Tag: Hall of Fame

Dennis Smith will present Steve Atwater at Hall of Fame ceremony

Dennis Smith will serve at Steve Atwater’s presenter during the 2020 Pro Football Hall of Fame induction ceremony.

Dennis Smith was an established veteran with two Pro Bowl nods and two first-team All-Pro selections when the Broncos drafted Steve Atwater in the first round of the 1989 NFL draft. Smith quickly became a mentor for Atwater and the two safeties became one of the best DB duos in the NFL.

Smith and Atwater combined to record 54 interceptions and 20 sacks during their careers, earning 14 Pro Bowl selections along the way. Both players are now in the Broncos’ Ring of Fame.

After being voted into to the Pro Football Hall of Fame last week, Atwater revealed during a press conference Thursday that Smith will serve as his presenter in Canton, Ohio next summer.

“Dennis was the guy I had in my mind all along just because when I came into the league, he really spent a lot of time getting me up to speed and sharing things with me as a player that I never would have known,” Atwater said. “How to go about the game, the right mindset to have, and then just watching him play.

“Seeing how fast he played and how fearless he was when he went in to make tackles or make an interception when he covered one on one. He was great in man-to-man coverage, too. He played some slot corner for a while as a 6-3, 205-pound safety. That takes some skills to do that.”

Atwater is the eighth Bronco to enter the Hall of Fame and he hopes that Smith will one day join him. If not for Smith, Atwater might not be Canton-bound himself.

“I just learned so much from him,” Atwater said. “It’s a small way for me to say thank you for how much time he spent getting me up to speed and inspiring me. Just watching him play, it was inspiring.”

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Notre Dame Basketball: Mooney Nominated for Malone Award

John Mooney has made his mark as one of the top power forwards in Notre Dame history, and now, he has a chance to make his mark on the position nationally. The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame has named Mooney one of 10 nominees for this …

John Mooney has made his mark as one of the top power forwards in Notre Dame history, and now, he has a chance to make his mark on the position nationally. The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame has named Mooney one of 10 nominees for this year’s Karl Malone Power Forward of the Year Award. Recent winners of the award include Zion Williamson, Deandre Ayton and Montrezl Harrell.

This is the sixth year the Malone Award, which honors the top power forward in NCAA Division I men’s basketball, has been given out. A watch list of 20 candidates was determined in October, and the remaining 10 finalists will be cut to five in March. The winner will be announced at the College Basketball Awards on April 10 along with the other four members of the Men’s Starting Five.

Mooney is the only ACC player on the list. However, players can play themselves on and off the list at any point during the season.

Broncos legend Steve Atwater looks back on famous hit on Christian Okoye

During the 1990 NFL season, Broncos safety Steve Atwater delivered a massive hit on Chiefs running back Christian Okoye.

(via NFL)

After he was voted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame on Saturday, former Broncos safety Steve Atwater was asked about the most famous play of his career: a massive hit on ex-Chiefs running back Christian Okoye on “Monday Night Football” during the 1990 NFL season.

“That story may have to come up a little more now,” Atwater said on Feb. 1. “It was again I think inspired by [former teammate] Dennis Smith. He was my guy, my strong safety. In meetings we’d just look at film and talk about how we were going to attack him. Fortunately, I had the opportunity and it turned out well.

“I’ve been in other games with some guys who probably weren’t as big as Christian Okoye was, but I’d go up and hit them and they got me — they get the best of me. Definitely, the timing was right and I was fortunate I came out on the good side of that.”

Okoye was listed as 253 pounds during his playing days, 33 pounds more than Atwater’s listed weight. That didn’t stop the safety from delivering a massive hit on the running back that would have gone viral in today’s social media age. It was one of the most memorable hits in NFL history.

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Steve Atwater hopes Randy Gradishar will join him in Hall of Fame

Broncos legend Steve Atwater wants to see Randy Gradishar join him in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

After retired safety Steve Atwater was voted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame on Saturday, he spoke with media members in Miami about his career and who he hopes will join him in Canton.

“I’m hoping Randy Gradishar of course can get in,” Atwater said, via a quote sheet from the Broncos. “We’ve got a lot of guys that are on the slate. Karl [Mecklenburg] probably be in the seniors pool. Of course, Dennis Smith — hopefully in the future we can get more guys in. I think it certainly helps to have more guys in than with fewer.”

Of the three players Atwater mentioned, Gradishar is likely the most notable candidate for the Hall of Fame. He was a “Centennial Slate” finalist this year but was not among the 10 senior players voted into the Hall of Fame.

Gradishar was a key member of the Broncos’ defense from 1974–1983. During that time, Gradishar earned seven Pro Bowl nods and Defensive Player of the Year honors (1978). He helped Denver’s famous “Orange Crush” defense lead the Broncos to the Super Bowl in 1977 and he is a member of the team’s Ring of Fame.

Atwater is right — Gradishar belongs in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

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13 important dates in the 2020 NFL offseason

Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports Now that the season ended exactly two days ago, it’s time to focus on the next season. Only one city is reveling in what happened in the 2019 season and 2020 playoffs. The rest of the United States is ready to …

Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports

Now that the season ended exactly two days ago, it’s time to focus on the next season. Only one city is reveling in what happened in the 2019 season and 2020 playoffs. The rest of the United States is ready to move on. Hope springs eternal in the NFL, that’s why these future dates are kind of important.

