Draft vote Jerry Rice Jerry Rice WR Drafted: 1985, Round 1, Pick 16Career: 20 seasons, 303 gamesNotes: Arguably the best receiver ever, Rice owns nearly every major receiving record, including most catches (1,549), receiving yards (22,895) and TD catches (197). Rice has at least 400 more catches than any other receiver. Hall of Famer

 

 

Draft vote Jim Brown Jim Brown FB Drafted: 1957, Round 1, Pick 6Career: 9 seasons, 118 gamesNotes: The hard-nosed Brown was a star from day one, and when he surprisingly retired after nine years, he had rewritten the record books. Arguably the best runner ever, Brown remains the only rusher to average over 100 YPG. Hall of Famer

 

Draft vote Lawrence Taylor Lawrence Taylor LB Drafted: 1981, Round 1, Pick 2Career: 13 seasons, 184 gamesNotes: Taylor was a playmaking linebacker who dominated opponents. He changed the game with his attacking style. In 1986, Taylor had 20.5 sacks and was named NFL MVP, the first defender to earn the award since 1971. Hall of Famer

 

 

Draft vote Joe Montana Joe Montana QB Drafted: 1979, Round 3, Pick 82Career: 16 seasons, 192 gamesNotes: Montana turned the 49ers into the team of the ‘80s as he led them to four Super Bowl titles. He was MVP in three of those wins. He directed 31 fourth-quarter comeback wins, including the winning drive in Super Bowl XXIII. Hall of Famer

 

 

Draft vote Walter Payton Walter Payton RB Drafted: 1975, Round 1, Pick 4Career: 13 seasons, 190 gamesNotes: The NFL MVP in 1977 and 1985, Payton was an NFL superstar. He ran for more than 1,000 yards 10 times, including a high of 1,852 yards in 1977, and by the time of his retirement, "Sweetness" had smashed the record books. Hall of Famer

 

 

 

Draft vote Johnny Unitas Johnny Unitas QB Drafted: 1955, Round 9, Pick 102Career: 19 seasons, 211 gamesNotes: With 40,239 yards and 290 TDs, Unitas was the NFL's most prolific passer at the time of his retirement. But numbers tell only part of the story. His leadership and poise are what really make him one of the all-time greats. Hall of Famer

 

 

Draft vote Reggie White Reggie White DE Drafted: 1984, Round 1, Pick 4Career: 17 seasons, 232 gamesNotes: The "Minister of Defense" had 198 sacks (still No. 2 all-time) in 15 NFL seasons. After posting 124 sacks in 121 games with the Eagles, he signed with Green Bay in 1993 and soon helped the Packers win a Super Bowl. Hall of Famer

 

 

Draft vote Peyton Manning Peyton Manning QB Drafted: 1998, Round 1, Pick 1Career: 12 seasons, 192 gamesNotes: Blessed with a strong arm, intelligence, determination and leadership, Manning has been compared to the NFL's greats. He has smashed the record books, with more marks destined to fall. He has started 192 straight games. Active

 

 

Draft vote Don Hutson Don Hutson WR UndraftedCareer: 11 seasons, 116 gamesNotes: The NFL's first great pass catcher, Hutson's numbers far exceeded those of his peers. He led the league in receiving eight times in his 11 seasons, and his 99 career TD catches stood 44 years as a league record. Hall of Famer

 

 

Draft vote Dick Butkus Dick Butkus LB Drafted: 1965, Round 1, Pick 3Career: 9 seasons, 119 gamesNotes: Driven to succeed, Butkus was one of the most feared defenders of his era. He racked up 22 interceptions and a then-record 27 fumble recoveries over his illustrious career. Hall of Famer

 

 

Draft vote Ronnie Lott Ronnie Lott DB Drafted: 1981, Round 1, Pick 8Career: 14 seasons, 192 gamesNotes: A ferocious tackler, Lott anchored the 49ers' first four Super Bowl teams and he finished his career with 63 INTs, adding an NFL-record nine more in the playoffs. Lott made 10 Pro Bowls at three positions (CB FS, SS). Hall of Famer

 

 

Draft vote Anthony Munoz Anthony Munoz T Drafted: 1980, Round 1, Pick 3Career: 13 seasons, 185 gamesNotes: Munoz was a fixture at left tackle for the Bengals for 13 seasons, beginning with his rookie campaign. His 11 Pro Bowls (all consecutive) were the most by an NFL player at the time of Munoz's retirement (1992). Hall of Famer

 

 

Draft vote Joe Greene Joe Greene DT Drafted: 1969, Round 1, Pick 4Career: 13 seasons, 181 gamesNotes: The leader of the “Steel Curtain” defense of the 1970s, Greene was a disruptive force who dominated foes. He had strength and determination, and twice he was named the NFL Defensive Player of the Year (1972, 1974). Hall of Famer

 

 

Draft vote Sammy Baugh Sammy Baugh QB Drafted: 1937, Round 1, Pick 6Career: 16 seasons, 165 gamesNotes: An accurate thrower, Baugh's passing ability helped change the game. He won a record six NFL passing titles, while also setting marks as a punter and defensive back. He led the NFL in passing, punting and INTs in 1943. Hall of Famer

 

 

Draft vote Deacon Jones Deacon Jones DE Drafted: 1961, Round 14, Pick 186Career: 14 seasons, 191 gamesNotes: Jones came out of almost nowhere and blossomed into a dominating pass rusher at defensive end. Jones missed just five games in 14 NFL campaigns and was selected to play in eight Pro Bowls, including seven in a row. Hall of Famer

 

 

Draft vote Otto Graham Otto Graham QB Drafted: 1944, Round 1, Pick 4Career: 12 seasons, 126 gamesNotes: The consummate leader, Graham played four years in the AAFC and six in the NFL, and he guided the Browns to the league title game in each of them. He passed for 174 touchdowns and ran for 44. Hall of Famer

 

 

Draft vote Barry Sanders Barry Sanders RB Drafted: 1989, Round 1, Pick 3Career: 10 seasons, 153 gamesNotes: One of the most electrifying runners until his surprise retirement after 10 seasons, Sanders smashed the record books despite being the Lions' only real weapon. He was the first player to have five 1,500-yard seasons. Hall of Famer

 

 

Draft vote Ray Lewis Ray Lewis LB Drafted: 1996, Round 1, Pick 26Career: 14 seasons, 194 gamesNotes: Lewis is an intimidating linebacker with the ability to change a game with his aggressive play. Twice he was named NFL Defensive Player of the Year (2000, 2003) and he also took home MVP honors for Super Bowl XXXV. Active

 

 

Draft vote Bronko Nagurski Bronko Nagurski FB UndraftedCareer: 14 seasons, 97 gamesNotes: The legendary Nagurski's reputation as a bulldozing runner, fierce blocker, and rugged linebacker survives 80 years after he made his NFL debut. A charter member of the Hall of Fame, he helped the Bears win three titles. Hall of Famer

 

 

Draft vote Brett Favre Brett Favre QB Drafted: 1991, Round 2, Pick 33Career: 19 seasons, 289 gamesNotes: The first player to be named MVP three straight years, Favre is the all-time leader in almost every passing category, including yards (69,329) and TDs (497). He broke Jim Marshall's mark for consecutive starts at any position. Active

 

 

Draft vote Tom Brady Tom Brady QB Drafted: 2000, Round 6, Pick 199Career: 10 seasons, 129 gamesNotes: Brady ranks among the best in the NFL ever, having assaulted the record books in his 10 years in the league en route to leading the Pats to three Super Bowl wins in four years and a perfect 2007 regular season. Active

 

 

Draft vote Gale Sayers Gale Sayers RB Drafted: 1965, Round 1, Pick 4Career: 7 seasons, 68 gamesNotes: The Hall's youngest inductee (34), the "Kansas Comet" burned out far too early due to injury. A dynamic runner and kick returner, Sayers danced through defenders for 9,435 combined net yards in just 68 games. Hall of Famer

 

 

