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Making a name for himself Overlooked Buoniconti finally gets spot in Hall of Fame
CANTON, Ohio (AP) -- Nick Buoniconti's name was never called in the NFL Draft. Later he played for the "No-Name Defense" in Miami. Now, after being bypassed for selection for years, Buoniconti will finally have his name engraved on a bust at the Pro Football Hall of Fame. He will be inducted Saturday along with coach Marv Levy, offensive linemen Mike Munchak, Jackie Slater and Ron Yary, wide receiver Lynn Swann and defensive end Jack Youngblood. The road from overlooked collegian to the top player on the only unbeaten team in NFL history has left Buoniconti groping for a way to thank everyone when he steps to the podium on the front steps of the hall. "There's so much I'm grateful for," said Buoniconti, who was selected by a seniors committee after he failed for 15 years to garner enough votes for induction. "They give you seven minutes, supposedly. I can't say my name in seven minutes." He will receive help from his son, Marc, who will present his father in what promises to be a memorable moment. Marc was paralyzed from the neck down in a football accident in 1985. The Buoniconti family has worked tirelessly ever since -- raising around $10 million annually over the last 15 years -- in an effort to find a cure for paralysis. "It's just a matter of time," Marc said of the quest for reaching that goal. It was just a matter of time until Buoniconti received the acclaim he missed early in his professional career. An All-American at Notre Dame, Buoniconti was dismissed as too small and was passed over in the draft by every NFL team. He waited until the 13th round to finally be selected by the AFL's Boston Patriots.
Buoniconti flourished in seven seasons with the Patriots and was later named to the AFL's all-time team. He is best known, however, as the cornerstone of the Dolphins' perfect season in 1972. "I take great pride in the fact that I'm wearing the only ring in the history of the NFL that signifies that we had an undefeated season," said Buoniconti, who has been an analyst on HBO's "Inside the NFL" for the past 23 seasons. "That's a special club, that Hall of Fame club, and he certainly belongs," said his coach in Miami, fellow club member Don Shula. Levy is remembered as the coach of the only team to make it to four straight Super Bowls -- and to lose every time. Levy averaged 10 wins a year in his 11 1/2 seasons with the Bills, believes those four losses -- one on a tantalizingly close missed field goal on the final play -- simply showed the mental toughness of his team. "It takes tremendous qualities of character to get so disappointed, to get so knocked down, and then to pick yourself up and then go through all the hard work and dedication it takes to get back there," he said. "It was a very resilient group, guys who stuck together." Munchak, Slater and Yary labored as dominant blockers on great teams. They also received their share of individual honors, too. Munchak was named first- or second-team All-Pro 10 times for the Houston Oilers. Slater played 20 superlative seasons with the Rams -- still an NFL record for longevity with one team. Yary was All-Pro six times and All-NFC eight straight seasons from 1970-77 with the Minnesota Vikings. "I could have been better at basketball, but it wasn't physical enough," Yary said. "I loved being knocked down as much as knocking someone down." Swann saved his best for the big games with the Pittsburgh Steelers dynasty of the 1970s. In the Steelers' 21-17 Super Bowl victory in 1975, he had four receptions for 161 yards, including a 64-yard catch and run that provided the winning score. In 14 years with the Rams, Youngblood was All-NFC eight times and was the league's defensive MVP in 1975. Youngblood, Swann and Munchak will each be presented by former teammates: fellow Hall of Famer Merlin Olsen, John Stallworth and Bruce Matthews, respectively. Yary's line coach at Minnesota, John Michels, will introduce him, while Slater will be presented by his coach with the Rams, John Robinson. Levy selected longtime friend and Indianapolis Colts president Bill Polian to make his presentation speech. The new inductees will also be introduced during Monday night's annual Hall of Fame exhibition game between the Dolphins and St. Louis Rams.
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