SBNation.com - Pro Football Hall of Fame, Class of 2013: Warren Sapp, Bill Parcells, 5 others enshrinedhttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/46737/sbn-fave.png2013-08-04T20:52:53-04:00http://www.sbnation.com/rss/stream/43468452013-08-04T20:52:53-04:002013-08-04T20:52:53-04:00Cris Carter's real name is Graduel
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<p>Cris Carter has a secret. </p> <p>Cris Carter was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame on Saturday night. On Sunday, the world learned something else about Carter: his real name.</p>
<p>Graduel Christopher Darin Carter</p>
<p>He claimed during the broadcast of the Hall of Fame Game that he shortened it to Cris in honor of Chris Collinsworth, but we're not so sure about that.</p>
https://www.sbnation.com/lookit/2013/8/4/4589066/chris-carter-real-name-is-graduelRyan Van Bibber2013-08-03T22:35:11-04:002013-08-03T22:35:11-04:00Carter to family: 'You're in the Hall with me'
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<figcaption>Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>An incredibly emotional Cris Carter gave his Hall of Fame speech in front of a Canton, Ohio, crowd on Saturday.</p> <p>It took six long years of waiting, but Cris Carter has finally been inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, recognized as one of the greatest wide receivers in the game. On Saturday, he gave his induction speech, and was incredibly emotional throughout.</p>
<p>Carter had tears in his eyes when he took the podium, and he started out by thanking the selection committee. He said the selection process is "unbelievable," and appreciates that it doesn't matter what you've done, that there is no "slam dunk," referencing the fact that it took him multiple years to get in.</p>
<p>From there, he called this the greatest day of his life, but noted that he wouldn't have ever been able to get to this point without his teammates. The first team that he referenced, though, was his family. He calls his brother Butch Carter his hero for teaching him how to be a good person and how to work hard, and said that every member of his family is entering the Hall of Fame with him.</p>
<p>As an aside, Carter apologized to Ohio State Buckeyes fans, saying that the only regret of his entire athletic career was not being able to play for the Buckeyes in his senior year.</p>
<p>He then thanked all the people who have been around him the last few years when he didn't make it into the Hall of Fame. He said those people knew what to say and what to do to support him and help him get through it.</p>
<p>Carter said that most Hall of Famers talk about "five people" they've met who got them to where they are. Carter said he had five people as well, and named his mom, his high school football coach, his wife, Reggie White, and the duo of Wheelock Whitney and Betty Trilogy, two people who helped him get sober when he joined the <a href="https://www.dailynorseman.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Minnesota Vikings</a>.</p>
<p>It's those people who he thanked the most, and kept the tears flowing as he once again went through his list. He also said that he didn't need a call from the Hall of Fame to know that he is a Hall of Famer -- because his mom has been telling him forever.</p>
<p>Carter's pro career got off to a rocky start. Drafted by the <a href="https://www.bleedinggreennation.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Philadelphia Eagles</a> in the 1987 supplemental round, Carter struggled with drug addiction and clashed with coach Buddy Ryan. Ryan released him before the 1990 season, a move that Carter often cites as the moment that turned his life around.</p>
<p>The Minnesota Vikings picked him up off waivers, and he emerged as one of the finest receivers of his era, making eight Pro Bowls and being named to the 1990s All-Decade Team. In 1994, he set the then-single-season record with 122 receptions. At his retirement in 2002, he was second in career receptions (1,101) and receiving touchdowns (130) behind only Jerry Rice.</p>
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https://www.sbnation.com/nfl/2013/8/3/4585984/chris-carter-nfl-hof-speech-class-of-2013James Brady2013-08-03T22:27:26-04:002013-08-03T22:27:26-04:00Warren Sapp, "It's a Canes thing"<iframe src="//www.youtube.com/embed/k3ayff59Krc" allowfullscreen="true" height="360" width="640"></iframe>
<div class="source source-img"><p><p>Warren Sapp had to acknowledge his college football days at Miami during his Hall of Fame induction speech on Saturday night. </p></p></div>
https://www.sbnation.com/2013/8/3/4586622/warren-sapp-its-a-canes-thingRyan Van Bibber2013-08-03T22:07:46-04:002013-08-03T22:07:46-04:00Sapp: 'This game is so great'
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<figcaption>Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>One of the greatest defensive tackles to ever play the game, Warren Sapp, was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame and gave a speech on Saturday.</p> <p>One of the greatest defensive tackles to ever play the game, <span>Warren Sapp</span> had no trouble being recognized by the Pro Football Hall of Fame, getting inducted in his first year of eligibility. He gave his induction speech in Canton, Ohio, on Saturday and these are some of the highlights.</p>