Draft vote John Elway John Elway QB Drafted: 1983, Round 1, Pick 1Career: 16 seasons, 234 gamesNotes: Elway's cannon arm and football savvy produced 51,475 passing yards and a remarkable 47 fourth-quarter comebacks. He capped his 16-year career by leading the Broncos to back-to-back Super Bowl victories. Hall of Famer

 

 

Draft vote John Hannah John Hannah G Drafted: 1973, Round 1, Pick 4Career: 13 seasons, 183 gamesNotes: Hannah was a top guard in the NFL, earning Pro Bowl status nine times. A fierce blocker, he was the anchor of a talented front line that paved the way for the Pats to pile up a then-record 3,165 yards rushing in 1978. Hall of Famer

 

 

Draft vote Dan Marino Dan Marino QB Drafted: 1983, Round 1, Pick 27Career: 17 seasons, 242 gamesNotes: The Dolphins got the steal of the 1983 draft when Marino surprisingly fell to them at No. 27. By the time he retired following the 1999 season, the prolific Marino had put his name atop nearly every NFL passing record. Hall of Famer

 

 

Draft vote Bob Lilly Bob Lilly DT Drafted: 1961, Round 1, Pick 13Career: 14 seasons, 196 gamesNotes: Dallas' first-ever draft pick and first Hall of Famer, Lilly started out at defensive end but moved to tackle later with impressive results. He was dominant as a pass rusher and run defender, using his quickness to create havoc. Hall of Famer

 

 

Draft vote Merlin Olsen Merlin Olsen DT Drafted: 1962, Round 1, Pick 3Career: 15 seasons, 208 gamesNotes: Olsen anchored the Rams' "Fearsome Foursome" from his defensive tackle position. He made the Pro Bowl as a rookie in 1962...and every season after that through 1975 for a record 14 all-star nods in a row. Hall of Famer

 

 

Draft vote Emmitt Smith Emmitt Smith RB Drafted: 1990, Round 1, Pick 17Career: 15 seasons, 226 gamesNotes: The all-time rushing leader (18,355), Smith was the heart and soul of Dallas' 1990s championship teams. In 1993, he was MVP of both the season and Super Bowl XXVIII. He ran for 1,000 yards in a record 11 straight years. Hall of Famer

 

 

Draft vote Jack Lambert Jack Lambert LB Drafted: 1974, Round 2, Pick 46Career: 11 seasons, 146 gamesNotes: Lambert was a vicious tackler who was recognized as the premier linebacker of his era. He started in the middle as a rookie and remained there. He led Pittsburgh in tackles every season except his last. Hall of Famer

 

 

Draft vote Night Train Lane Night Train Lane CB UndraftedCareer: 14 seasons, 157 gamesNotes: Lane holds one of the NFL's longest-standing individual records: 14 interceptions in a season. He set the mark as a rookie in 1952, and he went on to pick off 68 passes in his 14-year career. Hall of Famer

 

 

Draft vote Bruce Smith Bruce Smith DE Drafted: 1985, Round 1, Pick 1Career: 19 seasons, 279 gamesNotes: The NFL's sack leader (200) despite constant double-teaming, Smith terrorized offenses with his speed and strength. He was Defensive Player of the Year in '90 and '96, and had 10-plus sacks in an NFL-record 13 years. Hall of Famer

 

 

Draft vote Jim Parker Jim Parker T Drafted: 1957, Round 1, Pick 8Career: 11 seasons, 135 gamesNotes: The first full-time offensive lineman inducted into the Hall, Parker had been a two-way tackle in college but settled in on the offensive side in the pros. He wound up playing half of his career at tackle and half at guard. Hall of Famer

 

 

Draft vote Sid Luckman Sid Luckman QB Drafted: 1939, Round 1, Pick 2Career: 12 seasons, 128 gamesNotes: The first successful T-formation quarterback in NFL history, Luckman led the Bears to four championships, including one in his MVP season of 1943. Luckman still owns most of the Bears passing records. Hall of Famer

 

 

Draft vote Deion Sanders Deion Sanders DB Drafted: 1989, Round 1, Pick 5Career: 17 seasons, 188 gamesNotes: Sanders was arguably the most feared corner of his era, using his speed and glue-like cover skills to shut down receivers. A return specialist and occasional receiver, Sanders scored 22 TDs, including nine off his 53 INTs.

 

 

Draft vote Chuck Bednarik Chuck Bednarik LB Drafted: 1949, Round 1, Pick 1Career: 14 seasons, 169 gamesNotes: The No. 1 pick in 1949, Bednarik started at both center and linebacker. But while he was a two-way player for a large part of his career, it was his fierce linebacker play that turned heads. He missed just three games in 14 years. Hall of Famer

 

 

Draft vote Raymond Berry Raymond Berry E Drafted: 1954, Round 20, Pick 232Career: 14 seasons, 154 gamesNotes: A longshot to make the Colts, Berry tirelessly practiced running precise routes. It worked, as Berry and Johnny Unitas became one of the all-time best pitch-and-catch duos. He had a then-record 631 catches in 13 years. Hall of Famer

 

 

Draft vote Jim Thorpe Jim Thorpe RB UndraftedCareer: 9 seasons, 52 gamesNotes: Thorpe excelled at every sport he played, and already was the most famous athlete in America when he began playing pro football in 1915. Five years later, he was named the fledgling NFL's president. Hall of Famer

 

 

Draft vote Lance Alworth Lance Alworth FL Drafted: 1962, Round 2, Pick 9Career: 11 seasons, 136 gamesNotes: The first AFL star to enter the Hall, "Bambi" was a graceful receiver who used his blazing speed to average 18.94 yards on 542 catches. He averaged more than 50 catches and 1,000 yards in nine years in San Diego. Hall of Famer

 

 

Draft vote Gino Marchetti Gino Marchetti DE Drafted: 1952, Round 2, Pick 14Career: 15 seasons, 161 gamesNotes: An 11-time Pro Bowl pick, Marchetti could do it all, but he was especially fearsome as a pass rusher. In 1969, the Pro Football Hall of Fame named him the best defensive end of the NFL's first 50 years. Hall of Famer

 

 

Draft vote O.J. Simpson O.J. Simpson RB Drafted: 1969, Round 1, Pick 1Career: 11 seasons, 135 gamesNotes: The first player to rush for 2,000 yards in a season (1973), Simpson is the only one to do it over a 14-game campaign. Simpson won four rushing titles (1972, 1973, 1975 and 1976) and ran for 11,236 yards in his career. Hall of Famer

 

 

Draft vote Rod Woodson Rod Woodson DB Drafted: 1987, Round 1, Pick 10Career: 17 seasons, 238 gamesNotes: Woodson was the first player to be voted to the Pro Bowl at corner, safety and kick returner. The 1993 NFL Defensive Player of the Year, Woodson ranks third all time with 71 INTS, an NFL-record 12 were returned for TDs. Hall of Famer

 

 

Draft vote John Mackey John Mackey TE Drafted: 1963, Round 2, Pick 19Career: 10 seasons, 139 gamesNotes: Mackey revolutionized the tight end position, using his speed to stretch defenses. He averaged 15.8 yards on 331 receptions over his injury-shortened career, with two seasons in which he averaged over 20 yards per catch. Hall of Famer

 

 

Draft vote Alan Page Alan Page DT Drafted: 1967, Round 1, Pick 15Career: 15 seasons, 218 gamesNotes: Smart and quick, Page was a key member of the "Purple People Eaters” defensive line. In 1971, he became only the second defender to be named NFL MVP. He was also Defensive Player of the Year in 1971 and 1973. Hall of Famer

 

 

Draft vote Mel Blount Mel Blount DB Drafted: 1970, Round 3, Pick 53Career: 14 seasons, 200 gamesNotes: Blount had size, speed and intelligence and was a major reason why the Steelers defense dominated opponents. The NFL Defensive MVP in 1975, Blount's 57 career interceptions remain a Steelers record. Hall of Famer

 

 

