As Dallas Clark enters Colts Ring of Honor, Peyton Manning, Tony Dungy and those closest to him reflect on No. 44's legacy

 

Clark will be enshrined in the Colts' Ring of Honor at halftime of Sunday's game against the Miami Dolphins at Lucas Oil Stadium.

JJ Stankevitz

Oct 17, 2024 at 04:07 PM

As the Colts prepare to unveil Dallas Clark as the newest member of their Ring of Honor at halftime on Sunday, those who were with him during his nine seasons in Indianapolis see his legacy defined by a few things.

He modernized how tight ends were viewed in the NFL, yet he was a throwback kind of football player. He was the sort of teammate who could ingratiate himself with wide receivers like Reggie Wayne and Marvin Harrison while being adopted by Jeff Saturday and Tarik Glenn as an honorary offensive lineman. He was intensely competitive and took his work seriously, yet he was a goofy, fun-loving guy who was always up to join in on a Peyton Manning training camp prank. His intensity never wavered, whether it was a preseason game or the AFC Championship.

And as good of a player as Clark was, he was an even better guy to be around. All these years later, call up anyone who was around him and they'll gush about everything that brought "Ol' Dal" to this point, where he'll take his deserving spot among franchise legends.

"It was a real honor and privilege to be his teammate all those years with the Colts," Manning said.

"Dallas is my favorite teammate," Wayne said.

"Just a great teammate, man," Glenn said.

"I just think of energy, of fun, of enjoying a good time and being a great teammate – those are my memories of Dallas," Tony Dungy said. "Whatever it takes to elevate everybody's play and to be the best he could be. Great on the practice field, great in the meeting rooms, always upbeat, just a really fun person to be around. So forget about the great athlete and competitiveness and all that, he made the game fun."

"I'm so happy for him," Saturday said. "I can't wait to be up there and be standing on that field watching him get that jacket put on him, because he deserves it."

***

Dungy first met Clark in a cramped hotel room at the Holiday Inn in downtown Indianapolis in 2003. Clark was going through his car wash of 15-minute interviews at the NFL Combine, where he was generally peppered with questions about football – his favorite plays from his collegiate career at Iowa, what the strengths and weaknesses of his game were, etc.

Dungy went down a different path when Clark sat down, asking him about who he was as a person. The Colts were looked for a great player with their first-round pick, of course, but what Dungy, general manager Bill Polian and Owner and CEO Jim Irsay really wanted was a great fit for the team's culture. That on-and-off-the-field combination led the Colts to select Dwight Freeney in the first round of the 2002 NFL Draft, and a year later, it was leading them toward this Iowa farm kid-turned-Hawkeye standout.

Clark left the room thinking the Colts wanted him. Two months later, after he arrived in Indianapolis as the 24th overall pick in the 2003 NFL Draft, he explained to Dungy why.

"'Coach, you really fooled me,'" Dungy recalled Clark telling him, "'because I didn't think you were interested. In our combine conversation, you asked me about my family, you asked me about growing up, you asked me about my life, my school, my degree, what I want to do. You didn't talk to me about football at all. I thought you were just blowing me off, and I had no idea you guys were interested."

Dungy, of course, came away with a different impression.

"It was so refreshing to me to hear his answers," Dungy said. "I said, 'this is the guy we need.'"

As soon as Clark arrived, he assimilated himself into a culture established by guys like Manning, Glenn, Saturday, Harrison and Edgerrin James. Dungy's instincts were spot on.

"He just fit right in," Manning said. "I think Jim and Bill and Tony had a criteria for the kind of players they wanted to bring in. It seems like all the guys they were bringing in, that was the criteria — do they truly love football, are they unselfish, is it more about the team than the individual. And when you get a bunch of players like that, you have a chance to be successful. And Dallas was just the perfect example of all those things, so he fit right in."

"Dallas was just one of the guys right away," Glenn said. "I think his work ethic and his ability to relationally connect with the team was really authentic and natural to his personality."

"He fit because he worked hard and he didn't care what was asked, he was going to give it everything he had," Saturday said. "There were a lot of pieces and parts in place, but you always need to add good people and good players, and that's what we added with him in that draft."

***

It's 1 o'clock in the morning on Jan. 22, 2007, and Dungy is with his family at Palomino in downtown Indianapolis basking in the afterglow of winning the AFC Championship. As he reflects on the run he and his team were on, his mind drifted to three years prior.

Just after Thanksgiving, Clark broke his leg against the Patriots, ending his rookie season. Two weeks before his injury, he caught five passes for 100 yards against the Jets. He was coming on strong before abrupt end to Year 1.

