LaDainian Tomlinson. Kurt Warner. Terrell Davis. Jerry Jones. These are just a few of the players that highlight an incredibly strong 2017 Pro Football Hall of Fame class.
2017 Pro Football Hall of Fame: Enshrinement Ceremony Reactions
During the pre-event show, Arizona Cardinals stalwart Larry Fitzgerald had the opportunity to say some words about the quarterback that led him to his only Super Bowl appearance: “Kurt [Warner] is just one of those guys that carries himself is such a classy way. I can’t think of anybody else that’s more deserving of this honor.” As Steve Mariucci chided Fitzgerald on his seemingly inevitable Hall of Fame future, he demanded answers as to how soon that future would become a reality. Fitzgerald responded “at my age, you just have to take it year by year.” Outside of the gold jacket he’ll be able to sport in the near future, he can take solace in that fact that he actually does have a Super Bowl ring (in spirit), because Santonio Holmes right root never touched the turf.
But enough of the pre-event antics, here’s some notable highlights from the night:
Kenny Easley used his platform as a senior inductee to deliver some wise words on the Black lives matter movement: “Black lives matter. And all lives matter too. But the senseless killing of black men and women must stop.”
Jason Taylor choked up when mentioning his three children: “I made it to the Hall of Fame, but when I die, all I want is for my kids to say that I was a Hall of Fame dad.”
To Dan [Snyder]: “Thank you for the opportunity to come to Washington. I didn’t give you much, about two and a half sacks, and I stole a lot of money from you… but thanks.”
Morten Andersen in his introduction, took a comedic tone on his kicking career: “Coach Wilbur looked at me and said: Just kick the shit out of it, and if you don’t, I’m sending you back on the boat.”
Terrell Davis: “Being the youngest of eight children, I’ve always had to prove my worth. Football was no different.”
LaDainian Tomlinson: “At six years old, I told my mother that I would be in the NFL. At seven, I told her I needed a weight set, because if I was going to make it to the NFL, I would need to get bigger.”
“My first year at TCU wasn’t great, we only won one game, and I considered transferring. When I shared this news with my mother, she said: don’t quit on your teammates. Be a part of the solution. Be a part of the change. Anything worth having, is worth fighting for.”
To the citizens of the United States: “I pray that we can be the best team; working and living together, representing the highest ideals as a nation, and leading the way for other nations to follow.”
Jerry Jones: “Buying the Dallas Cowboys was the biggest leap of faith that I could make in business. I had busted a couple times, and buying the Cowboys was like walking an Empire State Building tight rope.”
“We were so lucky to be so bad, because our first round pick was a no brainer… it was Troy Aikman.”
To the team spokesman: “You don’t know me from Adam, but my name is Jerry Jones. And if I live to make it back to the United States, I’m buying the Dallas cowboys, hangover be damned.”
(side note: Ezekiel Elliott looks unamused; probably wants to go party)
Kurt Warner charges his doubters: “As we eased onto the highway in the pickup truck paid for from my signing bonus with the Green Bay Packers because my future was bright right Mooch? (Steve Mariucci) [because] you are the one that cut me.”
To coach Dick Vermeil: “in a business lead by head decisions, thanks for following your heart.”
Out of a very impactful class, the champion of the night goes to the captain of “The Greatest Show on Turf” quarterback Kurt Warner. Not only did he give his former quarterback coach Steve Mariucci gripe for cutting him in Green Bay, but he also gave another unexpected shout out to a very deserving teammate, Trent Green. Green was the Drew Bledsoe to Kurt’s Tom Brady; the quarterback whose devastating injury would lead to Kurt Warner’s superstardom. Kurt would say “it could’ve easily been you on this stage, so I thank you for being selfless enough to share your wisdom with a guy that was just trying to make it.” He would say later on the NFL Network panel: “I could’ve told my typical Cinderella story that everyone’s heard 1,000 times, talked about guys like Marshall Faulk and Larry Fitzgerald, but I wanted to do something different tonight. I wanted to convey my story from a behind the scenes perspective, and highlight a high character guy.”
Indeed, the 2017 Pro Football Hall of Fame enshrinement ceremony was filled with heartfelt, impact moments. Many of the inductees would use their platform to provide insight on the division that our country is facing, at a time when the NFL’s audience desperately needs voices of reason. In the midst of Colin Kaepernick’s lingering unemployment, and relative political tension, tonight’s commentary provided heartfelt optimism… at least we can only hope.