February 24 – The Start of the NFL Draft Combine

It’s time to watch football players in shorts do exercises and some drills and get excited about numbers! The draft combine has become big business — and expect the NFL to move it around the country in the next few years — and it’s now televised for all the world to see. We’ll find out who is a workout warrior, some insane physical skills from players, and even get some leaks about interviews. It’s the beginning of the draft process so fans who cheer for teams with a bunch of picks will be especially excited to get this thing started.

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Jared Allen eligible for Hall of Fame class of 2021

Allen’s 136 career sacks rank 12th in league history, just 1.5 back from Richard Dent and John Randle for 10th.

We learned over the weekend that former Vikings guard Steve Hutchinson will be inducted into the 2020 Pro Football Hall of Fame.

The Vikings could have another former great inducted in 2021.

After retiring in 2015, defensive end Jared Allen is eligible to be inducted in 2021 along with players like Peyton Manning and Charles Woodson.

Allen played 12 seasons in the NFL with the Chiefs, Vikings, Bears and Panthers.

He was a five-time Pro Bowler and a four-time All-Pro selection. He twice led the NFL in sacks (15.5 in 2007 and 22 in 2011).

Allen’s 136 career sacks rank 12th in league history, just 1.5 back from Richard Dent and John Randle for 10th.

From 2007-2011, you’d be hard-pressed to find a better pass rusher than Allen was. In those five seasons, he had 77.5 sacks.

The Vikings acquired Allen via the Chiefs in a 2008 draft-day trade. The Vikings gave up picks that ended up being Gosder Cherilus, Jamaal Charles, DaJuan Morgan and Kevin Robinson to acquire him.

Feels like that was worth it.

 

Will the Seattle Seahawks have a Hall of Famer in 2021?

Now that Steve Hutchinson and Edgerrin James are both in, who will be the next Seattle Seahawks player or coach to make the Hall of Fame?

On Saturday, the Pro Football Hall of Fame announced the five modern-era enshrinees in the Class of 2020, and two former Seattle Seahawks — guard Steve Hutchinson and running back Edgerrin James — were among those selected.

Hutchinson becomes the fifth Seahawks draft pick to join the Hall, and he and James are the 11th and 12th players who suited up for the Seahawks to get inducted.

James and Hutchinson were the only two former Seahawks to appear on the 15-man final ballot for the modern-era committee, which makes it harder to predict who will be the team’s next representative in the Hall.

Seattle had six other representatives among the 122 nominees for the Class of 2020: quarterback Dave Krieg; center Ray Donaldson; punter Jeff Feagles; and running backs Shaun Alexander, Ricky Watters and Chris Warren.

However, only Watters advanced to the round of 25 semifinalists, and he was not among the 15 finalists.

Without any former Seahawks expected to join the ballot as newcomers next year, it looks like Watters is the team’s best chance at having a new modern-era Hall of Famer in 2021.

Of course, with Peyton Manning and Charles Woodson locks to get in on their first ballot and Calvin Johnson also up for consideration, it will be an extremely difficult year for Watters or any of the other former Seahawks to get enshrined.

That doesn’t mean they’ll be without a representative, however — both Mike Holmgren and Tom Flores, two former Seattle coaches, will be up for consideration again. It seems far more likely the Seahawks will have a former coach inducted in 2021 rather than a former player.

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John Elway, Joe Ellis comment on Steve Atwater’s Hall of Fame nod

Broncos legend Steve Atwater is going into the Pro Football Hall of Fame!

Former Denver Broncos safety Steve Atwater was voted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame on Saturday. After news of Atwater’s Hall of Fame nod broke, team president/CEO Joe Ellis released the following statement:

This is a great day for Steve, the Broncos and all our fans. Steve was a dominant safety who changed the game as one of the most-feared players of his generation. With as modest and humble as Steve is, you would never know about all of his Pro Bowls, Super Bowls and many other accolades. He’s just an unbelievable ambassador for our team and league.

We congratulate Steve on his well-deserved election to the Pro Football Hall of Fame. I also want to thank and recognize Jeff Legwold and the selection committee as well as our fans, who have been so supportive of Steve’s Hall of Fame credentials.

Broncos president of football operations/general manager John Elway also released a statement:

 

A two-time Super Bowl champion and eight-time Pro Bowler, Atwater is the eighth former Bronco to enter Canton, joining Elway, running back Floyd Little, tight end Shannon Sharpe, offensive lineman Gary Zimmerman, running back Terrell Davis, cornerback Champ Bailey and late club owner Pat Bowlen in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

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Current and former Broncos react to Steve Atwater’s Hall of Fame nod

Current and former Broncos players were excited about Steve Atwater’s Hall of Fame nod.

Former Denver Broncos safety Steve Atwater was voted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame on Saturday. Here’s a sampling of how past and current Broncos players reacted to the news on Twitter:

A two-time Super Bowl champion and eight-time Pro Bowler, Atwater is the eighth former Bronco to enter Canton, joining quarterback John Elway, running back Floyd Little, tight end Shannon Sharpe, offensive lineman Gary Zimmerman, running back Terrell Davis, cornerback Champ Bailey and late club owner Pat Bowlen.

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WATCH: Steve Hutchinson finds out he’s headed to the Hall of Fame

Hutchsinson received “the knock” to his hotel by Hall of Fame President David Baker.

On Saturday, former Vikings guard Steve Hutchinson found out that he’ll be a member of the 2020 Pro Football Hall of Fame Class.

He certainly deserves it with seven Pro Bowl appearances and five All-Pro appearances.

Hutchsinson received “the knock” to his hotel by Hall of Fame President David Baker. This is the third year that Hutchinson has awaited news like this.

It was clearly an emotional moment for him and his family.

Very cool stuff.