<p>Sapp's speech was impassioned and rapid-fire. He said one thing he'll always keep with him is his mom telling him "never forget where you came from," and that he is humble today because of it. He also said that no matter what, he was always driven by his family and those close to him, to do right by them and get them to be proud of him.</p>
<p>From there, he thanked his coaches and teammates. He said that without <span>Derrick Brooks</span> and <span>John Lynch</span>, the Buccaneers would never have turned it around to win a <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/super-bowl">Super Bowl</a>. Sapp said that he, Brooks and Lynch were the front, middle and back of the great defense.</p>
<p>But even after thanking his teammates, and coaches Tony Dungy, Jon Gruden and Art Shell, Sapp returned to talking about his mother.</p>
<p>"I never played this game to get into the Hall of Fame," Sapp said. "I played this game to retire my mother. I love this game, I love the passion of it, and I sit here with the greatest, among the great."</p>
<p>He continued to express his gratitude for what the sport has done for him and his family. "This game is so great, there's nothing else I know and love that's taken me from a dirt road to heights I've never seen -- and a golf jacket," Sapp said.</p>
<p>Sapp wrapped it all up thanking everyone once again, and got choked up as he talked about those who supported him throughout his entire journey. By the end, he was in tears.</p>
<p>Drafted with the 12th overall pick in 1995, Sapp helped turn the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.bucsnation.com/">Tampa Bay Buccaneers</a> from a laughingstock into a contender. As the centerpiece of Monte Kiffin's influential Cover 2 scheme, Sapp used his unique blend of size and strength to become a rare specimen -- a run-stuffing tackle who was also a threat in the pass rush. He won Defensive Player of the Year in 1999 after recording 16.5 sacks, a number which was just unheard of for an interior lineman at the time.</p>
<p>Sapp got his Super Bowl ring in 2002 as the Bucs fielded one of the best defenses of all time. He joined the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/nfl/teams/oakland-raiders">Oakland Raiders</a> in 2004 and continued to be productive up to his retirement in 2008. Sapp finished his career with 96.5 sacks, seven Pro Bowls and appearances on both the 1990s and 2000s All-Decade Teams.</p>
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https://www.sbnation.com/nfl/2013/8/3/4586080/warren-sapp-pro-football-hof-speech-class-of-2013James Brady2013-08-03T22:00:33-04:002013-08-03T22:00:33-04:00Warren Sapp's Hall of Fame bust is the first with braids<h3 class="link-title"><a rel="nofollow" href="/rss/stream/4346845">Warren Sapp's Hall of Fame bust is the first with&nbsp;braids</a></h3>
<div class="description"><p><p>The former Buccaneers defensive tackle is being enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. His bust will remember his famous cornrows. </p></p></div>
https://www.sbnation.com/2013/8/3/4586574/warren-sapps-hall-of-fame-bust-is-the-first-with-braidsRyan Van Bibber2013-08-03T21:44:07-04:002013-08-03T21:44:07-04:00Culp: 'This is quite something'
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<figcaption>Andrew Weber-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>Curley Culp, the second of the senior committee nominations this year, was enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame and gave his speech on Saturday.</p> <p>Curley Culp is the second of two players this year to be enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame via the senior committee, after Dave Robinson. Culp took the stage in Canton, Ohio, on Saturday to give his speech.</p>
<p>Culp started with a simple, "This is quite something," and went on to thank the Hall of Fame committee, saying it has made his and his family's dreams a reality, and that he long-hoped this day would come.</p>
<p>When he got around to talking about his playing career, Culp was quick to talk about his belief in teamwork as the primary lesson in football. He said that teamwork and the people around him got him to where he is.</p>
<p>"Football is not just a sport, but a life lesson on what it means to be a team player," Culp said.</p>
<p>His speech wasn't as long as the rest, but Culp wrapped it up by saying that it is a "great honor to be among these great Hall of Famers," and that he is "honored and humbled to wear the Hall of Fame gold," in addition to the colors he wore with the <a href="https://www.arrowheadpride.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Kansas City Chiefs</a> and Houston Oilers.</p>
<p>Culp was drafted by Denver, but never played a regular-season snap for the <a href="https://www.milehighreport.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Broncos</a>. Denver tried him at guard during training camp and after he failed to adjust, traded him to Kansas City. With the Chiefs, Culp played defensive tackle and made an impact early. He started the AFL Championship Game in his second season and was named to the Pro Bowl for the first of six times.</p>