Draft vote Tony Gonzalez Tony Gonzalez TE Drafted: 1997, Round 1, Pick 13Career: 13 seasons, 206 gamesNotes: Gonzalez's career receptions, receiving yards and touchdowns already top the seven tight ends in the Hall of Fame. He has missed just two starts since becoming a starter in 1998 and he enters 2010 one catch shy of 1,000. Active

 

 

Draft vote Roger Staubach Roger Staubach QB Drafted: 1964, Round 10, Pick 129Career: 16 seasons, 131 gamesNotes: Staubach was a playmaker for the Cowboys, leading them to six NFC title games and a pair of Super Bowl triumphs in his nine years at the helm. Along the way, he passed for 22,700 yards and 153 touchdowns. Hall of Famer

 

 

Draft vote Ray Nitschke Ray Nitschke LB Drafted: 1958, Round 3, Pick 36Career: 15 seasons, 190 gamesNotes: An aggressive, determined competitor, Nitschke was the cornerstone of the great Packers defenses of the 1960s. He had 25 INTs and 20 fumble recoveries while playing on five NFL title teams and two Super Bowl winners. Hall of Famer

 

 

Draft vote Red Grange Red Grange RB UndraftedCareer: 10 seasons, 96 gamesNotes: As the NFL's first big drawing card, "The Galloping Ghost" helped make pro football financially viable. He joined the Bears in 1925 and immediately went on a 17-game barnstorming tour. Hall of Famer

 

 

Draft vote Mike Haynes Mike Haynes DB Drafted: 1976, Round 1, Pick 5Career: 14 seasons, 177 gamesNotes: Blessed with speed and quickness, Haynes had a dazzling rookie debut with eight INTs and the Patriots' first-ever TDs on punt returns. In 14 seasons with the Pats and later the Raiders, he had a career total of 46 INTs. Hall of Famer

 

 

Draft vote Terry Bradshaw Terry Bradshaw QB Drafted: 1970, Round 1, Pick 1Career: 14 seasons, 168 gamesNotes: The strong-armed Bradshaw displayed strong leadership in leading the Steelers to an unprecedented four Super Bowl titles in six years (1974-79). He was MVP of Super Bowl XIII and Super Bowl XIV. Hall of Famer

 

 

Draft vote Bart Starr Bart Starr QB Drafted: 1956, Round 17, Pick 200Career: 16 seasons, 196 gamesNotes: From 17th-rounder to the Hall of Fame, Starr didn't blossom into a star and legend until Vince Lombardi arrived. He guided the Pack to five NFL titles and was MVP of the two Super Bowls. He led the NFL in passing three times. Hall of Famer

 

 

Draft vote Eric Dickerson Eric Dickerson RB Drafted: 1983, Round 1, Pick 2Career: 11 seasons, 146 gamesNotes: Dickerson burst onto the scene with a record-setting rookie campaign. The following year (1984), he shattered the season rushing mark with 2,105 yards. Dickerson retired as the second-leading rusher (13,259 yards). Hall of Famer

 

 

Draft vote Willie Lanier Willie Lanier LB Drafted: 1967, Round 2, Pick 50Career: 11 seasons, 149 gamesNotes: A tenacious defender with fierce tackling ability, Lanier grabbed the starting middle linebacker job as a rookie and never let go. He intercepted at least two passes every year -- except for his first and last seasons. Hall of Famer

 

 

Draft vote Forrest Gregg Forrest Gregg T Drafted: 1956, Round 2, Pick 20Career: 16 seasons, 193 gamesNotes: Gregg made up for his smallish size at right tackle by watching film to perfect his craft. He ended up playing in a then-record 188 straight games. When needed, he moved to guard and excelled there as well. Hall of Famer

 

 

Draft vote Earl Campbell Earl Campbell RB Drafted: 1978, Round 1, Pick 1Career: 8 seasons, 115 gamesNotes: Campbell was a bruising runner whose impact was immediate. He led the NFL in rushing in each of his first three seasons, including a 1,934-yard performance in 1980. In eight years, he rushed for 9,407 yards and 74 TDs. Hall of Famer

 

 

Draft vote Gene Upshaw Gene Upshaw G Drafted: 1967, Round 1, Pick 17Career: 15 seasons, 217 gamesNotes: Upshaw entered the NFL with experience at every offensive line position, but he settled in at guard and remained there for the next 15 seasons. He was a team leader and an integral part of a powerful Raiders front. Hall of Famer

 

 

Draft vote Mike Singletary Mike Singletary LB Drafted: 1981, Round 2, Pick 38Career: 12 seasons, 179 gamesNotes: An intense, intimidating middle linebacker twice named NFL Defensive Player of the Year (1985, 1988), Singletary was the Bears' first- or second-leading tackler each of his last 11 seasons. Hall of Famer

 

 

Draft vote Steve Van Buren Steve Van Buren HB Drafted: 1944, Round 1, Pick 5Career: 8 seasons, 83 gamesNotes: Van Buren was a tough runner who won four rushing titles, including one in 1945, when he led the NFL in scoring and kickoff returns too. With Van Buren powering the way, the Eagles won NFL titles in 1948 and 1949. Hall of Famer

 

 

Draft vote Mike Ditka Mike Ditka TE Drafted: 1961, Round 1, Pick 5Career: 12 seasons, 158 gamesNotes: The first tight end to be inducted into the Hall, Ditka was feared as both a receiver and blocker. The rugged tight end didn't miss a start (84 games) with Chicago and ended his career with 427 catches for 5,812 yards and 43 TDs. Hall of Famer

 

 

Draft vote Jack Ham Jack Ham LB Drafted: 1971, Round 2, Pick 34Career: 12 seasons, 162 gamesNotes: A big-play outside linebacker, Ham teamed with DE L.C. Greenwood and DT Joe Greene to give the Steelers an exceptionally strong, hard-hitting left side of the defense during the team's Super Bowl run. Hall of Famer

 

 

Draft vote LaDainian Tomlinson LaDainian Tomlinson RB Drafted: 2001, Round 1, Pick 5Career: 9 seasons, 141 gamesNotes: One of the greatest runners in history, Tomlinson has rewritten the record books, including setting the NFL mark for most TDs in a season (31). Twice he won rushing titles and he sits eighth in career rushing yards (12,490). Active

 

 

Draft vote Randy White Randy White DT Drafted: 1975, Round 1, Pick 2Career: 14 seasons, 209 gamesNotes: White developed into a star after moving from linebacker to defensive tackle, where he earned nine straight Pro Bowl invites. The co-MVP of Super Bowl XII, White missed one game in 14 years and posted 111 career sacks. Hall of Famer

 

 

Draft vote Jim Otto Jim Otto C UndraftedCareer: 15 seasons, 210 gamesNotes: The center on the All-Time AFL Team, Otto played in 12 AFL All-Star Games or AFC-NFC Pro Bowls in his 15 seasons. He was the starting center for each of the first 210 games that the Raiders ever played. Hall of Famer

 

 

Draft vote Herb Adderley Herb Adderley DB Drafted: 1961, Round 1, Pick 12Career: 12 seasons, 164 gamesNotes: Adderley had all the tools to excel at corner -- instincts, speed and size. He picked off 48 career passes. First with Green Bay (1961-69) then Dallas (1970-72), he played in four of the first six Super Bowls, winning three. Hall of Famer

 

 

Draft vote Randy Moss Randy Moss WR Drafted: 1998, Round 1, Pick 21Career: 12 seasons, 186 gamesNotes: The more Moss plays, the more records that fall. In 2009, Moss became the second player (Jerry Rice) to record 10 or more years with 1,000 receiving yards. He also tied Rice for the most career 10-plus TD seasons with nine. Active

 

 

Draft vote Willie Brown Willie Brown CB UndraftedCareer: 16 seasons, 204 gamesNotes: Brown intercepted 54 passes and was an all-star nine times in 16 years with the Broncos and Raiders. He made a key play in Oakland's win over Minnesota in Super Bowl XI when he returned a theft 75 yards for a TD. Hall of Famer

 

 

