Sports Betting Professor

Posted by ESPN.com's Bill Williamson

Saturday, Kansas City outside linebacker Derrick Thomas became the ninth person who spent the majority of his career in the AFC West to be elected into the Pro Football Hall of Fame this decade.

Here is a look at those who preceded him this decade:

Howie Long, defensive line, Oakland Raiders (2000)

Comment: Many people around the league thought he was overrated but Long played an important role in the Raiders' history.

Dave Casper, tight end, Oakland Raiders (2002)

Comment: "The Ghost" was one of the great tight ends of his era and one of the Raiders' legends of the 1970s.

Marcus Allen, running back, Oakland Raiders and Kansas City Chiefs (2003)

Comment: A falling out with owner Al Davis ended Allen's time as a Raider. He finished his career with the hated Chiefs, which still angers many Raiders' fans.

Hank Stram, coach, Kansas City Chiefs (2003)

Comment: He'll always be remembered for roaming the sidelines in Kansas City.

John Elway, quarterback, Denver Broncos (2004)

Comment: The Broncos' first taste of the Hall of Fame came with much style.

John Madden, coach, Oakland Raiders (2006)

Comment: Many thought that Madden's election was long overdue.

Fred Dean, defensive lineman, San Diego Chargers (2008)

Comment: He won a Super Bowl with San Francisco, but Dean was a star with the Chargers early in his career.

Gary Zimmerman, tackle, Denver Broncos (2008)

Comment: Zimmerman spent the first half of his career with the Vikings but he considers himself only as a Bronco. Denver owner Pat Bowlen was his presenter at the induction ceremony.

Posted by ESPN.com's Bill Williamson

The Buffalo Bills may be remembered as Super Bowl failures but the honors for key members of those teams continue to come in.

Saturday, the Bills' AFC dynasty teams were further honored by the election of defensive end Bruce Smith and owner Ralph Wilson Jr. into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Smith, one of the best pass-rushers of all time, was elected in his first year on the ballot. Wilson was more of a surprise election since he has been eligible in years past.

The election of both Smith and Wilson continues a Buffalo parade route to the Canton, Ohio, museum. In fact, the Bills will play in the Hall of Fame game against Tennessee during the weekend in which the latest two Bills will be inducted.

Smith and Wilson's election follows the selection of Bills Super Bowl coach Marv Levy (he was elected in 2001); star Buffalo quarterback Jim Kelly (2002) and running back Thurman Thomas (2007) who have been elected into the Hall this decade. The team still hopes to get receiver Andre Reed and special-teams ace Steve Tasker inducted soon.

The Bills went to the Super Bowl four straight years in the 1990s, losing all four times.

While the Hall of Fame elections don't thaw the pain of the lost Super Bowls, Buffalo winters have to be a bit more comfortable with the continued run of respect the Bills get from the Hall of Fame voting committee.

Eric Allen and Qadry Ismail analyze the Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2009.

Posted by ESPN.com's Bill Williamson

It certainly doesn't match the jubilation in Kansas City over Derrick Thomas' election into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, but the Oakland Raiders got a small piece of glory Saturday.

Defensive back Rod Woodson, elected Saturday to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in his first year on the ballot, played in Oakland during the final two years of his 17-season NFL career. Woodson spent the majority of his career with Pittsburgh. He won a Super Bowl with Baltimore and he spent a season with San Francisco as well.

Woodson said Saturday that he represents all four of the teams he played for. Woodson's NFL career ended in 2004 when Oakland released him shortly before training camp. His first season in Oakland was productive. He led the NFL in interceptions that season at the age of 37. The Raiders went to the Super Bowl that season.

Woodson will never be remembered solely as a Raider, but his Hall of Fame career did end there.

Posted by ESPN.com's Bill Williamson

The buzz surrounding the Pro Football Hall of Fame voting this week was that former Denver star tight end Shannon Sharpe could have difficulty being elected in his first year of eligibility.

Sharpe

I talked to Sharpe about what he thought would happen early in the week. He said he heard the buzz as well.

Saturday that buzz became reality. Sharpe, who won three Super Bowl rings (two with Denver and one with Baltimore), did not get elected into the Hall of Fame.

Sharpe said this week that making the Hall of Fame was "very important" to him and that being elected would cement his NFL legacy. But he admitted that he was preparing for the possibility of not making the cut.

"I will not go home and climb the tallest building in Atlanta and jump off it if I don't get in," Sharpe said. "But I'd like to get in very much."