<p>He enjoyed some of the best years of his career in Houston following a 1974 trade to the Oilers. He made four Pro Bowls with the Oilers and was named an Associated Press first-team All-Pro in 1975. That season was arguably the best of his career, as he finished with 11.5 sacks and was named NFL Defensive Player of the Year by the Newspaper Enterprise Association.</p>
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https://www.sbnation.com/nfl/2013/8/3/4586186/curley-culp-nfl-hof-speech-class-of-2013James Brady2013-08-03T21:22:11-04:002013-08-03T21:22:11-04:00Parcells: 'Nobody could appreciate this more'
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<figcaption>Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>Bill Parcells has been in Hall of Fame discussions for a very long time, and on Saturday, was finally inducted and gave his enshrinement speech.</p> <p>It was a long time coming, but Bill Parcells was enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame on Saturday, and gave his induction speech in front of the Canton, Ohio, crowd.</p>
<p>Parcells started his speech with an impassioned thank you to George Martin, who introduced him to the Hall. Parcells said that he "wouldn't be here tonight," if not for Martin.</p>
<p>From there, it was a quick joke, thanking the Hall of Fame and saying that nobody "could appreciate this more than I do," but that he would like to request they place his Hall of Fame bust "somewhere near Lawrence Taylor so I can keep an eye on that sucker."</p>
<p>Parcells was modest about his success in the NFL, saying that a lot of coaches enter situations where they aren't allowed to succeed. He says that there are always bad situations, but that he was never in that kind of situation where he couldn't succeed. "Every operation I went to supported me to the fullest," he said. "That's what allows you and your players to go forward and succeed."</p>
<p>"I was lucky to have that," he said.</p>
<p>At one point, Parcells talked about his family, and then gave the rare shout-out to his ex-wife, saying that she understood, at the time, that he wasn't just married to her, but that he was married to football.</p>
<p>He thanked his ex-coaches and everybody who helped him early on in his life and career. One quote in particular he said that stuck with him, as a head coach and a general leader, was, "The players deserve a chance to win, and you as an organization, a university and a head coach have an obligatory responsibility to give it to them."</p>
<p>Parcells finished his speech by talking about his first days of being a head coach with the New York Giants. He said there was a little room off one section of the locker room, with a plaque that read, "Losers assemble in little groups, and complain about the coaches and the players in other little groups. Winners assemble as a team."</p>
<p>In closing, Parcells said that assembling as a team is what he's doing now, and finished with, "I'm honored, I'm grateful, and I'm thankful to every single one of you out there that had something to do with this."</p>
<p>Parcells spent 19 seasons as a head coach in the NFL, winning two <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/super-bowl" class="sbn-auto-link">Super Bowls</a> with the <a href="https://www.bigblueview.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">New York Giants</a> while leading the <a href="https://www.patspulpit.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">New England Patriots</a> to a Super Bowl appearance. He compiled a career regular season record of 172-130-1, while winning NFL Coach of the Year honors twice. He gained a reputation for the ability to turn any team into a contender. He took over a 1-15 <a href="https://www.ganggreennation.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">New York Jets</a> team in 1996 and led them to a 21-11 record over the next two seasons.</p>
<p>Despite taking over teams near the bottom of the league, Parcells coached teams to a losing record in just five of his 19 seasons. In addition to coaching the Giants, Patriots and Jets, he ended his coaching career with a four-year stint with the <a href="https://www.bloggingtheboys.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Dallas Cowboys</a>.</p>
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https://www.sbnation.com/nfl/2013/8/3/4586046/bill-parcells-pro-football-hof-speech-class-of-2013James Brady2013-08-03T20:51:18-04:002013-08-03T20:51:18-04:00Larry Allen wears shades, talks 40 ozs<img src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/HYVvOrYAxKb5fPCPsD0A7BW2U60=/410x410/cdn.vox-cdn.com/fan_shot_images/300021/BQyMypnCAAAKqHm.jpg" />
<div class="source source-img"><p><p>Allen thanked his wife and revealed that on their first date she cooked him "two chickens, french fries, baked me a cake & gave me a 40 oz, I knew then that was my wife."</p></p></div>
https://www.sbnation.com/2013/8/3/4586442/larry-allen-wears-shades-talks-40-ozsRyan Van Bibber