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Woodson elected to Pro Football Hall of Fame

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Charles Woodson

Charles Woodson became the latest Green Bay Packers star to join the NFL’s Hall of Fame.  Woodson joins the Hall as a first-ballot Hall of selection.

As a member of the Packers, Woodson lead the NFL in interceptions in 2009 and 2011.  He was a first-team All-Pro selection after both of those seasons and helped the Packers win the Super Bowl in 2010.

Woodson seven seasons in Green Bay and 11 more with the Raiders.  His 65 interceptions is tied for fifth on the NFL’s all-time list.  Thirty-eight of those interceptions came during his seven seasons with the Packers.  He ranks fourth on the team’s all-time interceptions list. [Read more…]

Butler’s Hall of Fame bid falls short

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LeRoy Butler

Former Green Bay Packers safety LeRoy Butler’s bid to join the Pro Football Hall of Fame fell short for a second straight year.

Butler was a finalist for a second straight season but revealed via Twitter on Wednesday that he once again came up short of the required number of votes for induction.

The formal announcement of the 2021 class will take place on February 6.

Butler remains the only member of the Hall of Fame’s All-1990’s team that has yet to be added to the Hall of Fame.

The finalist group consists of 15 players and as many as eight of those 15 could receive induction. Former Packers defensive back Charles Woodson is expected to be part of the 2021 class in his first year of eligibility.

Butler, Woodson named finalists for Pro Football Hall of Fame

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Former Green Bay Packers legends LeRoy Butler and Charles Woodson are among the 15 modern-era finalists for the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s class of 2021.

Butler was a finalist last year as well and was selected to the Pro Bowl four times, logging 38 interceptions and 20 1/2 sacks during his career.  He was named first-team All-Pro four times and is one of only four players in league history with at least 35 interceptions and 20 sacks.  The others are Brian Dawkins, Charles Woodson and Ronde Barger.

Butler played for the Packers from 1990 through 2001.

Woodson became eligible for the Hall of Fame for the first time this year.  He ranks among the best defensive backs in NFL history and would appear to be a lock for induction in his first year of eligibility.

Woodson played for the Packers from 2006-2012 (7 of his 18 NFL seasons) and was named the league’s defensive player of the year in 2009.

The two will have their cases discussed at the Hall of Fame’s selectors meeting sometime before the Super Bowl.  A maximum of five of the 15 modern-era candidates will be voted into the Hall during that meeting.  Candidates must receive a minimum of 80% of the votes for election.

Woodson, Butler are Hall of Fame semifinalists

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Two former Green Bay Packers were named semifinalists for the 2021 Pro Football Hall of Fame class.

Charles Woodson joints Peyton Manning, Jared Allen and Calvin Johnson as first-year eligible players to make the list of 25 semifinalists.

Former Packers safety Leroy Butler is also a semifinalist for the fourth time.

Woodson spent 18 years in the NFL with Oakland and Green Bay and won a Super Bowl with the Packers.  He was named All-Pro three times.

Candidates will be trimmed to 15 modern-day finalists who will be considered for entry by the selection committee during Super Bowl week in February.  Inductions are scheduled for next August, when the 2020 class and a special centennial class also will be enshrined after the COVID-19 pandemic forced postponement of those ceremonies last summer.

Hall of Famer Paul Hornung passes away

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Photo Courtesy of Packers.com

Former Green Bay Packers great and Pro Football Hall of Fame tailback Paul Hornung passed away on Friday in his hometown of Louisville, Kentucky, after a battle with dementia.  Hornung was 84.

“The Green Bay Packers Family today is mourning the loss of Paul Hornung,” said Packers President/CEO Mark Murphy.  “Paul was one of our special alumni whose mere presence in Lambeau Field electrified the crowd during  his returns.  His performances in big games were unparalleled and over time were appreciated by generations of Packers fans.  He played a key role in four of Vince Lombardi’s championship teams of the 1960’s.

“With Paul’s passing, we are deeply saddened that we continue to lose our greats from the Lombardi era, a run of unprecedented success in the National Football League. [Read more…]

Nine former Packers on Pro Football Hall of Fame nominees list

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Charles Woodson

The Pro Football Hall of Fame announced a total of 130 modern-era nominees for the 2021 class on Wednesday.  That list includes a total of nine former Green Bay Packers.