Draft vote Kellen Winslow Kellen Winslow TE Drafted: 1979, Round 1, Pick 13Career: 9 seasons, 109 gamesNotes: Hampered by knee injuries much of his career, Winslow still gave defenders fits. He had 89 catches for 1,290 yards in '80 and twice had seasons of 88 grabs. In nine years, he had 541 catches for 6,741 yards and 45 TDs. Hall of Famer

 

 

Draft vote Mike Webster Mike Webster C Drafted: 1974, Round 5, Pick 125Career: 17 seasons, 245 gamesNotes: Webster anchored one of the strongest lines of his era. He played in 150 straight games, and suited up for more seasons (15) and more games (220) than any other Steeler. He ended his career in Kansas City (1989-90). Hall of Famer

 

 

Draft vote Bobby Bell Bobby Bell LB Drafted: 1963, Round 7, Pick 56Career: 12 seasons, 168 gamesNotes: The first Chiefs player to be elected to the Hall, Bell began his career as a defensive end but then shifted to outside linebacker. Overall, Bell had 26 INTs, returning six for TDs, adding two more scores on fumble recoveries. Hall of Famer

 

 

Draft vote Marshall Faulk Marshall Faulk RB Drafted: 1994, Round 1, Pick 2Career: 12 seasons, 176 gamesNotes: While Faulk had success as a Colt (1994-98), he was a bigger all-around threat as the catalyst for the Rams' prolific attack. In '99, he set a then-record with 2,429 yards from scrimmage and he was the NFL MVP in 2000.

 

 

Draft vote Paul Warfield Paul Warfield WR Drafted: 1964, Round 1, Pick 11Career: 14 seasons, 157 gamesNotes: A long-ball threat whose presence greatly benefited the running game, Warfield's 52 catches as a rookie was his career high. He excelled in Cleveland for six seasons before his 1970 trade to Miami gave the Dolphins a boost. Hall of Famer

 

 

Draft vote Jonathan Ogden Jonathan Ogden OL Drafted: 1996, Round 1, Pick 4Career: 12 seasons, 177 gamesNotes: The first draft pick in Ravens' history, the hulking lineman made it a great choice. He started at guard as a rookie, then moved to tackle in 1997 and made the Pro Bowl 11 seasons in a row at that position.

 

 

Draft vote Ozzie Newsome Ozzie Newsome TE Drafted: 1978, Round 1, Pick 23Career: 13 seasons, 198 gamesNotes: Named the Browns' Offensive Player of the Year as a rookie, Newsome wound up becoming a team leader and a fixture at tight end, catching at least one pass in 150 straight games. He left as the leading TE in NFL history. Hall of Famer

 

 

Draft vote Marion Motley Marion Motley FB UndraftedCareer: 10 seasons, 106 gamesNotes: Motley, who helped break pro football's color barrier in 1946, was the AAFC's all-time leading rusher. When the Browns joined the NFL in 1950, he topped that league in rushing in his first year, too. Hall of Famer

 

 

Draft vote Darrell Green Darrell Green DB Drafted: 1983, Round 1, Pick 28Career: 20 seasons, 295 gamesNotes: With his blazing speed and covering ability, Green developed into a premier corner and remained one over his 20-season career. He had at least one INT in a record 19 straight years, and had a club-record 54 overall. Hall of Famer

 

 

Draft vote Art Shell Art Shell T Drafted: 1968, Round 3, Pick 80Career: 15 seasons, 207 gamesNotes: One of the best Raiders offensive linemen ever, Shell teamed with left guard Gene Upshaw to give the Raiders a dominant front line. Shell excelled at both run blocking and pass protecting. Hall of Famer

 

 

Draft vote Tony Dorsett Tony Dorsett RB Drafted: 1977, Round 1, Pick 2Career: 12 seasons, 173 gamesNotes: Dorsett made quite a splash as a rookie, rushing for 1,007 yards and 12 TDs to help lead Dallas to a Super Bowl win. He wound up hitting 1,000 yards rushing in eight of his first nine years and retiring with 12,739 yards. Hall of Famer

 

 

Draft vote Bruce Matthews Bruce Matthews G Drafted: 1983, Round 1, Pick 9Career: 19 seasons, 296 gamesNotes: Matthews had tremendous versatility, lining up at every position, with the most starts at guard and center. He was voted to 14 straight Pro Bowls (nine at guard, five at center), tied for the most ever. Hall of Famer

 

 

Draft vote Emlen Tunnell Emlen Tunnell DB UndraftedCareer: 14 seasons, 167 gamesNotes: Tunnell was called the Giants' "offense on defense" for his ability to make big plays from his defensive back position. His 79 career interceptions ranks second in NFL history, and his 1,282 yards on those picks ranks fourth. Hall of Famer

 

 

Draft vote Troy Aikman Troy Aikman QB Drafted: 1989, Round 1, Pick 1Career: 12 seasons, 165 gamesNotes: Aikman was thrown to the wolves as a rookie starter, but as he improved, so too did the Cowboys. Aikman was a steady leader of an explosive attack and he directed Dallas to three Super Bowl wins, earning SB XXVII MVP. Hall of Famer

 

 

Draft vote Steve Young Steve Young QB Drafted: 1984, Round 1, Pick 1Career: 16 seasons, 169 gamesNotes: Young led the NFL in passing a record-tying six times. His signature moment came in Super Bowl XXIX, when he passed for 6 touchdowns and was named the MVP of the 49ers' rout of the Chargers. Hall of Famer

 

 

Draft vote Ted Hendricks Ted Hendricks LB Drafted: 1969, Round 2, Pick 33Career: 15 seasons, 215 gamesNotes: Hendricks, a Pro Bowl linebacker in Baltimore, Green Bay, and Oakland, never missed a game in his 15 seasons. His speed and strength helped him block 25 kicks, intercept 26 passes, and recover 16 fumbles. Hall of Famer

 

 

Draft vote Norm Van Brocklin Norm Van Brocklin QB Drafted: 1949, Round 4, Pick 37Career: 12 seasons, 140 gamesNotes: Despite sharing passing duties wih Bob Waterfield, Van Brocklin still topped the NFL in passing in 1950 and '52, and once again in 1954. After his trade to the Eagles in 1958, Van Brocklin led the team to the NFL title in 1960. Hall of Famer

 

 

Draft vote Joe Schmidt Joe Schmidt LB Drafted: 1953, Round 7, Pick 85Career: 13 seasons, 155 gamesNotes: Schmidt fell in the draft due to injuries not talent. He quickly became a defensive leader and was voted to 10 straight Pro Bowls. He was a fast, fierce-tackling middle linebacker whose best asset may have been his instincts. Hall of Famer

 

 

Draft vote Marcus Allen Marcus Allen RB Drafted: 1982, Round 1, Pick 10Career: 16 seasons, 222 gamesNotes: Allen was a versatile back who became the first player ever to gain more than 10,000 yards rushing and 5,000 yards receiving. He had a nose for the end zone, retiring with 145 TDs, including a then-record 123 on the ground. Hall of Famer

 

 

Draft vote Willie Davis Willie Davis DE Drafted: 1956, Round 15, Pick 181Career: 14 seasons, 162 gamesNotes: Davis struggled as an offensive tackle his first two seasons, but a trade to Green Bay changed his position -- and his fortunes. Davis developed into a speedy, big-play defensive end who recovered 21 fumbles over his career. Hall of Famer

 

 

Draft vote Crazylegs Hirsch Crazylegs Hirsch WR Drafted: 1945, Round 1, Pick 5Career: 13 seasons, 127 gamesNotes: A three-time Pro Bowl pick, Hirsch had one of the best years ever by a wide receiver in 1951. He helped the Rams win the NFL title by leading the league with 66 catches for 1,495 yards and 17 TDs in the 12-game season. Hall of Famer

 

 

Draft vote Ed Reed Ed Reed DB Drafted: 2002, Round 1, Pick 24Career: 8 seasons, 118 gamesNotes: Reed was a sensation almost from the start, making one big play after another. In 2004, he was the NFL Defensive Player of the Year. Reed holds the Ravens record for career picks with 46, six of which were returned for scores. Active

 

 

Draft vote Ernie Nevers Ernie Nevers FB UndraftedCareer: 6 seasons, 54 gamesNotes: Nevers was an iron man who rarely left the field on offense, defense, or special teams. He holds the NFL's longest-standing individual record: 40 points in a game against the rival Bears in 1929. Hall of Famer

 

 

Draft vote Kurt Warner Kurt Warner QB UndraftedCareer: 12 seasons, 125 gamesNotes: Though undrafted out of Northern Iowa, Warner went on to pass for 32,344 yards and 208 TDs in a stellar career. He was a two-time NFL MVP, including 1999, when he led the Rams to victory in Super Bowl XXXIV.

