The Tampa Tribune from Tampa, Florida • 38

4 SPORTS SUNDAY. FEBRUARY 5. 2006 THE TAMPA TRIBUNE TB0.com NFL Kali Class Of 06 A Classy 6 HALL OF FAME INDUCTEES A capsule look at those chosen for induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in August: QB TROY AIKMAN Getty Images Celebrating the NFL Hall of Fame class, are, from left: Troy Aikman; John Madden; Sara White, widow of Reggie White; Warren Moon; and Rayfield Wright. CARSON, WRIGHT, MADDEN FINALLY IN HALL OF FAME By ROY CUMMINGS rcuininingslampatrib.com DETROIT When they gathered in a ballroom at Super Bowl XL headquarters early Saturday morning, there was a feeling among the 39 members of the Pro Football Hall of Fame voting committee that it was time to right a great wrong. It had been 13 years since former New York Giants linebacker Harry had first become eligible for Hall consideration and the belief among the electors was they'd passed on Carson and a couple other nominees for far too long.

"The feeling was, we can't just keep pushing these people back," said committee member Rick Gosselin, the NFL writer for The Dallas Morning News. "There was Harry Carson, Rayfield Wright; we just felt like we had to start getting these guys in." They're in now. Carson and Wright, the former Cowboys tackle who was in his 22nd year of eligibility, joined Quarterbacks Troy Aikman and Warren Moon, defensive end Reggie White and former Raiders coach John Madden in the Flail of Fame's Class of 2006. Considered but not elected from the group of 15 finalists were defensive ends L.C. Greenwood and Claude Humphrey, guards Russ Grimm and Bob Kuechenberg, wide receivers Michael Irvin and Art Monk, linebacker Derrick Thomas, running back Thur-man Thomas and tackle Gary Zimmerman.

Kuechenberg has now gone 17 years without earning the committee's nod while Humphrey and Greenwood have waited 20 years. According to Gosselin, it probably won't be long before those three and the others receive the requisite number of votes needed for election. "This was one of the strongest fields of finalists we've ever had," Gosselin said. "You could have taken any six guys from that group and had a representative class. Eventually I think all 15 of this year's finalists will get in." "This was the strongest field I've ever seen," said Bergen Record NFL writer Vinny Ditrani, a committee member since 1999 and Carson's nominator.

"I hope the strength of the field that Harry made it in with will make up for all the disappointment." Before this year Carson twice made the group of six finalists that are voted on for election to the Hall. The snubs upset him so much that before last year's vote he became critical of the voting process and requested that his name be taken off the ballot. Carson's reaction to his election was not immediately known. Hall officials attempted repeatedly to contact Carson but were unable to reach him. The other five members of the 2006 class were either present or were Dungy Still Can Count His Blessings COACH SEES LESSONS IN GRIEF TOR SON JAMES By MARTIN FENNELLY mfennellytampatrib.com DETROIT It wasn't the Super Bowl he'd dreamed about coaching in the big game, with his oldest son on the sideline.

But Indianapolis Colts coach Tony Dungy counted his blessings Saturday in an emotional speech at a Christian athletes breakfast in Detroit, where Super Bowl XL will be played tonight. Dungy, speaking three weeks after the Colts were eliminated from the playoffs and 44 days after James Dungy, 18, took his own life, had many in the crowd sniffling. "I just wish I wasn't here in this capacity so many times," said Dungy, a regular at die annual Super Bowl breakfast who hasn't taken a team to the Super Bowl as a head coach. "My goal is to have our team here one day, and have our guys here at a couple of tables, because they're good Christian men." Dungy followed Jets running back Curtis Martin, who was presented with the Bart Starr Award, given annually to die NFL player who best exemplifies character and leadership. When Dungy finished, he was hugged by award namesake Starr, the Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame quarterback who also lost a son to drugs in 1988.

In Tampa. Dungy talked of his diree sons. His youngest, 5-year-old Jordan, suffers from a congenital disorder, insensi-tivity to pain, which Dungy said isn't the blessing you'd diink. "Pain is necessary for kids to find out the difference between what's good and what harms them," Dungy said. "We've also learned diat pain helps your body heal." Then he came to James.