Sharpe will undoubtedly be elected into the Hall at some point, but it could take a while. He is likely being considered as a receiver and there is already a logjam at receiver. He is competing with Cris Carter and Andre Reed and he will soon be competing with Jerry Rice and Tim Brown.

I believe Sharpe should be judged as a tight end who changed the game, and he should be in the Hall of Fame. But his wait continues.

What makes the wait somewhat soothing for Sharpe is that he knows he's done all he can do.

"My stats aren't going to change," he said. "I've done everything I can and I am comfortable with that."

Posted by ESPN.com's Kevin Seifert

Randall McDaniel didn't travel to Tampa, Fla., this weekend in anticipation of Saturday's Pro Football Hall of Fame vote. He couldn't.

	Manny Rubio-US PRESSWIRE
	Randall McDaniel was voted to the Pro Bowl 12 times during his 14-season NFL career.

McDaniel works as a teaching assistant at a public elementary school in suburban Minneapolis. Friday was a school day, and so is Monday. Saturday was forecast to be a beautiful day by Minnesota standards. (It is. As I type this, it's a balmy 41 degrees outside.) That schedule made a trip halfway across the country a bit excessive by McDaniel's standards.

But that's McDaniel in a nutshell. He is one of the greatest guards in NFL history, one whose athleticism might never be exceeded. Yet he kept a low public profile as a player, rarely agreeing to interviews even as he racked up Pro Bowl after Pro Bowl, and since retirement has settled into an everyman's life as a teacher, father and citizen.

(How regular of a guy is he? As he spoke on a conference call Saturday, a phone near him — possibly his cell — started ringing. The ring tone? The theme from the television show "Sanford and Son.")

McDaniel knew he was a finalist but was completely convinced he would be eliminated from contention on Saturday.

"I'm still in a little bit of shock and very humbled," he said. "I never thought this would happen, for some reason."

He's got another 36 hours or so to get over it. School starts back on Monday.

Posted by ESPN.com's Matt Mosley

The last time the late Bob Hayes was among the finalists for the Hall of Fame was 2004 in Houston. When he was passed over, there was a sense that his name might not come up again.

	James Flores/NFL Photos/Getty Images
	Bob Hayes is the only person to have won an Olympic gold medal and a Super Bowl ring.

I remember talking to his sister Lucille that night and the family was profoundly sad that Hayes wouldn't take his rightful place in Canton.

But earlier this afternoon, the former Dallas Cowboys great finally made it into the Hall. The wide receiver whose speed forced defenses to come up with completely new coverage schemes will be part of the Class of 2009.

When Cowboys offensive tackle Rayfield Wright was voted into the Hall three years ago in Detroit, the Bob Hayes family rejoiced with him. In fact, some members of the Hayes family attended Wright's induction. That's why the first call I made after hearing about Hayes was to Wright, his close friend and teammate. Wright was driving when I reached him.

"I was so elated that I wanted to jump out of my car and start screaming," said Wright. "I talked to Bob's family this morning to let them know our prayers are with them. The only thing I hate is that he's not here to enjoy it. This was a honor he should've received a long time ago. He had an amazing impact on our team. He brought all the things he'd done in college and the Olympics to us. I think he single-handedly brought a lot more attention to the Dallas Cowboys."

In a statement, owner Jerry Jones said: "This is a deserving honor for one of the Cowboys most and truly gifted stars. We all know he changed the game on the field, but he also brought a unique star quality to the NFL that helped make professional football the most popular sport in the world. He was a world champion in two different sports, and he had a world class heart. I couldn't be happier for Bob. He was always one of my personal favorites."

In other NFC East news, former Redskins defensive end Bruce Smith was also voted in. He's more linked to the Buffalo Bills because that's where his career flourished. Redskins great Russ Grimm did not make the finals. He's a player who should eventually get in. The Hogs were too good not to have at least one representative.

But because of Hayes, this is a great day in Dallas. Now let's start discussing Drew Pearson!

Posted by ESPN.com's Pat Yasinskas

TAMPA, Fla. — Lee Roy Selmon no longer is the only former Tampa Bay Buccaneer in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Sort of.

Not sure that this should really count, but guard Randall McDaniel, who was elected Saturday, did spend the final two years of his career with the Bucs. But McDaniel is always going to be thought of first as a member of the Minnesota Vikings because that's where he spent the bulk of his career.

An important note here — unlike baseball, football Hall of Famers don't go in officially representing a particular team. So McDaniel does kind of count as a Buccaneer.

But, if you're looking for the next longtime Buc to go into the Hall of Fame, wait a few years. It's probably going to be defensive tackle Warren Sapp, who retired last year. Sapp has at least a decent shot to go in the first time he's on the ballot. Safety John Lynch also retired last year and has a chance to be a Hall of Famer at some point.

