Breath easy, football fans, for the return of our beloved sport is at hand. Sun, August 9th, brings the annual start of the NFL preseason, the Hall of Fame game. The Hall of Fame game is the pinnacle of a celebration that honors that years inductees into the Hall of Fame and is being played this season by the Baltimore Ravens and Tennessee Titans.
The Inductees this season include three of the top defensive players of all time, the oldest person ever inducted, an Olympic gold medalist, and perhaps the most solid offensive guard in the last 20 years.
Rod Woodson, Bruce Smith, and Derrick Thomas are the defensive specialists with Smith, the career sacks leader, and Woodson, the career leader in interceptions returned for touchdowns, making it on their first ballot.
"I am blessed right now to be standing in front of you. I cry because I am not less than a man but because I am a man," said Smith.
"It's a great honor, a great feat," said Woodson, "I'm still pinching myself a little bit, thinking it's surreal."
Buffalo Bills owner Ralph Wilson, at age 90, is the oldest person ever to be given this honor.
"Pro football to me is not about making money. It's a matter of competition, the flow of the game,"
1964 100 meter Gold Medalist and Dallas wideout Bob Hayes may have passed on before receiving this honor but he left a letter for this eventuality.
"Tell all my teammates I love them," he wrote.
"It didn't matter how long it took," said Lucille Hester, the sister of Bob Hayes, who read the letter. "Today is here, and it is historic."
Randall McDaniel, a former guard for the Minnesota Vikings, was known for his ability to both protect the passer and run-block. He was named to the 1990 All-Decade team and missed only two games in his 14 year career, a staggering feat.
"I never thought it would happen," McDaniel said. "It's kind of overwhelming. I accept this knowing I could not have done this without all the other offensive lineman I played with."
*The Hall of Fame game can be seen Sun. August 9th at 8 pm EST on NBC.