 

 

Draft vote Fran Tarkenton Fran Tarkenton QB Drafted: 1961, Round 3, Pick 29Career: 18 seasons, 246 gamesNotes: Tarkenton's career got off to an exciting start with four TD passes in his first game. By the time he left after stints with the Vikings and Giants, he owned every major passing record, including 47,003 yards passing and 342 TDs. Hall of Famer

 

 

Draft vote Michael Irvin Michael Irvin WR Drafted: 1988, Round 1, Pick 11Career: 12 seasons, 159 gamesNotes: Irvin's career didn't take off until Troy Aikman and Emmitt Smith came on board. Irvin then rang up seven 1,000-yard seasons in eight years from 1991-98. He retired with 750 catches for 11,904 yards and 65 TDs. Hall of Famer

 

 

Draft vote Sam Huff Sam Huff LB Drafted: 1956, Round 3, Pick 30Career: 14 seasons, 168 gamesNotes: The hard-hitting Huff entered the NFL as a defensive lineman but moved to middle linebacker in the club's new 4-3 scheme. He went to five Pro Bowls, four with the Giants and one with the Redskins, and had 30 INTs. Hall of Famer

 

 

Draft vote Lenny Moore Lenny Moore HB Drafted: 1956, Round 1, Pick 9Career: 12 seasons, 143 gamesNotes: Moore's main responsibility was to catch passes, forming a dangerous pitch-catch combo with Johnny Unitas. When Moore retired, he had amassed 12,451 combined net yards, 363 pass receptions and 113 TDs. Hall of Famer

 

 

Draft vote Larry Allen Larry Allen G Drafted: 1994, Round 2, Pick 46Career: 14 seasons, 203 gamesNotes: Allen bounced between guard and tackle over his career but was successful at both. An 11-time Pro Bowler, Allen was only the third player in NFL history to earn a Pro Bowl spot at more than one offensive line position.

 

 

Draft vote Mel Hein Mel Hein C UndraftedCareer: 15 seasons, 170 gamesNotes: For 15 years, as a center on offense and a linebacker on defense, Hein rarely left the field. An All-NFL choice eight times, he never missed a game, and helped the Giants win a pair of league titles. Hall of Famer

 

 

Draft vote Derrick Brooks Derrick Brooks LB Drafted: 1995, Round 1, Pick 28Career: 14 seasons, 224 gamesNotes: One of the best players ever to don a Buccaneers uniform, Brooks was the heart and soul of his team's Tampa 2 defense. He could do it all, and the 11-time Pro Bowler finished with 1,689 tackles, 25 INTs and 13.5 sacks.

 

 

Draft vote Lee Roy Selmon Lee Roy Selmon DE Drafted: 1976, Round 1, Pick 1Career: 9 seasons, 121 gamesNotes: The Bucs' first-ever draft pick, Selmon quickly established himself as a leader and earned team MVP honors as a rookie. Selmon was named the NFL Defensive Player of the Year in 1979, the Bucs' first winning season. Hall of Famer

 

 

Draft vote Michael Strahan Michael Strahan DE Drafted: 1993, Round 2, Pick 40Career: 15 seasons, 216 gamesNotes: Strahan gave opposing linemen fits, using his speed and strength to record 141.5 career sacks. He set the NFL record for sacks in a season with 22.5 in 2001, and was named the 2001 NFL Defensive Player of the Year.

 

 

~

 

 

Published August 19, 2010 

by:Zac Wassink

 

 

 

Unless you've been following New York Giants training camp thoroughly, you probably hadn't heard of undrafted wide receiver Victor Cruz until Monday night's game against the Jets. Cruz abused the Jets (backup) defenseen route to three touchdown receptions and national recognition. Cruz is just fine with all the attention.

 

"I heard LeBron James tweeted about me so that's definitely one of the highlights of my life," Cruz said on Thursday. "I'm just happy that I got the opportunity to go out and show what I can do. This has all been a surreal moment for me. When I first looked at my phone after the game, I had about 180 text messages and twitterwas just through the roof. It was definitely just a crazy moment - I'm still trying to soak it all in."

 

Cruz described his first career (preseason) NFL touchdown reception as "just surreal," saying "I just stuck my hand out at the last minute and he dove and missed. I tucked it in and took it into the end zone. I couldn't believe it. I was smiling. I was like did I really just grab that with one hand? It was just surreal. Then I got into the end zone and it was probably one of the happiest moments in my life to date."

 

Cruz is obviously excited about becoming a star in the eyes of New York Giants fans overnight, but the rookie wide receiver is remaining grounded. "I want to work on my blocking. I had a few mishaps on that last weekend. I just want to make sure I keep it consistent, keep everything down pat."

 

Cruz's performance against the Jets was the talk of the New York football world on Tuesday morning. The fact remains that he still has plenty of work to do in order to make the team's final September roster. Barring a major setback, though, you should expect to see Cruz playing somewhere on Sundays this fall.

 

For more: Watch Victor Cruz Abuse the Jets Defense and follow NYGExaminer on Twitter

 

~

 

 

 

Are you ready for some Football! As why does that make me think of Monday Night Football on ABC with Frank Gifford, Dandy Don Meredith and Howard “The Mouth” Cosell…

As I’m guessing that both the National Football League and NBC couldn’t have been happier then having a rematch of last season’s Conference Championship between Reigning Superbowl Champions New Orleans Saints and the Minnesota Vikings as its 2010-11 NFL Kickoff Game.

 

And although it appears the game’s Top four Quarterbacks are Drew Brees, Peyton Manning, Tom Brady and Bret Favre; several other budding Starz wait in the Wings to anoint their selves to the Pantheon of QB’s… With such names as Tony Romo, Joe Flacco, Matt Ryan, Vince Young, Aaron Rogers, Mark Sanchez, etc coming to mind. While I’m less aware of all of the Stellar Running Backs of today’s Generation, albeit the 2,000 Yard Man Chris Johnson comes to mind, along with Thursday night’s Adrian Peterson and Reggie “What Heisman” Busch, with NO disrespect to the other 29 Starting Running Back’s…

 

AFC EAST
(0-1) Buffalo Bills: What can I say about this proverbial Division Doormat Team? Other then don’t expect any miraculous improvements this year, as the Bills lost their Opener to Miami 15-10.

 

(1-0) Miami Dolphins: Not sure what to expect here, as they’ve acquired WR Brandon Marshall to hopefully give QB Chad Henne’ a reliable down field target, who helped out somewhat in their victory over Buffalo 15-10.

 

(1-0) New England Patriots: Soon to become the Sport’s highest paid Athlete when QB Tom Brady becomes the $18 Million Dollar Man, how will this fair with Wide Receivers Randy Moss, playing the final year of his current contract and Wes Welker, who’s coming back from a severe knee injury last year. Not to mention Brady’s Offensive Line, the Defense and everyone else including the Ball Boyz. Good thing Brady wasn’t injured in his recent Car crash, right? As Brady led the Pat’s to victory over the Bengals 38-24.

