Pro Football Hall Of Fame Class Of 2012 Enshrined In Canton

Cortez Kennedy passed away at the age of 48 on Tuesday. The Hall of Famer was a Seattle Seahawks legend, one who gave one of the best speeches we’ve ever seen in Canton.

Kennedy’s father used to make him cut the grass at 5 a.m., part of a lesson in “doing it right.” His mom made young Cortez quit football his sophomore season because of his grades. They went to the state championship. She sent him a postcard that said “Wish you were here.”

Curtis Martin almost told Bill Parcells no. As intimidating as Parcells can be, it was nothing compared to the kind of adversity Martin faced growing up amid the crumbling neighborhoods of inner city Pittsburgh. Martin, of course, agreed to Parcells’ offer to join the New England Patriots, though more out of a sense of duty to himself and his family than a love for the game itself.

Martin’s admission that football had never been a true passion left some fans scratching their heads, or even frustrated that he would make such a confession the center of his induction speech into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Dermontti Dawson’s former high school coach, Steve Parker, misidentified his player the first time he met him in the hallway of their high school. Parker thought he was adult. In a more recent assessment, Parker identified him as the greatest center in professional football.

The former proved to be a fateful moment.

One of the most dominant defensive ends to play the game, Doleman actually started out as a linebacker -- a middle linebacker -- before the team moved him to the outside. It was a move that hearkened back to the start of his football days at eight-years-old. Doleman’s first goal was to be a starter. From there it was to be the best, regardless of what position he played.

Thank yous took up the bulk of Doleman’s speech. He ran through a long list of former teammates, coaches, friends, businesses and business associates. He thanked his two children three times, and his remarks revealed just how important his family was to his personal and professional life, even when it came to choosing a college.

Former Pittsburgh Steelers defensive back Jack Butler shushed the Steelers faithful in order to get his 2012 Pro Football Hall of Fame speech started.

“That’s enough,” Butler said, before getting down to business in the only way a man of ilk could. A member of the All-Decade team for the 1950s, Butler had a knack for pulling the ball out of the air at a time when the forward pass was not the preferred method of moving the ball.

“Normally, the father is the hero to the son,” the elder Roaf explained as he choked back the emotion. “But in the this case, the son is the hero to the father.”

At the podium wearing his gold jacket, Roaf thanked his father, explaining the time and dedication he put into supporting his son’s passion. He drove all over Arkansas and beyond, taking his son to games until the car gave out and his dad would overhaul the machine rather than get a new one.

When Chris Doleman retired from the NFL, he was third all time in sacks by a defensive linemen. Now, after seven years on the Hall of Fame ballot, Doleman will join the two defensive linemen he trailed in the NFL Hall of Fame.

Doleman will be inducted into the Hall of Fame Saturday as part of the 2012 class. His 150.5 career sacks rank fourth in NFL history, trailing only Bruce Smith and Reggie White among defensive lineman. His best season came in 1989, when he racked up 21 sacks.

Former NFL defensive end and 2012 Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee Chris Doleman drew in long a breath and then said exactly what you might expect from a self-described throwback player.

“The game has really changed,” Doleman reflected. “I don’t like the brand of football coming out of the NFL today. I don’t want to see these 50, 60 point games. I want to see good football, a good defense versus a good offense, a chess match.”

He was selected to the Hall of Fame in his second year on the ballot. During his first year on the ballot in 2011, Roaf was named as one of the finalists.

Follow all the Hall of Fame festivities, from the induction ceremony to the game, on SB Nation’s NFL hub.

Martin was originally drafted by the Patriots in the third-round of the 1995 NFL Draft and spent his first three seasons in New England. Martin made the Pro-Bowl as a rookie, also winning the Rookie Of The Year award with 1,487 rushing yards and 14 touchdowns. Martin left the Patriots after the 1997 season, signing an offer sheet with the Jets as an unrestricted free agent. Martin went on to rush for at least 1,000 yards the next seven straight seasons for the Jets, making the Pro-Bowl five times in his career.

Martin finished his NFL career with 14,101 rushing yards, placing him at fourth all-time in rushing yards.

On Friday night, the Class of 2012 will receive the most coveted piece of clothing in all of pro football at the Gold Jacket Dinner. Almost 80 current members will join the inductees and their families for an evening of celebration in front of a large crowd at the Memorial Civic Center and Cultural Center in Canton.

Friday, Aug. 3, 5:15 p.m. - Gold Jacket Dinner