Talking Heads Rejected By Football Hall

In 2005, the Super Bowl edition of ESPN’s NFL Countdown had an awkward feel as analyst Steve Young had just been named a Hall of Fame inductee while a guy two chairs down, Michael Irvin, was rejected by voters. The rest of the panel couldn’t really congratulate Young too much since Irvin looked on the verge of tears; it was a real odd scene.
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↵This year had no potential repeats, with eligible finalists Cris Carter (ESPN) and Shannon Sharpe (CBS) working on different nets. But it wouldn’t have mattered anyway, as both retirees missed the cut, joining Paul Tagliabue and John Randle in the losers’ circle. So the CBS and ESPN shows will have some measure of disappointment, balanced (of course) by the bustling glee NBC’s effort are sure to be.
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↵Oh, as for who did gain admission to Canton: Bruce Smith, Ralph Wilson, Randall McDaniel, Derrick Thomas (finally), and former Raider Steeler Rod Woodson.↵