 

(0-1) New York Jets: Will Rex Ryan’s Mouth match his Swagger? As many are satirically asking; have you bought your Jets Superbowl tickets yet? While Sophomore QB Mark Sanchez hopes to improve this season with the additions of longtime Sand Diego Running Back LaDainian Tomlinson; Miami Linebacker Jason Taylor; Pittsburgh Wide Receiver Santonio Holmes (suspended for the first four games) and Chargers Cornerback Antonio Cromartie, who are expected to take them to the next level. But the Ravens shut down the Jets in a low scoring game 10-9 Monday Night, while they’ve also apparently got a little locker room problem with a female reporter to worry about at the moment…

 

AFC NORTH
(1-0) Baltimore Ravens: Definitely not a ‘Sleeper pick anymore with the addition of Wide Receiver’s Arizona All Pro Anquan Boldin and Seattle’s castaway T.J. Houshmandzadeh, which should only bolster QB Joe Flacco’s opportunities to impress this season, while RB Ray Rice hopes to continue his last season form, as the Ravens shut down the Overhyped? NY Jets offense 10-9 on a Monday Night Football Double header…

 

(0-1) Cincinnati Bengals: Previous ‘Bungles Quarterback Carson Palmer is hoping that new addition Terrell Owens and Chad “Twitter” Ochocinco can leave their Batman ‘N Robin antics for their new Overhyped T.Ocho TV Show and manage to share the Pigskin with RB Cedric Benson? As the Bengals made New England work a bit for its 38-24 victory.

 

(0-1) Cleveland Browns: General Manager “Fuzzy Zellar,” a.k.a. Mike Holmgren will be watching Head Coach Eric Mangini intensely, having decided to give him a further year to show-his-stuff. Jake Delhomme has replaced Derek Anderson, who’s now the Starting QB for the Arizona Cardinals, while Brady Quinn apparently is the Team’s back-up whilst trying to rebuild his career. Yet apparently Delhomme is one of the Team’s few bright spot’s in what should be another long year and most likely no Post-season once again, as the Browns fell to the Buc’s in week One 17-14.

 

(1-0) Pittsburg Steelers: “Big Ben-DateGate” Roethlisberger will miss the Team’s first four games due to his Suspension… While apparently substitute Quarterback replacement Byron Leftwich is injured, with Rookie(?)Dennis Dixon getting the nod, as everyone awaits to see what Steelers Team shows up this year? As it was the Steelers Rashard Mendenhall scoring a 50-yard touchdown on the very first play of overtime to sink the Falcons 15-9.

 

AFC SOUTH
(1-0) Houston Texans: Coming off of a late season surge in their ninth season last year, Fans are giddy with anticipation of their first winning season, hoping a Wildcard Playoff berth is in the offing as QB Matt Shaw looks to lead the way… Although it was RB Arian Foster’s scorching 231 yard & 3-touchdowns performance that led Houston to a 34-24 victory romp over the Colts, only their second win against Indianapolis in the last 17 attempts, while Foster’s record day is second only to OJ “What Glove?” Simpson’s 250 yard record…

 

(0-1) Indianapolis Colts: Do you really have to say anything about the team that lost the Superbowl to New Orleans last year? I mean the name Peyton Manning should be enough on its own… As look for the Colts to once again have another winning season and go deep in the Playoffs, albeit they might wanna work on their run defense after Arian Foster lit them up in week One, losing to Houston 34-24.

 

(1-0) Jacksonville Jaguars: Not much to say about this lackluster team, other then Head Coach Jack Del Rio certainly needs to have a winning season in order to keep his job, as Coach will be pleased with a 24-17 victory over the Broncos on Sunday.

 

(1-0) Tennessee Titans: Will the Comeback Kid, nee Vince Young continue his magic? And will Chris “I WANNA RENEGOTIATE MY CONTRACT” Johnson be able to replicate his All World rushing performance of last year? As Johnson’s vowing to become the first 2,500 yard rusher in NFL history and spanked the Raiders with a 142 yard, 2-touchdown performance in the Titan’s 38-13 walkover.

 

AFC WEST
(0-1) Denver Broncos: The once mighty Broncos with “Mister Ed,” nee John Elway seem to be sliding downhill towards another losing season, having seen Sack-happy All-Pro Elvis Dumervil sidelined with a torn Pectoral muscle. While Rookie QB Tim Tebow was unable to be victorious in his homecoming as Denver Lost to Jacksonville on the road 24-17.

 

(1-0) Kansas City Chiefs: Most likely the Division’s number two team, the squad hopes to continue building towards success with ex-New England Patriots back-up QB Matt Cassel and a formidable backfield duo of Thomas Jones and Jamaal Charles, as the team defeated Division rival San Diego 21-14 in the second Monday Night game.

 

(0-1) Oakland Raiders: It seems like a longtime ago since the Raiders have followed venerable Team Boss Al Davis’s mantra: Just win Baby! As Head Coach Tom Cable surely has to be looking over his shoulder once again? Although you probably don’t wanna get too close to him… As Oakland was simply run over by Chris Johnson and Tennessee 38-13.

 

(0-1) San Diego Chargers: After winning 13-games last year, the team went thru a massive rebuilding, along with losing many players to Free Agency, albeit the Chargers still have Phillip Rivers at the controls and hope to once again win the Division, albeit losing to Kansas City 21-14 in week One.

 

NFC EAST
(0-1) Dallas Cowboys: While many expect Tony Romo and the Cowboys to be winners again, with owner Jerry Jones expecting his team to be home for the Superbowl at his new palatial playground, Dallas didn’t get off on the right foot as Romo & Co. bungled their way thru the night in the Nation’s Capitol, losing to the Redskins 13-7.

 

(1-0) New York Giants: After a 5-0 win streak early last year, the Giants faltered to 8-8 and were beset by injuries, which their Defense will need to keep from happening again this year, as they appear to be somewhat suspect, while Eli Manning hopes to see an improved running game while spreading the ball around to his revamped receiving corps’, which helped him to a 31-18 win against the Panthers.

 

(0-1) Philadelphia Eagles: Not sure ‘bout this team, who after trading away longtime QB Donovan McNabb to Washington ended up not only losing starting Quarterback Kevin olb, with Michael “WOOF-WOOF” Vick replacing him, but also lost a comeback thriller 27-20 vs. Green Bay.

 

(1-0) Washington Redskins: The most Buzz surrounding this Team seems to be the ongoing Feud between new Head Coach Mike Shanahan and All Pro Defensive player Albert Haynesworth… Although the Team has tried shoring up its Quarterback position with the hiring of veteran Eagles QB Donovan McNabb. As the ‘Skins held off their perennial rival, the Cowboys 13-7 at home.

 

NFC NORTH
(1-0) Chicago Bears: Quarterback savor Jake Cutler has been forcing things and threw a lot of interceptions last year, as the Bears loss of Draft Picks saw them needing to go the Free Agency route in order to acquire Julius Peppers to hopefully shore-up its once mighty Defense, as ‘Duh Bears won a very sloppy game, 19-14 on the first week’s most controversial call, when Detroit’s Calvin Johnson’s touchdown was disallowed.

 

Detroit Lions: Still a work-in-progress, as Matt Stafford looks to Wide Receivers Calvin Johnson and ex-Seattle Seahawks player Nate Burleson to enable him to score some points. Yet even after claiming four turnovers from the Bears, Detroit lost a very close game 19-14 on an apparent last moment TD being overturned.

 

(1-0) Green Bay Packers: Look for the Packers and QB Aaron Rodgers to fight for the Division Crown with his predecessor Favre’s Vikings, as Rogers & Co. defeated the Eagles 27-20.

 

(0-1) Minnesota Vikings: Will He; Won’t he? As the never ending saga of the continuously retiring Brett Favre once again was the Team’s Headline News going into the Preseason. Now Favre is missing his favourite target WR Sydney Rice, out for a minimum of six weeks, with Wide Receiver Percy Harvin fighting persistent Migraine Headaches, while RB Adrian Peterson is still trying to overcome his penchant for fumbling the Pigskin. As Favre & Co. lost a low scoring Season Opener to New Orleans 14-9…

 

NFC SOUTH
(0-1) Atlanta Falcons: Look for the Falcons to most likely make the Playoffs this season, having just missed out last year at 9-7, albeit the first time in Franchise history to have back-to-back winning seasons, while being riddled with injuries. Therefore look for third year Pro Matt Ryan and his capable supporting cast to have another winning year. Yet after a veritable Slugfest of Field-goal’s vs. the Steelers, the Falcons defense let the Steelers win in OT 15-9.