Safety LeRoy Butler, who was a finalist last year, is on the ballot again this year, while Charles Woodson is one of 14 first-year nominees.

Woodson played 18 years in the NFL.  Seven of those seasons came in Green Bay, where he helped the Packers win the 2010 Super Bowl.  During his time with the Packers, Woodson registered 38 interceptions and 11.5 quarterback sacks.

The other former Packers on the list of nominees are:  WR Donald Driver (1999-2012), kicker Ryan Longwell (1997-2005), TE Keith Jackson (1995-96), TE Wesley Walls (2003), safety Nick Collins (2005-11), cornerback Allen Rossum (2000-01) and center Jeff Saturday (2012).

 

NFL cancels Hall of Fame game

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Pro Football Hall of Fame

The NFL on Thursday canceled the league’s Hall of Fame game that was set to open the preseason.  The 2020 Hall of Fame induction ceremonies is also being delayed for a year because of the coronavirus pandemic.

The Hall of Fame game was supposed to have taken place on August 6 in Canton, Ohio, between the Dallas Cowboys and Pittsburgh Steelers.  It becomes the first on-field event that the league has canceled during the pandemic.

The same two teams will meet in next year’s Hall of Fame game, Aug. 5, 2021.  The enshrinement of 20 men scheduled for this year, will now take place on Aug. 7, 2021, with the 2021 inductees going into the Hall of Fame the next day.

The league may not be done there either.  It’s possible the NFL will reduce the number of exhibition games to two per team from the usual four.

 

Hall of Famer Willie Davis passes away (AUDIO)

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Flag Media

Another one of the Green Bay Packers legendary greats passed away on Wednesday.  Defensive end Willie Davis, who played for the Packers from 1960-69, passed away in a Santa Monica, California hospital at the age of 85.

During his playing days, the Hall of Famer flourished after joining the Packers in a trade from the Cleveland Browns.  He turned his success on the field to one of riches, becoming a millionaire business owner.

Davis played at a time when sacks weren’t an official statistic.  But there’s no doubt that Davis was the best pass rusher in team history, better than the team’s career sack leaders Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila (74.5), Clay Matthews (72.5) and Reggie White (68.5). [Read more…]

Hall of Famer Willie Wood passes away

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Pro Football Hall of Fame safety Willie Wood, who played for the Packers from 1960-71, passed away Monday in Washington D.C..  Wood was 83.

“The Green Bay Packers Family lost a legend today with the passing of Willie Wood,” said Packers President/CEO Mark Murphy.  “Willie’s success story, rising from an undrafted rookie free agent to the Pro Football Hall of Fame, is an inspiration to generations of football fans.  While his health challenges kept him from returning to Lambeau Field in recent years, his alumni weekend visits were cherished by both Willie and our fans.  We extend our deepest condolences to Willie’s family and friends.”

Coming out of USC in 1960, Wood sent postcards to several NFL teams asking for a tryout.  He ended up signing with the Packers as a rookie free agent and started at free safety on five NFL championship teams.  An Associated Press All-Pro five straight years from 1964-68, he also was selected to the Pro Bowl eight times, was named to the NFL’s 1960’s All-Decade Team and was one of two safeties chosen on the Super Bowl Silver Anniversary Team in 1990.

Wood broke open a close contest in the third quarter of Super Bowl 1, intercepting a Len Dawson pass and returning it 50 yards to the Kansas City Chiefs’ 5.  He finished his career with 48 interceptions and won the NFL title in 1962 with nine picks.

Wood is one of only 16 undrafted free agents to make the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Butler named a finalist for Pro Football Hall of Fame

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LeRoy Butler

Former Green Bay Packers safety LeRoy Butler was named one of 15 modern-era finalists for the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s Class of 2020.  As many as five of those players will be voted into the Hall on Super Bowl weekend in Miami.

This is the first year that Butler has advanced to the final 15 after being named a semifinalist (final 25) the previous two years.

Butler played his entire career with the Packers, from 1990 through 2001.  He is one of seven first-time finalists this year and one of four safeties among the 15.

Joining Butler are safeties Troy Polamalu, Steve Atwater and John Lynch.

Butler played on Packers teams in the 1990’s that won a Super Bowl and played in another.  He was [Read more…]