NFL Hall of Fame Weekend Preview

FOOTBALL IS BACK! SEVEN INDUCTED IN CANTON,
COWBOYS TAKE ON DOLPHINS IN NFL/HALL OF FAME GAME

It will be a celebration of both the past and present.

That’s the agenda this weekend in Canton, Ohio, birthplace of the NFL. The Pro Football Hall of Fame is celebrating 50 years with its Golden Anniversary Reunion (right). A record number of Hall of Famers will be in Canton – the most Hall of Famers from one sport in one place at one time.

“We are truly excited that so many Hall of Famers will be on hand this year to help celebrate both the enshrinement of the newest Class as well as our 50th Anniversary,” says Pro Football Hall of Fame President and Executive Director STEPHEN PERRY. “This will be the first time many of our Hall of Famers will see the new Hall of Fame and we’re anxious to see their reaction. We know they will be pleased.”

First, the past is saluted with the Hall of Fame Enshrinement Ceremony on Saturday at 7:00 PM ET (NFL Network and ESPN). History will be at the forefront as the Hall of Fame class of 2013 is inducted, sporting their new gold Hall blazers in front of a record number of Hall of Fame members and thousands of fans. 

“I drive up from Cincinnati every year to the induction weekend,” says former Bengals tackle and Pro Football Hall of Famer ANTHONY MUÑOZ. “Celebrating the 50th year of the Pro Football Hall of Fame and having all of those guys here, it is as good as it gets even for a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame.”

The Hall of Fame class of 2013:

“…AND NOW, TO PRESENT…”

Always of interest are the names of the “presenters” of the Pro Football Hall of Fame inductees on their special day. 

JONATHAN OGDEN (left) selected Ravens General Manager and Pro Football Hall of Famer OZZIE NEWSOME because of the ultimate respect level he has for Newsome.

“I chose Ozzie because he brought me to Baltimore, and I respect him and we worked well together,” says Ogden. “I could also go talk to him and be honest with him. He's just one of the people who I really respect in the business. It kind of made sense to me.”

“Watching his career, being a part of his career, seeing how it transpired – he played at a Hall of Fame level,” says Newsome. “He had the longevity. He played in and won a Super Bowl, but to be able to be there at the start and then to be there when he’s going in, I don’t think I can put it into words. It’s so different. I guess all of us have – most of us – have probably had a child in your life, and it’s like watching a child grow up and then maybe seeing them go off to school for the first time.”

The Pro Football Hall of Fame class of 2013 presenters:

Then Sunday night, it’s the first football game of the year – the annual NFL/Hall of Fame Game at 8:00 PM ET at Fawcett Stadium on NBC. The Dallas Cowboys and the Miami Dolphins will enjoy a memorable weekend as former Dolphins president and Cowboys head coach BILL PARCELLS and former Cowboys star LARRY ALLEN will be honored.

The Cowboys will play in the Hall of Fame Game for the fifth time in franchise history. Dallas last played in the game to open the 2010 season.

The Dolphins will play in their fourth Hall of Fame Game and the first time since 2005.

“We don’t have a very old roster to start with,” says Dolphins head coach JOE PHILBIN. “We can find out a little more about them. It’s an honor for us to be a part of this, the 50th anniversary of the Hall of Fame and to be part of the festivities that surround that event. We’re playing a team with a great history and tradition like ours in the Dallas Cowboys. It should be fun.”