 

(0-1) Carolina Panthers: Not sure what side of the coin this Team will land on, as Head Coach John Fox is in the final year of his contract and has lost long time QB Jake Delhomme (Cleveland) and Defensive End Julius Peppers, (Chicago) with several others possibly defecting at the end of the season? As the Panthers were derailed by Eli’s Giant’s in a 31-18 loss…

 

(1-0) New Orleans Saints: Look for the Saints to continue Marching On… As QB Drew Brees picked up exactly where he left off last year by defeating arch rival Brett Favre‘s Vikings in the Superdome in the Season opening game 14-9. As the Saints definitely look like a threat to repeat for the title in Dallas next year.

 

(1-0) Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Another Downtrodden Team, as surely Head Coach Raheem Morris’s job is on the line, as I can’t recall a winning season since now Talking Head John Gruden led them to a Superbowl title a long time ago… Although they did manage to defeat the Browns 17-14, albeit I’m not sure if that’s much of a statement?

 

NFC WEST
(1-0) Arizona Cardinals: Leading QB Kurt Warner has retired, as heir apparent Matt Leinart was waived and subsequently picked up by the Houston Texans, with Derek Anderson taking over the reigns of the new look Card’s who I was unaware they’d traded pouting All Pro WR Anquan Boldin to Baltimore, as the Card’s held off the ‘LAMBS 17-13, as I‘ve just noticed that all four teams in this Division played against each other on week One.

 

(0-1) San Francisco 49ers: Although there seems to be some inside wranglings over Head Coach Mike Singletariy’s intensity, with some players simply quitting… You’d have to give the vastly improving 49ers the nod to most likely win the Division that once was ruled by the Seahawks during the Holmgren era. Look for workhorse Running Back Frank Gore to once again batter opponents, while the Jury’s still out upon Michael Crabtree, as I had a hard time deciding who to pick between Seattle and the 49ers, as I didn’t know which Seattle team would show up? But Mister Excitement’s squad rallied ‘round a stingy Defense that shut-down Gore, whilst Hasselbeck led the way to a 31-6 stomping.

 

(1-0) Seattle Seahawks: Welcome to the Pete “I DIDN’T KNOW NUTHIN” Carroll era, as Mr. Excitement hopes to not only improve his NFL record, but revive the flagging fortunes of the once Perennial Division Champions. As Carroll and new GM John Schneider have gone about a Mega Makeover by changing the Roster nearly every day enroute to installing at least 50% of a new 53-man Squad, as Matt Hasselbeck hopes to have a revived season during the final year of his contract, while there’s simply too many changes to describe! Nevertheless Seattle came out fired-up and gave Carroll a home opening victory by defeating the 49ers 31-6 at Qwest Field.

 

(0-1) St Louis Rams: Really don’t know much about this Team other then they chose QB Sam Bradford with the No. 1 Draft pick, have a new Head Coach and have just had the remaining portion of the Team bought out by Minority Owner Sam Kroenke, and are hoping to reverse their continuously losing ways with their new Rookie QB Bradford, as the team gave Arizona a little bit of a startle before losing 17-13.

 

So who’ll win their respective Divisions? And who will meet in Jerry Jones palatial Dallas estate known as Arlington Stadium for the 2011 Superbowl? You make the call!

 

~

 

 

While Diehard Football, Err Soccer enthusiasts wait to see if the USA National Team will retain current coach Bob Bradley for a further four years in order to make another run in the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, ironically Bradley & Co. were playing an exhibition match in the Meadowlands recently, being Billed as a “Friendly” vs. Brazil Tuesday night. (August 10th) As Team USA lost 2-0 in front of 77,000+ adoring Fans, while speculation surrounds Bradley’s future, who claimed he’d resume talks with the US Soccer Federation after the Brazilian match, albeit his named has been mentioned and linked as a possible candidate for Aston Villa’s vacant Manager Position for the English Premiere League.Meanwhile in the rush to snap-up National Team members, the Seattle Sounders FC have just acquired two new players, Switzerland National Team member Blaise Nkufo. And Uruguayan National Team Midfielder Alvaro Fernandez, as the MLS squad’s second and third Designated (Franchise) Players (DP’s) before trading away its first Designated Player, Swedish Star Freddie Ljungberg to the Chicago Fire for a future MLS Draft pick, as it appears the Sounders took on the younger Fernandez as his possible replacement.

Thus this acquiring of World Cup National Players has touched all corners of the Major League Soccer pitch, as the New York Red Bulls recently acquired France’s Thierry Henry, Joining Red Bulls other two DP’s Rafa Marquez and Juan Pablo Angel

While the Squad was unable to sell-out its relatively brand new 25,000 seat stadium until the arrival of Landon Donovan’s MLS leading L.A. Galaxy, as L.A. Captain Donovan and David Beckham, who’s still recovering from his torn ACL defeated New York in Red Bull Arena One-Nil, (1-0) being only the Squad’s second ever home defeat…

Meanwhile, apparently Beckham still touches the hearts of his Countrymen, as first AC Milan announced it wouldn’t be taking the Midfielder on loan anymore due to his age. Then somewhat embattled England National Team coach Fabio Capello (Italy) drew the ire of Bloody England by declaring Beckham was too old to play for England anymore…

And prior to the Los Angeles vs. New York match, MLS history was made on August 9th when a record five Designated Player’s took to the pitch, as the Chicago Fire’s Ljungberg and Nery Castillo Played the NY Red Bulls to a scoreless “Nil-Nil” (0-0) draw in front of a record 21,868 attendance at Toyota Park in Chicago, albeit Castillo was the only DP not starting, still recovering fitness-wise, he entered the match in the game’s 55th minute.

Thus the MLS Season rolls on as Teams continue scrapping to make the upcoming Playoffs before the inclusion of the MLS’s newest two Franchises, the Vancouver (BC) Whitecaps and Portland Timbers debut in 2011…

 

 

Prior to the start of this year’s Tour de France bicycle race, Seven Times Tour winner Lance Armstrong “tweeted” this would be his final Tour de France bicycle race, at the tender age of 38yrs old.

 

And so far this year’s Tour hasn’t been exactly kind to the Texan from Austin, as he and about half of his fellow competitors went down hard on Stage 2 just minutes after a motorcycle had crashed and laid down oil upon the wet pavement! Then during the Stage 3 ride billed as a “Wildcard” stage with several patches of Cobblestones for the riders to endure, Lance unfortunately popped a tire on the bumps, losing 45 precious seconds to change it as the race went on and slipped down the order to 18th place overall, some two-plus minutes behind, as the Tour will finish on July 25th in Paris...

 

~

 

So I have to admit that originally I was just a casual fan towards this year’s World Cup Football Tournament being played out in South Africa, as the whole thing seems a bit drawn out to me, as the round robin play of the Group matches commenced for fifteen days, before proceeding to Round Two’s select sixteen.

 

And even though we missed out on the LA Galaxy Dust-up between teammates Landon Donovan and David Beckham, you’d have to say that the whole of Britain was mightily let down by the 1-1 draw in the Group C match between England and USA.

 

Oh, in case you haven’t guessed by now, I’m talking about what us Yanks call Soccer on this side of the Atlantic, and not that Pigskin game known as National League Football.

 

Yet, after having expected USA to lose to England, I managed to tune-in for Game 2 of USA vs. Slovenia just prior to Michael Bradley’s tying Goal at 2-2 after being behind 2-0 in the first half. And I assume everybody knows by now how the USA was robbed of its go-ahead third Goal.

 

So I found myself going to a sleepy little Sportsbar at 6AM in order to get seats for the final Group C match between USA and Algeria, which was an epic duel before Donovan scored the game winner of a shocking last gasp One-Nil victory in the 91st minute of play, one minute into the four minutes of stoppage time added…

 

Then one day after Team USA’s great win, 12 of the 16 Nations advancing to the round (Round 2) of Sixteen had been determined with Argentina, England, Ghana, Germany, Japan, Mexico, Netherlands, Paraguay, Slovakia, South Korea, Uruguay and USA having all survived the opening round robin Group matches, while Brazil, Chile, Portugal and Spain all clinched their Round 2 berths on Friday, the final day of Group play.