"He was by far the most sensitive, the most compassionate of all our boys," Dungy said. "He was always looking around for that person who needed help. "Like most teenage boys today, James was getting a lot of mixed signals from the world, from TV, movies, magazines. He was struggling very much to learn how to deal with those signals." Dungy said good has come of this. "The day after the funeral I met a man who'd been there, and he told me, 1 took off from work today.

I called my son and said, 'I'm going to take you to die movies, spend some time with That was a real blessing to me. "We were able to donate some of James' organs. We got a letter two weeks ago, saying that two people have received his corneas, and now they can see." Dungy said his grief is still there. But there was a lesson in that. "If God had a conversation with me and said, can help some people see, I can heal relationships, can save some give some people eternal life, but I have to take your I know what I would tell him.

'No, I'm "And that's the awesome thing about God. He had that choice, and he said, 'Yes, I'm going to do 2,000 years ago, with his son Jesus on the cross." CAREER: 1989-2000, Dallas Cowboys. 12 seasons, 165 games. NOTABLE: Cowboys' I i first-round pick (No. 1 overall) in 1989 draft Earned All-Rookie honors.

Led team to three Super Bowl wins, was game MVP in 1993. Closed career with 94 regular-season wins, including 90 in 1990s, making him winningest starting quarterback of any decade. Held or tied 47 Dallas passing records, including career attempts completions passing yards touchdowns (165) and completion percentage (6L5). Led Cowboys from behind 16 times in fourth quarter, including six times in final two minutes. His four 300-yard playoff passing days were third-best in NFL history.

Picked for six Pro Bowls. LB HARRY CARSON CAREER: 1976-88 New York Giants. 13 seasons, 173 games. NOTABLE: Giants' fourth-round pick in 1976 draft. Became Giants' starting middle linebacker halfway through rookie season.

Earned All-Rookie honors. Led Giants defenders in tackles five seasons. Had career-high performance in 1982 vs. Green Bay with 20 solo tackles and five assists. Was a part of the famed Giants' linebacker trio of Carson, Lawrence Taylor and Carl Banks.

A big-play performer, his interception and 12 tackles vs. Redskins in 1986 virtually assured Giants of NFC East title. Made key goal-line stand play in 1987 Super Bowl against Broncos. Selected to play in nine Pro Bowls, including seven straight (1982-1988). COACH JOHN MADDEN CAREER: 1969-1978 Oakland Raiders.

NOTABLE: Regular-season record of 103-32-7. Postseason record of 9-7. Seniors Committee nominee. Led team to victory in the 1977 Super Bowl. Began pro coaching career as Raiders assistant, 1967-1968.

Became one of youngest head coaches in history when Raiders hired him in 1969 at age 32. His .759 winning percentage during regular season ranks as highest ever among coaches with 100 career victories. Only Hall of Famers George Halas and Curly Lambeau reached 100 career wins at earlier age. Under Madden, Oakland never had losing record and claimed seven division titles and had eight playoff appearances. QB WARREN MOON CAREER: 1984-1993 Houston Oilers, 1994-1996 Minnesota Vikings, 1997-1998 Seattle Sea-hawks, 1999-2000 Kansas City Chiefs.

17 seasons, 208 games. NOTABLE: Began pro career with CFL's Edmonton Eskimos (1978-1983), winning five straight Grey Cups. Signed with the Oilers as unrestricted free agent in 1984. In NFL career, completed 3,988 of 6,823 passes for 49,325 yards, 291 touchdowns, 233 interceptions. Rushed 543 times for 1,736 yards and 22 TDs, giving him 51,061 yards of total offense.

At retirement, pass attempts, completions, yardage totals and total offense totals all ranked third all-time, and 291 career touchdown passes were fourth. Holds record for quarterbacks with eight straight Pro Bowl selections 1988-1995, added ninth in 1997. Had four passing seasons. DEDT REGGIE WHITE CAREER: 1985-1992 Philadelphia Eagles, 1993-1998 Green Bay Packers, 2000 Carolina Panthers. 15 seasons, 232 games.

