My job commenced with gold teeth, ended with gold jacket

CANTON, Ohio (AP) — From bone-rattling tacklers Troy Polamalu, Steve Atwater and Cliff Harris to previous Arizona Cardinals jogging back again Edgerrin James to the move-catching brilliance of Isaac Bruce and Harold Carmichael, the Pro Soccer Corridor of Fame course of 2020 has something for all people.

James experienced the very best line of the night time. Following opening his gold jacket to be aware he was “inmate No. 336 in the Hall of Fame,” the gentleman Peyton Manning called “the most effective teammate I at any time played with” concluded with: “My occupation started with gold tooth and finished with this gold jacket.”

“My occupation commenced with gold teeth, and finished with this Gold Jacket.” – Edgerrin James

?: #PFHOF20 Enshrinement on @nflnetwork pic.twitter.com/f19VikWrKJ

— NFL (@NFL) August 7, 2021

Incorporate in blocking dynamos Steve Hutchinson and Jim Covert, Metal Curtain stalwart protection Donnie Shell and these types of as leaders as former NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue and coaches Invoice Cowher and Jimmy Johnson.

They all entered the hall Saturday night time, a 12 months late due to the COVID-19 pandemic, still just as satisfying.

“If you advised me following I graduated from the University of Michigan that I’d be excited standing in Ohio in the middle of August,” Hutchinson joked, “…to me, there is no place superior than Canton, Ohio.”

Absolutely all 12 adult males enshrined on this night felt that way.

“I am humbled and honored to use this gold jacket,” Atwater said prior to looking all around at the other Corridor of Famers on the phase. “What a group we have up listed here.”

In fact.

Polamalu experienced a 12-time career stuffed with amazing performances, management and, perfectly, profitable with the Steelers. The 16th in general draft select in 2003 from Southern California, he performed in three Tremendous Bowls, successful two, and manufactured the NFL’s 2000s Staff of the Decade.

“I really like football. It was my total existence as extended as I can don’t forget,” stated Polamalu, who missed festivities earlier this week soon after testing good for COVID-19 he was medically cleared to go to Saturday. The group of 18,383 cheered prolonged and loud for him, delaying his speech.

He then talked about the “willingness to force outside of what the brain claims is achievable for the human body. Football challenged me mentally, bodily and spiritually. I experienced to realize success to quench this need.”

Atwater, who gained two Super Bowls with Denver, may well have been the most actual physical defensive back of his era, just as the Cowboys’ Harris and Shell could possibly have been in theirs.

Shell was a linebacker at South Carolina Condition who went undrafted, was shifted to security in Pittsburgh and became a tackling equipment. With veterans on strike in his rookie calendar year of 1974, Shell manufactured such an impact that coach Chuck Noll inserted him as a beginning basic safety. He expended 14 seasons as a fixture for the Steelers.

With hundreds of Awful Towels waving, Shell identified Steeler Nation and then explained of getting an undrafted free of charge agent from South Carolina Condition, “When information get in the way of your intention, you have to go in opposition to the grain to realize your intention.”

It was a huge night for Pittsburgh as Shell, Polamalu and Cowher were enshrined as Steelers, and Covert went to Pitt, in which he blocked for Dan Marino.

“What a weekend for the Pittsburgh Steelers,” Cowher said as Horrible Towels waved all through the stadium. “It is unbelievable to me to go in the Hall of Fame with two fellas you drafted: Troy Polamalu and Alan Faneca. Also with Donnie Shell and the late, fantastic Bill Nunn.”

Cowher also paid out tribute to “the only head mentor I at any time worked for,” the late Marty Schottenheimer, predicting “one day you will be in the Corridor of Fame.”

Hutchinson was a five-time All-Pro and member of the NFL 2000s All-10 years Team. Alongside with potent function as a pass protector, he opened holes for rushers who averaged just under 1,400 yards and 14 touchdowns a time.

Immediately after joking about possibly becoming not comfortable in Hall of Fame Stadium, Hutchinson then informed his son not to “fear failure but fear to have not specified my all.”

Tagliabue frequently was passed about for the corridor, but his resume as a commissioner is remarkable. He was faced with these types of obstacles as the outbreak of the Gulf War to 9/11 to Hurricane Katrina all through his stewardship from 1989-2006. His capabilities at beating individuals exams, holding labor peace, guiding the NFL through enlargement, drastically rising revenues and helping go the Rooney Rule have led to his induction into the Pro Football Corridor of Fame as section of the centennial course.

“This is like a aspiration come legitimate,” Tagliabue stated. “The centennial class spans professional soccer heritage.”

Carmichael dominated defensive backs with his 6-foot-8, 225-pound sizing and excellent fingers. The Eagles star from 1971-83 had 3 1,000-lawn seasons in an era when the passing video game was not as distinguished as it is currently. He averaged a landing each individual 7 1/2 catches and built the NFL 1970s All-Ten years Group. Carmichael was the league’s Person of the Yr in 1980.

“Whew, Toddler,” Carmichael said when his bust was revealed. “I am so, so honored to be a element of this brotherhood, this fraternity, with really like. What a journey.”

Bruce identified his 14 siblings throughout his speech.

“Coming from the heart tonight,” Bruce claimed. He then spoke of “the defensive backs that baptized me — and the types I baptized.”

Manning will be enshrined Sunday night alongside with the other members of the Class of 2021: Charles Woodson, Calvin Johnson, Faneca, John Lynch, Tom Flores, Drew Pearson and Nunn.