 

Yet its been a very interesting Tournament with many twists and turns along the way, as the defending (2006) Champions Italy were sent packing after the Group play, while the French made a mockery of themselves with uninspired play, a player F-Bombing his Coach during Halftime and the Team refusing to practice the following day… Definitely the disgrace of the World Cup Tournament, as at least England got its shenanigans out of the way prior to the World Cup commencing.

 

And there was North Korea allowing its country a rare chanced to watch their Team play live on television before being drubbed 7-0, having the telecast turned off and telling everybody to get back to wirk! As rival’s South Korea advanced to the round of sixteen…

 

Not to mention Switzerland’s stunner of defeating Spain 1-0 on apparently what was set-up by the Seattle Sounders FC’s newest player Blaise N’Kufo.

 

Thus it was off to another Pub early Saturday morning to catch what was to be another devastating defeat for Team USA vs. Ghana, who won 2-1 after scoring early in the first half of the 30 minutes Overtime. As ironically it was the very same African Team who knocked us out by the very same score four years ago, with Round Two’s most “Hyped” match-up surely being England vs. Germany. While the Japanese lost heartbreakingly in the Tourney’s first Sudden Death shootout 5-4 after playing 120 scoreless minutes against Paraguay.

 

The following teams have advanced to the Quarter Finals with Argentina, Brazil, Ghana, Germany, Netherlands, Paraguay, Spain and Uruguay playing this weekend in hopes of advancing to the Semi-finals…

 

~

 

With the Phoenix suns once again being eliminated from the Big Game, nee the National Basketball Association Finals between the LA Lakers and Boston Celtics, NBA All Star Steve Nash will now go to South Africa to attend the upcoming World Cup Soccer “Tourney’ instead, albeit working for CBS Sports by posting videos and Blog reports live from the scene.

You may recall that Nash is more then a casual observer of Football, nee Soccer, as he’s also part owner of the MLS Expansion Vancouver Whitecaps who’ll debut next year along with the expansion Portland Timbers Franchise.

And in what was to be a most intriguing “La-La Land” (Los Angeles) Grudge match during there respective squad’s very first game of their Groupings first round; featuring LA Galaxy’s David Beckham’s England vs. Landon Donovan’s USA, which also features the Team’s Coach Bob Bradley’s son Michael as a Midfielder…

Yet obviously Beckham will now only be an interested observer, having torn his ACL earlier this year while playing for AC Milan as training for the World Cup games. Although it’s just been announce that Beckham will now be Blogging for Yahoo Sports throughout the World Cup tournament.

Also of interest will be Argentina, whose fiery coach Diego Maradona is always an unknown X-factor, not to mention the other Usual Suspects of Brazil, Germany, Italy, Mexico, France, etc.

Of interest to Seattle Sounders FC Fanatics will be that the new Voice of the Sounders FC, Arlo White has been granted a last minute call-up from his ex-Employer, The BBC and will get his chance to fulfill his dream of calling a World Cup match when he covers a total of five first round matches for the BBC. Even better yet for White, is the fact that he’s been penciled-in for the Italy-New Zealand and Argentina-Greece matches, two of the perceived Powerhouses…

Action begins this weekend, with USA vs. England this Friday, June 11th, which may be available on your local Television stations?

~

 

Recently, after reluctantly returning for one final season of Major League Baseball, Ken Griffey Jr. also known previously as “The Kid,” upon his insertion into the MLB limelight as the Seattle Mariners Franchise savior at the tender age of 19, decided that he was no longer contributing to the game he so dearly loves, having become a distraction for the Mariners and announced his Ad Hoc retirement from the sport on Wednesday, June 2nd.

Interestingly, “Junior” has long been linked as the catalyst for the construction of Seattle’s Safeco Field, which is commonly known as “The House Griffey Built,” even though it failed to pass its initial Bond referendum, as voters unanimously voted NO upon approval of the State’s request to build it, as then Governor Gary Locke simply overrode the People’s wishes and went ahead anyways.

Thus Griffey leaves the game at the age of 40, after hitting a stellar 630 Home runs, leaving him currently fifth overall, along with not being one of the Sport’s countless Steroids abusers…

Yet for many longtime Western Washingtonians, Junior will always be indelibly linked to those Mega Mariners of Yesteryear, when the likes of Randy Johnson, Edgar Martinez, Jay Buhner and Alex Rodriguez just to name a few amazingly upset those pesky Pinstripes of the all conquering New York Yankees in the American League finals way back in 1995. As I recall this being the series that saw long time Mariners commentator Dave Niehaus coin his immortal phrase upon Griffey’s trifecta, exclaiming; “Get out the Rye bread and mustard Grandma, its Grand Salami time!” Upon The Kid having hit a Grand Slam, while another Niehaus classic is simply known as “My, Oh My!”

 

~

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

~

 

Phoenix didn’t look nearly as invincible as they had looked the previous 2 games as Portland came ready to play.  The Trailblazers also got a much needed lift from the VERY early return of superstar Brandon Roy.

 

Roy, who is just about a week out from knee surgery, made a surprising showing on the court and in the process gave Portland the extra lift and motivation they needed to take a tough game away from Phoenix.  Although Roy didn’t have an amazing game, scoring 10 points in 26 minutes, his presence just seemed to rejuvenate the Blazers after back-to-back blowout defeats.

 

The Suns and Trailblazers are now tied in the highly contested series as 2 games each.  The series is all set to resume on Monday, April 26th at 10:30 p.m. EST on TNT. NBA odds makers have Phoenix getting back out in front, listing the Suns as a 6 point favourite.

 

Look for Phoenix to come out with guns blazing for the next exciting matchup

 

~

 

The Phoenix Suns showed once again that the game one shellacking they endured in Phoenix may actually have been a fluke and not what is to be expected of them in the future.

 

The Suns, led by Amare Stoudemire and Jason Richardson showed the TrailBlazers that they are a force to be reckoned with.  Even on the road, the Suns were able to put the hurt on a reeling Portland team who is missing its best player, Brandon Roy.

 

Phoenix took off and never looked back racking up a 29 point lead at half time.  Portland clawed its way back in the second half getting withing about 15 points but the Suns were able to hold steady and show that they are the better team.

 

I look for the Suns to continue to dominate a team that is clearly inferior.

 

~

 

The Phoenix Suns showed that they still had some life left in them as they thoroughly trashed the Portland Trailblazers on April 2oth.  This second game of the series saw Phoenix come out with alot more energy.

 

Amare was able to play more like he has been down the stretch of the regular season.  Steve Nash was on his game too.  More importantly, Phoenix exuded the type of confidence that has made them such a tough team to beat in the late part of the regular season.

 

Phoenix looks to regain the edge in the series tonight as the Portland Trailblazers host the Phoenix Suns in Game 3 of the playoffs.

 

If Phoenix can take this game, it will definitely make many Suns fans breathe just a tad easier.

 

~

 

The Phoenix suns stumbled and then fell down as they lost a critical game 1 of the NBA playoffs to the Portland Trailblazers at home in Phoenix, Arizona on Sunday.

With this loss, Phoenix became the only home team to lose the first NBA playoff game this season.

 

Interestingly, the loss came against a Portland team who had just lost their best player, Brandon Roy, to a season ending injury.  Without Roy, the Trailblazers were expected by some to be a pushover for the powerful suns.

 

But is was not so as Marcus Camby and Andre Miller were able to shut down Amare Stoudemire and control Steve Nash to put the Suns at a distinct disadvantage for the rest of this series.

 

If the Suns are to stand any chance of redemption, Amare will need to start playing like he has been late this season and not let them take him out of the game so easily.

The Suns play tomorrow night in game two and I expect they should come out with a little more intensity.

 

***