NOTABLE: Selected in the first round (fourth player overall) of 1984 supplemental draft. Nicknamed "Minister of Defense," joined Eagles after two years with USFL's Memphis Showboats. During eight seasons with Eagles recorded more sacks (124) than games played (121). In 1987, recorded 21 sacks, second-most in NFL history at the time. Became only player to accumulate 20 or more sacks in just 12 games.

His 1.75 average sacks per game in that season was also a record. In 1993, went to Green Bay and recorded another 68.5 sacks, becoming Packers' all-time sack leader. A dominant defensive performer, at time of retirement his 198 sacks were NFL record. Important contributor to Packers' two Super Bowl appearances. Chosen the NFL Defensive Player of the Year in 1987 and 1998.

Elected to 13 straight Pro Bowls. Picked All-Pro 13 of 15 seasons, including 10 as first-team selection. Died Dec. 26. 2004 at age 43.

OT RAYFIELD WRIGHT CAREER: 1967-1979 Dallas Cowboys. 13 seasons. 166 games. NOTABLE: Selected by Cowboys in seventh round of 1967 draft. Seniors Committee nominee.

Used as a tight end, defensive end and offensive tackle during first three seasons. In 1969, replaced injured riqht tackle Ralph Neely in lineup, Known as 'Big Cat," picked for Pro Bowl six consecutive times (1971-1976). Helped Cowboys to 10 division titles, six conference championships and two Super Bowl victories. Played in five Super Bowls. 77ie Assotuilcd i'ress first year of eligibility.

Moon, meanwhile, became the first black quarterback to reach the Hall of Fame. "All the guys who played before me as African-Americans share this with me," Moon said. "I don't want to make this a racial thing, but this is significant. It will show that we've arrived at the pinnacle of our sport." Doug Williams, a former Buc who became the first black quarterback to earn a Super Bowl MVP award, was on hand for Moon's election. He likened it to his MVP election but hoped Moon would be remembered simply for being a great player.

"Don't look at it as a black and white thing, just look at die numbers," said Williams, who won his MVP award for leading the Redskins to a Super Bowl title in 1988. "If guys like Jim Kelly, Dan Marino and Dan Fouts are in the Hall of Fame, then Warren Moon should be there." Like Moon and Aikman, White earned election in his first year of eligibility. An ordained minister who was known as the "Minister of Defense," he played 15 seasons with the Eagles, Packers and Panthers, and was named to the All-Pro team 13 times. "It would have meant a lot to him to have been elected to this group because he respected the men who came before him, die men who played for pennies," said White's widow Sara. Wright, who was moved from tight end to tackle shortly after being drafted by the Cowboys in 1967, earned first- or second-team All-NFL honors in six consecutive seasons from 1971-76.

During his career, the Cowboys won 10 division titles, six conference crowns and two Super Bowls. "I am totally honored to be standing here today," Wright said. "I'm overwhelmed and honored." but I voted for Carson once he reached the final group because he was a very good player for a long period of time. In reducing the field from 15 to 10, my ballot listed Aikman, Madden, Moon, White, guard Russ Grimm, wide receiver Michael Irvin, guard Bob Kuechenberg, wide receiver Art Monk, running back Thurman Thomas and tackle Gary Zimmerman. My first cut eliminated Carson, Wright, linebacker Derrick Thomas and defensive ends L.C.

Greenwood and Claude I lumphrey. But when the list of 10 was announced, ('arson, Wright and I lumphrey were still standing while Grimm, Monk anil Zimmerman failed to survive-. Another round of discussion ensued before the field was reduced to six. 1 kept Aikman, Irvin, Kuechenberg, Madden, White and Thurman Thomas, but only three advanced. I wanted to sec Aikman and Irvin enter the 1 lall together, with Fmmitt Smith sure to follow in a few years to complete the Big Three of the (lowboys.

