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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…]

Butler falls short of Hall of Fame cut

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LeRoy Butler

Former Green Bay Packers safety LeRoy Butler missed the cut to 15 modern-era finalists for the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s Class of 2019.

Butler was among 25 semifinalists for the second straight year but didn’t make the cut to 15 finalists.  Three former NFL safeties did make the cut, Ed Reed, John Lynch and Steve Atwater.

Butler finished his career with 38 interceptions and 20.5 sacks in 12 NFL seasons.

Also making the cut to 15 were Tony Gonzalez, Champ Bailey, Isaac Bruce, Tony Boselli, Alan Faneca, Don Coryell, Tom Flores, Steve Hutchinson, Edgerrin James, Ty Law, Kevin Mawae and Richard Seymour.

Also being considered for induction are senior committee nominee Johnny Robinson as well as contributors finalists Gil Brandt who is the former personnel director for the Dallas Cowboys and Bronco’s owner Pat Bowlen.

As many as eight new members can be elected with the winners to be announced Super Bowl weekend.  Induction takes place Aug. 3 in Canton, Ohio.

Packers great Taylor dies

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Jim Taylor – Photo Courtesy of the Green Bay Packers and Packers.com

Former Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame fullback Jim Taylor died unexpectedly Saturday at a hospital in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.  He was 83.

Taylor played nine seasons with the Packers from 1958-’66 and left as the franchise’s all-time leading rusher.

Taylor was voted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1976.

In a statement issued by the Packers, team President and CEO Mark Murphy said, “He was a gritty, classic player on the Lombardi teams and a key figure of those great championship runs.  One of the best runners of his era, he later was greatly appreciated by multiple generations of Packers fans during his many returns to Lambeau Field with his fellow alumni.  Our deepest condolences go out to his wife, Helen, and their family and friends.”

Taylor was a second-round pick by the Packers in 1958 out of Louisiana State.

When Taylor finished his time in Green Bay, he had rushed for 8,207 yards and tallied 26 100-yard rushing games.  He helped the Packers win titles in 1961, 1962, 1965 and 1966.

Kramer honored at halftime

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Jerry Kramer

NFL Pro Football Hall of Famer Jerry Kramer  saw his name unveiled on the Lambeau Field façade on Sunday, becoming the 25th member of the Green Bay Packers organization to do so.

The 82-year-old Kramer also was presented with his Pro Football Hall of Fame Ring of Excellence during the halftime ceremony.

Kramer was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame this past summer after playing all 11 of his NFL seasons with the Packers, winning five NFL titles.

The long wait was worth it for Kramer, who was a finalist 10 times.

The five-time All-Pro is best known for his block allowing quarterback Bart Starr to score the game-winning touchdown in the 1967 Ice Bowl at Lambeau Field.

The long wait is finally over for Kramer (AUDIO)

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Jerry Kramer – Photo Courtesy of Mike Clemens

In his 11th time as a finalist, former Green Bay Packers great Jerry Kramer was finally voted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame on Saturday.

Kramer secured the necessary 80% or more of the votes from the 47 voters who were in attendance and  then found out later when Hall of Fame president David Baker knocked on his hotel room door to relay the news he’s been waiting for.

Kramer admitted afterwards that this might take a while to sink in.

The 82-year-old Kramer becomes the 13th member of the Packers’ 1960’s dynasty to be voted into the Hall of Fame.

Kramer was a modern-era finalist nine times and was a seniors committee nominee one time, back in 1997.  Each time, he failed to secure the needed 80% of the vote.  Now, Kramer is finally in.  [Read more…]

Last chance for Jerry Kramer for the HOF

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Jerry Kramer – Photo Courtesy of Mike Clemens

Former Green Bay Packers great Jerry Kramer has been a finalist in Hall of Fame voting 10 times before and all 10 times, he fell short.

The last time was back in 1997 as a seniors committee nominee and he remembers it well.

AUDIO: Jerry Kramer said he was close in 1997 :21

Kramer will find out if he received enough votes this time around when the results will be released on Saturday.  Many feel this will finally be the time that Kramer will receive entry.

Rick Gosselin is a member of the seniors committee and a radio host for the Talk of Fame Network.  He will present Kramer’s case to the voters.  He will tell the voters that in 1969, the Hall voters chose 15 players as the best at their position in the NFL’s first 50 years.  Kramer was selected as the top guard and is now the only one of the 15 not in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Kramer has prepared himself for the possibility that he may never get into the Hall of Fame.  He said this week that he’s had a good life and a good career and the Hall of Fame isn’t everything.  But at the age of 82, this is Kramer’s time.  He doesn’t deserve to come up empty an 11th time.

 

Could this finally be Jerry Kramer’s time?

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Jerry Kramer

Green Bay Packers legendary guard Jerry Kramer was nominated as a finalist for the Pro Football Hall of Fame by the seniors committee on Thursday.  But Kramer has been here before.  It’s the 11th time that Kramer has been a finalist, more than any current player not enshrined in Canton.

Kramer was a centerpiece of coach Vince Lombardi’s five world titles, which included Super Bowls I and II.

Kramer still must secure 80% of the vote when the selection committee meets at the Super Bowl in February.

Kramer was last a finalist for the Hall of Fame in 1997, when the Packers reached Super Bowl XXXI.  But the votes didn’t come and Kramer failed to gain entrance for the 10th time.  So Kramer is certainly optimistic, but it’s guarded optimism.

Kramer could be the 12th player from Vince Lombardi’s Packers teams to be enshrined in Canton.  Fellow lineman Forrest Gregg and Ringo Starr have already received induction.

For now, Kramer is known as the best player not in the Hall of Fame.  Six months from now, Kramer is hoping that distinction no longer applies.