Deion Sanders, Marshall Faulk headline NFL Hall of Fame class

Deion Sanders, one of the best athletes to come out of the state of Florida, was voted in with Marshall Faulk, Shannon Sharpe and four others.
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By Jeff Darlington
jdarlington@MiamiHerald.com

Tight end Shannon Sharpe did everything he could to pass the time Saturday. He took four showers. He went through a 90-minute workout. He tried to unsuccessfully take a nap. Nothing helped.

“All I could think about was – is it going to happen today?” Sharpe said.

The suspense for Sharpe and six other people, including Deion Sanders and Marshall Faulk, concluded late Saturday evening with the greatest individual award in football: A nod into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

The other new additions, all of which received a minimum of 80 percent approval from the panel of 44 members, include: Defensive end Richard Dent, tight end Shannon Sharpe, NFL Films founder Ed Sabol, and linebackers Chris Hanburger and Les Richter.

Running back Jerome Bettis, wide receiver Tim Brown and wide receiver Cris Carter were among the high-profile finalists who did not make it into this year’s class.

While Sanders and Faulk didn’t need to wait long for their entry into Canton, Ohio – this was their first year of eligibility for consideration – Sharpe’s entry was particularly nerve-racking after missing out each of the past two years.

He was concerned about his 89-year-old grandmother’s health. In 2009, she had sustained a heart attack and had a leg amputated, leading to worries for Sharpe.

“The only thing I ever wanted was to make my grandmother proud,” Sharpe said. I was worried she’s not going to hear me thank her, to say, ‘Granny, I am the man I became because of you.’ ”

None of the latest inductions has ties to any local South Florida teams, but Sanders is considered one of the greatest athletes to come from the state. Raised in Fort Myers, Sanders was a star at Florida State.

Also one of the most electric and flashy players in NFL history, a Super Bowl champion for two different NFL teams also succeeded at baseball. Sanders reached the end zone19 times on defense and special teams – the best in NFL history.

He is one of only two players to score touchdowns in six different ways.

“To be held up in high regards, I’m honored,” Sanders said. “I really am.”

Sanders and Faulk were both expected to be first-ballot Hall of Famers.

Faulk retired as the NFL’s ninth-ranked rusher with 12,279 yards. He recorded 767 receptions (16th all-time at retirement) for 6,875 yards and 36 touchdowns. His 19,154 yards from scrimmage was sixth all-time.

While Sharpe’s day couldn’t have taken longer, Sanders’ day was packed with things to keep him busy. He arrived to the announcement of the inductees Saturday with a whistle around his neck and a Truth sweatshirt. He had come straight from coaching a youth football game in the Dallas area.

Sanders said he was more nervous about the youth football game than he was about the Hall of Fame announcement. Although he tried to downplay it, he said the drive over to the announcement was when it started to feel real.

“You can’t pick the class you go into, just like you can’t pick the team that drafts you,” Sanders said. “But come on, man. I love these guys.”