Irvin couldn't survive that second cut in his second year of eligibility, so he's likely to be back before us in 2007, when the competition might he less keen. According to the bylaws, our responsibility is to judge a player's performance, not his character. I lis body of work is hat counts, if a selector disagreed with Irvin lifestyle, that should have had no beating on Saturday's vote. 1 le made my final six, but Irvin failed to generate enough widespread support in the room. That poses an interesting question: If Aikman is a first-ballot Hall of I amer, who was lie throwing to all those years' Hall Of Fame Voting A Daunting Task The Associated Press file photo (1997) Defensive end Reggie White, who died in 2004, was voted into the Hall in his first year of eligibility.

represented by a family member at the Hall ceremony. "I was coming over here and I was saying, 'They can't take this away from me now, can said Madden, who was in his 27di year of eligibility. "You talk about someone who really appreciates this, thank you, thank you, thank you." Madden, who guided die Raiders to a 32-14 victory against the Vikings in Super Bowl XI, finished his 10-year career with die highest winning percentage among coaches with 100 or more victories. He was elected as a coach, but electors said other factors weighed into their decision. "We were supposed to consider him only as a coach, but what can't be ignored is die impact he's had on the game since then," Gosselin said of Madden, a broadcaster whose name is die title of a popular video football game.

"He's been the face of the NFL for the last 30 years." Aikman has moved into the broadcast boodi, too, but the three-time Super Bowl champion and holder of 47 Cowboys passing records reached the I lall solely because of the work he did on the field. It was die same for Moon, who along with Aikman was elected in his A IRA KAUFMAN Nil. lamp.Hr ih.inm Aikman, both eligible for the first time. White might be the best defensive lineman in league history, and Aikman led the Cowboys to three Super Bowl titles in a four-year span. Like Aikman, Warren Moon was another quarterback in his first year of eligibility.

Unlike the first pick in the 1989 draft, Moon didn't own a Super Bowl ring, and he was 28 before arriving in the NT with the woeful 1984 Oilers. The more you delved into Moon's accomplishments, the better he looked, even if you didn't consider he won five championships in the Canadian Football eague. I le made nine Pro Bowls in 17 NFL seasons, serving as an inspiring figure for the outstanding black quarterbacks to come. The Canton doors finally swung open for Giants linebacker I larry Carson, another nine-time Pro Bowler. Once again, I needed to be convinced of Carson's credentials as an elite performer.

When I asked why Carson led the Giants in tat kles only five times in his seasons when he made his reputation as a run-stuffer, I was advised by several voters that individual tackle totals is a subjective category, thus unreliable as a gauge of a player's effectiveness. In my judgment, there were at ast six other andidates more descrvinc "57 ETROIT One by one, the 39 selectors sequestered inside a hotel ballroom came to the same inescapable conclusion this was one heck of a list. A strong case could have been made for electing all 15 Pro Football 1 fall of Fame finalists into the Can-ion, Ohio, shrine, but only six are allowed entrance in any given year. Whittling the list down to 10, and then to six, proved an imposing challenge in my second year on the panel. In the end, I voted yes for each of the final six candidates, but we were not told the results as we left the room after five hours of deliberation.

The two senior candidates, Oakland coach lolin Madden and Dallas right tackle Rayfield Wright, were particularly compelling. They had boili been passed up for many years, well before I replaced Tom Mel-wen as the Tampa Bay representative in 2005. After Ira Miller of the San Francisco Chronicle presented Madden's credentials, I finally asked for the microphone for the first time to address my fellow electors. "I can't see much debate on John Madden," I said "Coaches are judged by wins, and this guy has the highest winning pert entage of any oat in Ni l. history with at least 100 victories." I his was probably going to be the last chance for Wright, who retired alter the l')79 season with six Pro howl appcarant es.

Somebody was doing some powerful blot king for Roger Staubach, I inane I homas and Tony Dorsett, and Wiight is worthy candidate, although I had other offensive linemen rated ahead of him. I heir was absolutely no the I lall of Fame re ('nih il oi Rrt'i'ie White or 'J rov r4 Images Colts coach Tony Dungy was one of the speakers at a Christian athletes breakfast in Detroit on Saturday..