The most surefire Hall of Famer for the Bucs is linebacker Derrick Brooks, the best player in franchise history. But the five-year window for Brooks' election hasn't opened yet. All indications are he'll play in 2009.

Once Brooks does retire, he'll have a five-year wait before he gets in on his first ballot.

Posted by ESPN.com's Mike Sando

TAMPA, Fla. — The emotions sweeping through the Hall of Fame ballroom at the Tampa Convention Center have been overpowering for some.

The newly selected Bruce Smith struggled to compose himself as he reflects on his parents, including his late father and what this day would mean to him. Emotions have overcome some of his supporters and Bills owner Ralph Wilson's supporters in the room, including some in the row of chairs directly behind me.

Hearing Bob Hayes' sister read a letter of thanks left behind by her newly enshrined brother raised the emotional level further. And to see Derrick Thomas' mother beam while Chiefs owner Clark Hunt read a well-conceived tribute to the late linebacker — it was almost too much.

The emotions must also be strong for those Hall of Fame candidates who did not make the cut this time, including Cortez Kennedy, the only 2009 finalist to spend most of his career with a current NFC West team. Cardinals assistant coach Russ Grimm, the former Redskins guard, made the final 10 this time, but not the final five.

The process for selection excludes worthy candidates every year. I compare the Pro Football Hall of Fame to an airport with only so many runways. Some planes need to circle longer than others before taking their turn to land. But as Hayes' sister said, the waiting shouldn't diminish the moment when a candidate finally breaks through.

Posted by ESPN.com's Pat Yasinskas

TAMPA, Fla. — Claude Humphrey has been on the Pro Football Hall of Fame ballot for 23 years and I thought this might be the year he broke through.

Humphrey, who spent most of his career playing with the Falcons, had the powerful endorsement of the Senior Committee and I thought that might put him over the top. It didn't happen.

Humphrey wasn't one of the six new members elected Saturday. I'm not old enough to really remember Humphrey as a player, although I did collect (and still have) trading cards from near the end of his career. I do know playing on some mediocre Atlanta teams didn't help Humphrey's profile.

It's also pretty apparent Humphrey's chances were hurt by the competition this year. Defensive end Bruce Smith got in on his first year on the ballot. Can't argue with that one at all. Smith set the record with 200 career sacks. The late Derrick Thomas, who technically was a linebacker whose main job was to rush the passer, also was selected. I've thought that one was long overdue.

But I think Thomas' selection shows Humphrey is at least very close to being a Hall of Famer. Thomas finished his 11-year career with 126.5 sacks. Humphrey had 122 sacks in 14 seasons. Humphrey's numbers might not be Hall of Fame numbers today, but they're at least in the ballpark.

Posted by ESPN.com's Bill Williamson

Kansas City is smiling Saturday afternoon.

Derrick Thomas is a Pro Football Hall of Famer.

	Jonathan Daniel /Allsport
	Derrick Thomas collected 126.5 sacks in his NFL career, good for 11th on the all-time list.

The late Kansas City outside linebacker was one of six players elected into the Pro Football Hall of Fame Saturday. Thomas died in February 2000 at the age of 33 following complications from an auto accident. He was still an active player at the time of his death.

He was the only new Hall of Famer to spend the majority of his career in the AFC West. Denver tight end Shannon Sharpe, who was a finalist in his first year of eligibility, did not get elected. This week, Sharpe said Thomas was the best outside linebacker he ever faced.

Many believe Thomas' election was long overdue.

Thomas, who is the 10th member of the Chiefs to be elected into the Hall, was arguably the most feared pass-rusher in the NFL during the 1990s. He had 126.5 sacks in his NFL career, which is 11th on the all-time list and is a Chiefs record. He also holds club records for career safeties (3), forced fumbles (45) and fumble recoveries (19).

Chiefs chairman Clark Hunt and some members of the Thomas family represented the late linebacker in Tampa on Saturday.

"This is an exciting day for Chiefs fans across the country and an exciting day for our family," Hunt said in a press release put out by the team.

"Derrick Thomas was a cornerstone of the modern era of the Chiefs, and one of the most feared pass-rushers of his generation. We are thrilled with his selection to the Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2009. His outstanding statistics and play on the field made him deserving of pro football's highest individual honor, but — just as importantly — he was a hall of famer in the Kansas City community. Derrick's legacy of community involvement is among the finest for any player in Chiefs history, and he will be remembered for contributions like the Third and Long Foundation and his work to help others long after his induction ceremony."