The newest members of the Pro Football Hall of Fame are Bruce Smith, the all time sack leader, Rod Woodson, the best defensive back in his era, and Randall McDaniel, one of the most consistent and powerful offensive linemen ever, the late Derrick Thomas, as dominating a pass rusher as the league has ever seen, Ralph Wilson Jr., an original owner of the Buffalo Bills in the American Football League who forced the merger with the NFL, and the late Bob Hayes, Olympian, Super Bowl Champion and game changer.
Hayes is the only man to win an Olympic Gold Medal and a Super Bowl ring. Having set the world record for the 100 yard dash here in St. Louis at the old Public School Stadium at age 17, Hayes went on to the 1964 Olympics in Tokyo to win the gold.
Upon his return he signed with the Dallas Cowboys. That’s when the game as we knew it changed.
Because of his blazing speed, few if anyone could cover him one on one, especially when the hash marks on the field at the time were spread out so wide. If Hayes lined up on the wide side of the field, someone was about to have a problem, hence the 20 yards per catch average Hayes had that still stands as the best ever in the NFL. It also resulted in him still being the all time leader in touchdown receptions for the Dallas Cowboys.
Game changer? The hash marks have since been move in to the position we see them today on the field. Bob Hayes also is why there is a zone defense as we know it today. Even when the hash marks were moved in to take away the wide side of the field, there were still few who could cover Hayes one on one, which is why help was provided by the safety downfield.
There was an unfortunate aspect of Hayes’ life that saw him spend ten months in jail. Some think that may be a reason why it took so long for him to be enshrined. Thankfully the selection committee saw fit to say now is the time.
While Bob Hayes has been dead for six years (liver cancer claimed him) and thus will not be able to speak at the ceremony in Canton, Ohio in August, Hayes will continue to be heard every time there is a football game. His impact shall never be forgotten.
Warner a Hall of Famer??
The dumbest question followed by argument on talk radio is that of Kurt Warner being Hall of Fame-eligible. Silly, considering he is still playing. Sillier that one would think that winning a Super Bowl would be the clinching moment.
At last check this is a team sport, so if Kurt had a better left tackle blocking perhaps he would have been part of a last-second drive that would have had a better result than what we saw on Sunday.
If Kurt or anyone else doesn’t get blocking up front, then you may as well put the Hall of Fame talk on the back burner until he is retired for five years. That way we will have a better idea how good the pass protection would have been for him to put up numbers. Get it?
Tomlin vindicates Rooney Rules
With the Pittsburgh Steelers winning the Super Bowl, there were many things that may now be put to rest with regard to the “what ifs?”
Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin was the youngest head coach to win a Super Bowl – younger than Shula, Parcells, Belechick and all the others who made their marks on the NFL at young ages. But the question remains what if?
What if Steelers owner Dan Rooney would have acted like his owner buddies or, even worse, the commissioner had acted like all was good with the NFL when it came to its hiring practices?
What if Rooney had stayed in the background and not put his name on the Rooney rules which allow for more minority participation in the interview process for head coaches in the NFL?
What if Rooney had not put his name and reputation where his mouth is and hired Tomlin over the popular choice in then offensive coordinator for the Steelers Ken Whisenhunt?
What if Rooney had just stayed quiet and hired the so called heir apparent for the job?
Tomlin at the time had one year of experience as a defensive coordinator. He was 34 years old and considered too young for the job Thank goodness Rooney talked to Tomlin to find out what an impressive and engaging person he can be. For his reward he gets his sixth Super Bowl trophy and a coach who can follow in the line of Knoll and Cowher.