Bart,, NY
3:45 PM ET
Which team has the most Hall Of Famers now?
Gil Brandt, NFL.com
The Chicago Bears followed by the New York Giants. -
anthony, rochester ny
3:47 PM ET
were do you rank rod wooodson all time?
Gil Brandt, NFL.com
I think that Rod Woodson is one of the 10 top DBs of all time. He's was a great athlete at Purdue. He actually was a RB at Purdue and was also an outstanding track person. the thing aboout Woodson is that he was an all pro at two positions. Corner when he first came in and then safety later in his career. -
Bruce Iker, Virginia
3:53 PM ET
How many years out of football are do you have to have before being able to join the Hall of Fame?NFL.com
Bruce, players are elibigle after five years. -
Sam, Tulsa
4:00 PM ET
Do you think Kurt Warner will get in the HOF? I heard many people doubting Warner should be in the HOF even with his numbers taking the Rams to the Super Bowl and now the Cards.
Gil Brandt, NFL.com
I myself feel he's a hall of famer and have stated that publicly. Three Super Bowls and he's the only player along with Peyton Manning to have three perfect passer rating games.
Vic Carucci, Senior Columnist, NFL.com
I think Warner is definitely in the discussion, based on what he has done so far. But, I think it's important that he at least plays well tomorrow, if not lead the Cardinals to a win, in order to make him a lock. He might already be assured of a spot in Canton, but I can't say that with great certainty right now. He's on the fence; tomorrow could influence on which side he falls. -
NFL.com
Bruce Smith just stopped by the Sirius Radio set with Gil Brandt to reflect on his selection.
"The anticipation of the final vote that had to take place. I certainly didn’t feel in my mind that it was a foregone conclusion because the writers had to sit down and go over the criteria. It’s really leaving me speechless. When I was at the podium I was choked up because of my father because of all the lessons he taught me and how he wanted me to do something special in my life. I’ve finally done something special but there’s more that I want to do in my life." -
NFL.com
A piece of football history was made today, as Bob Hayes, Randall McDaniel, Derrick Thomas, Ralph Wilson Jr. and Rod Woodson were named as the Pro Football Hall of Fame class of 2009.
Thanks for joining us on NFL.com/Live from Tampa to take part and sending us your questions. Hope you enjoyed the show. Enjoy Super Bowl XLIII.
