Ray just finished giving his speech that he started in 2018." I want to give a special thanks to my old rival Ray Lewis for being here tonight. "Forcing us to have a whopping six minutes to recap our football careers. "The 2021 induction class wants to thank those previous inductees who gave long-winded acceptance speeches," said Manning, who was presented by his father, Archie, himself a College Football Hall of Fame member. The 2020 class and a special centennial class had their enshrinements delayed a year by the COVID-19 pandemic. The man who could spend seemingly endless moments changing plays at the line then jabbed at the time limits set by the hall because of 19 acceptance speeches this weekend. The stadium rocked with cheers from fans in Colts blue or Broncos orange - the two franchises he took to the top - when Manning was introduced. The only five-time NFL MVP and a two-time Super Bowl winner who left the game five years ago with a slew of passing records was enshrined Sunday night with other members of the class of 2021. Woodson retired at age 39 after making the 2015 Pro Bowl with five interceptions, nine passes defensed and four fumble recoveries more than 17 years after his NFL career began.CANTON, Ohio - Peyton's Place is now in Canton at the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Darrell Green is the only defensive back in NFL history to play into his 40s. Woodson returned to his first NFL home, Oakland, and played in all 16 games each of his final three seasons. Not only for how he started his career with the Raiders but for how he revived it with the Packers before a broken collarbone unceremoniously ended his time in Green Bay midway through the 2012 season. And don’t forget, he was a punt and kickoff returner.Ī playmaker on every part of the field, Woodson is regarded as one of the best cornerbacks ever. He intercepted 29 passes in those five years, returned eight of them for touchdowns, forced 11 fumbles and registered nine sacks. Over his next five seasons in Green Bay, Woodson missed only three regular-season games after missing 22 in the four seasons before joining the Packers. Just a fantastic player.”Īfter most of the NFL had disregarded Woodson, he began his Packers tenure with eight interceptions, one pick-six and three forced fumbles in 2006. “He had five interceptions his rookie year and five in his 18th year,” Rodgers said late last year. Woodson made four consecutive Pro Bowls from 2008-11, four consecutive All-Pro teams in the same span (two first teams, two second), earned NFL Defensive Player of the Year honors in 2009, twice led the league in interceptions (2009 and ’11) and won a Super Bowl ring in the 2010 season. Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers on Charles Woodson: “His ability to impact the game was unbelievable.” (Aaron M. Incredible ability to diagnose routes in real-time, fantastic in his disguise. He’s one of the savviest defensive players I’ve ever seen on the field. “He for sure made me a better player going against him every day in practice. “His ability to impact the game was unbelievable,” Rodgers said. Even now, Aaron Rodgers considers Woodson the best player he’s ever played with. Woodson played seven seasons for the Packers from 2006-12. You know, either come to Green Bay or just sit at home and just continue to wait.” “And it was almost like this is where I had to play. ” … Every time I talked to my agent, when I’m asking about all these other teams, he’s saying, ‘Well, they haven’t said anything, but Green Bay called again, so what do you want to do?’ ” Woodson said. “And you get all those reports from people who’ve played here and those were the thoughts going through my mind when Green Bay kept calling.” “The talk is always, ‘This is no place for a black man, and that’s just how it was,’ ” Woodson said in 2008 before the NFC Championship Game. Joining Woodson in the class of 2021: Peyton Manning, Calvin Johnson, Drew Pearson, Alan Faneca, Bill Nunn, John Lynch and Tom Flores. He is the 27th member of the Packers to be elected to Canton. On Saturday, he learned he’ll be entering the Pro Football Hall of Fame on the first ballot. Last year, Woodson was announced as a Packers Hall of Famer. It turned out to be one of Thompson’s best decisions ever. The late Ted Thompson rarely signed veteran free agents during his 13 years as Packers general manager, but he made an exception in 2006. Then 29 years old, Woodson signed a seven-year contract worth up to $52 million with the Packers despite what others had told him about Green Bay. Woodson wanted to prove otherwise, that past injuries wouldn’t affect him, that he could still lock down anyone.
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