LT gets
the OK
Linebacker, 4 others elected to Hall of Fame
Posted: Saturday January 30, 1999 09:40 PM
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A three-time choice as Defensive Player of the Year, Taylor led the N.Y. Giants to two Super Bowl victories AP |
MIAMI (AP) -- Lawrence Taylor was right. His election to the Pro Football
Hall of Fame really was a no-brainer.
The troubled linebacker was a first-ballot choice Saturday, voted into the
Canton, Ohio, shrine along with Eric Dickerson, Tom Mack, Ozzie Newsome and
old-timer Billy Shaw.
Induction ceremonies are scheduled for Aug. 7.
Taylor's candidacy was a topic of controversy throughout Super Bowl week.
He was suspended once and arrested twice on drug charges, was found guilty
of filing false income tax returns and was questioned by a grand jury
investigating organized crime.
| L.T.'s Hall of Fame statement: |
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I am humbled by being elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame. As I have
said, I feel like it is the ultimate award for playing the game that I love
so much and gave so much. I appreciate the debate and the consideration
that was given to my nomination. Ultimately, this honor has to do with how
I played the game. Obviously, the majority of the committee felt the same
way. It doesn't always come across, but I do appreciate the well
wishes and concerns of my family, my friends and my former teammates. It
means a great deal to me. It truly does. I want to thank my
coaches, especially Bill Parcells, my teammates and the Giants ownership,
especially Mr. [Wellington] Mara. I would not be receiving this honor if it
weren't for them. Finally, I thank the Giants fans. When the
Giants organization retired my jersey, I said this then and I'll say it
now: There always has been and will be a Lawrence Taylor, but without the
fans, there would never have been an LT."
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All of those things weighed against him in minds of some of the 36 writers
on the voting panel, even though, unlike baseball, there are no "good
citizenship" requirements in the bylaws of football's hall. It prompted a
longer-than-usual debate by the voters.
When he learned of his induction, Taylor said he was humbled by the
decision.
"I feel like it is the ultimate reward for playing the game I love so much
and gave so much," he said. "I appreciate the debate and the consideration
that was given to my nomination. Ultimately, this honor has to do with how
I played the game. Obviously, the majority of the committee felt the same
way."
Earlier this week, Taylor offered no apologies for his checkered past.
"I don't apologize for anything," Taylor said. "There are some things in
all our lives we wish we could change. Unfortunately, we can't do that.
"I don't worry about the choices I made. When my days are over I'll have
to answer for everything I've done."
Taylor had the endorsement of NFL commissioner Paul Tagliabue.
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Running back Eric Dickerson is most proud of the 1,808 yards he rumbled for as a Rams rookie AP |
"The Hall is about performance on the field," Tagliabue said Friday.
"Lawrence was one of the greatest players ever; he changed the way the game
is played. I think the public understands that by making a judgment on what
he did on the field, you're not judging what he did off it."
Taylor, star linebacker for the New York Giants from
1981-93, was the dominant defensive player of his time. A three-time choice
as Defensive Player of the Year, he was the NFL's most valuable player in
1986 and was selected for a record 10 consecutive Pro Bowls. He finished
his career with 132.5 sacks, not including 9.5 recorded in 1981 before
sacks became and official statistic.
Taylor needed support from 80 percent of the voters present. Final votes
were not announced.
The list of 15 candidates was first reduced to seven finalists. Of those
seven, only Pittsburgh
Steelers receiver Lynn Swann and Oakland Raiders defensive
lineman Howie Long were not elected.
Others eliminated early in the process were coaches George Allen and Marv
Levy, Pittsburgh Steelers owner Dan Rooney, defensive end Carl Eller,
punter Ray Guy, wide receiver John Stallworth, tackle Ron Yary and
defensive end Jack Youngblood.
Dickerson, who ran for a record 2,105 yards in 1984 wound up third on the
career rushing list with 13,259.
Dickerson said that while many consider his record rushing season his
greatest accomplishment, he is prouder of his 1,808 yards as a rookie.
"As I look back on it, you get one shot to get that rookie record," he
said. "I came in as an unproven player in my first year and did that."
Mack was an 11-time Pro Bowl choice when he played for the Los Angeles
Rams and one of the best blocking guards of his generation. He played in
184 consecutive games, never missing a game in his 13-year career.
"It's truly exciting to literally feel like you're going back home," said
Mack, who was born in Cleveland, about an hour away from Canton.
It was the last year of candidacy for Mack, who thought his eligibility
expired last year.
Newsome, tops all tight ends in receptions with 662 catches for 7,980
yards and 47 touchdowns in 13 seasons with the Cleveland Browns. He had
back-to-back 89-catch seasons in 1983 and 1984 and played in 197
consecutive games.
Newsome was elected after reaching the finals three times and missing each
of those years.
"The longer it takes to get in, the more you appreciate it," he said.
"Last year, getting into the final six or seven, that last hour was a real
tough wait."
Shaw, a guard, played nine seasons with the Buffalo Bills and made pro
football's All-Decade team of the '60s and the all-time AFL team.
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