Pro Football Hall of Fame 2014: Michael Strahan, Walter Jones, 5 others inducted

Before we think of Michael Strahan’s Hall of Fame career, before we think of his transition from football superstar to morning talk show host, we turn into schoolchildren, and we think of the gargantuan gap in between his two front teeth. It’s immature, but it’s true: he’s become inseparably linked to a dental imperfection.

You’re welcome.

Derrick Brooks spent a full two minutes of speech thanking people. 120 seconds of gratitude. 78 thank-yous.

It took a long while for Aeneas Williams to make it into the playoffs, but he was a great player from the very beginning. On Saturday, he was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame and gave his speech at the enshrinement ceremony.

Williams started off his speech by thanking current commissioner Roger Goodell, NFLPA DeMaurice Smith and others involved in the current decision-making process. Rather than start by thanking family and friends, Williams said that “tough decisions have to be made that are unpopular,” but that Goodell and everyone else make those decisions with the enjoyment of the fans as their top priority first and foremost.

Claude Humphrey still thinks the NFL hasn’t got its sack numbers correct, but he’ll probably let it slide now that he’s been officially enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Humphrey was inducted on Saturday, and gave a speech. It was a long time coming.

“They told me that I only had 10 minutes up here,” Humphrey said, “But let me start off by telling you I’ve waited almost 30 years to get to this podium. So don’t rush me guys. I’m gonna be here for a minute.”

Claude Humphrey won the evening with his speech. He thanked his family, and embarrassed his daughter as part of the process. But it was this little secret that took the cake.

Derrick Brooks didn’t have to wait long to make it into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers great was officially inducted into the Hall on Saturday, and he gave his induction speech to a large crowd in Canton, OH.

Brooks’ speech was heavy on the thanks. He started out by saying he is “humble, to be among all this greatness.” He said that Saturday, after they unveiled his bust, that it was the “first time in my life I get a chance to sit back and enjoy some of the success of my individual career in the ultimate game.”

Err, who is Michael Srtahan?

I’d totally buy one just for the collectibility factor.

Bills helmet. Bills t-shirts. Sunglasses with Bills logos on the lenses. Bills hat pins.

Battle on sir.

Strahan might be the most well-known name of the 2014 inductees, partially due to his successful media career following retirement. He wasn’t voted in during his first year of eligibility, but received enough votes his second time around. Brooks and Jones both join the list of players enshrined in their first year of eligibility. Reed and Williams each had a longer wait to get in while Guy and Humphrey were both selected by the Veterans Committee.

Viewers not in Canton, Ohio who are interested in watching the Hall of Fame entrance speeches will be in luck. ESPN2 and NFL Network will both provide live television coverage of the Enshrinement Ceremony. The ceremony will begin at 7 p.m. ET and is scheduled to go until 10 p.m. It can also be viewed online at WatchESPN.

We’re required to remind you that PFT Commenter’s strong takes are presented as parody. All spelling errors are intentional, we think. -Ed.

Glad to see Eli could make it out tonight, I know your busy with playing chutes and ladders and doing Paddington Bear cosplays Eli. Really shocked that Strahan didnt have you make his introdcuton speech at his cermony given all your experence turning things over to defensive players. Youve had a bad couple years as you get older buddy, I havent seen any one go down hill this fast after turning 30 since I looked at woman! no offense to women.

Jim Kelly’s fight against cancer continues, but the Hall of Fame quarterback is still not willing to miss the enshrinement of his former teammate, wide receiver Andre Reed. Reed is being inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame with the Class of 2014 on Saturday along with six other candidates.

Kelly’s family explains that during Reed’s visits, the former teammates would consistently reference Reed’s enshrinement and how much Kelly wanted to be there.