The Colts went on to reach the AFC Championship, where they again met Tom Brady's Patriots, losing 24-14 in Foxborough. Dungy thought back to that night in Massachusetts, then to what he just witnessed in Indianapolis.

"Man," Dungy thought, amid all the celebrating, "if we had Dallas in 2003, we might've been in the same situation (as AFC champions)."

That's how important Clark was to the Colts' offense from the moment he stepped on the field.

"The way I describe Dallas is, the defense, they had to spend time having a conversation about Dallas," Manning said. "'How are we going to treat him? Are we going to put a linebacker on him, are we going to put a safety or a cornerback on him?' And whatever they did, there was something that they were going to be vulnerable to. You put a linebacker on him, they probably can't cover him. They put a defensive back on him, okay, what's that defensive back going to do if we run the ball.

"It's just nice having a player on your team the defense has to spend some time having a conversation about, and I was glad we had Dallas on our team."

Clark's ability as someone who could dig out defensive backs in the run game and blow by linebackers in the passing game was a special sauce for a Colts' offense that had some of the best players in the NFL, but needed the ability to pivot to pass-centric or run-centric game plans based on the competition.

"When we had that type of versatility in a player, it takes your offense to a whole other level," Glenn said. "We scored a lot of points and we were able to create a lot of mismatches on offense, and it just brought a dynamic and excitement to our offense that we didn't have before Dallas got there."

The Colts had a top-three offense in points scored every year from 2003-2007, and won at least 12 games every year from 2003-2009. The defining stretch for Clark, though, came in the 2006 playoffs.

With wide receiver Brandon Stokley out with an injury, the Colts' offense morphed into a super-charged version of 12 personnel (one running back, two tight ends, two wide receivers). Clark would usually play in-line on first and second down, lining up with his hand in the dirt next to the offensive line. On third down, Clark would shift into the slot, replacing Stokley in those situations.

Clark – who sustained an injury late in the regular season and narrowly avoided season-ending injured reserve – caught 21 passes for 317 yards, and 16 of his receptions accounted for a first down. The only tight end in NFL history who's had more receiving yards in a single postseason is Travis Kelce (2020, 2023).

"Technically we were two tight ends on first down, second down, third down, but on third down, Dallas was really playing wide receiver," Manning said. "But the defense didn't know that. The defense had to honor the fact that you might do your two tight ends plays. That speaks to his versatility. I think that's what we liked out of him coming out of Iowa, that he could run but yet he played tight end so he was going to be able to block. It was a real credit to him just how versatile he was."

"He had just a dominant, dominant playoffs," Dungy said. "And we certainly would not have gone to the Super Bowl without it."

***

Nowadays, plenty of tight ends have the sort of positional versatility Clark had. That wasn't the case two decades ago – Clark was a rare player in the mid-2000s, when few tight ends had the skillset to both line up in-line and in the slot. Clark, then, was on the cutting edge of what tight ends could be asked to do in the NFL.

"Of course, Tony Gonzalez was doing his thing, Antonio Gates — those guys got a lot of attention," Manning said. "But you ask any defensive player that was playing against us during that time, and Dallas was a real force."

Yet for as modern a tight end as Clark was, he played like a throwback from a bygone era.

"No matter what the weather was, cold, sleet, snow, it just didn't matter. No gloves," Wayne said. "A lot of people didn't think he was a big time blocker, but he surprised a lot of people. Man, he's a he's one of those guys that don't mind getting his hands dirty and going to get after you."

Clark earned the respect of receivers like Wayne and Harrison for the time he spent working on routes with them. And he earned the respect of the Colts' offensive line for his dedication to the sort of dirty work that often goes unnoticed by the general public.

"The majority of the guys that play the tight end position, typically they love the glamour and notoriety of being able to catch the ball and catch touchdowns," Glenn said. "But Dallas was pretty old school in the sense of — not a whole lot of celebration. He was really about bringing his lunch box to work, being physical and trying to create a reputation of just being a football player."

Clark was so genuinely respected by the Colts' offensive line that they considered him to be one of them.

"Let me tell you, that's hard to get in – that's a hard, hard group to get in," Saturday said. "We work way too freaking hard and don't get near the attention we should. And so if you're an attention-getter, which as a skill position player in the Colts' offense, you were going to get it – he was still one of us. That meant the world to us."

From Manning's perch under center, the care Clark put into working with both the Colts' receivers and offensive line was another reason why he was such an outstanding fit for his team's culture.

"I just appreciated his professionalism, the way he worked at his craft — his blocking, his route-running," Manning said. "He would finish some of his tight end blocking drills and he would come down or throw routes or one-on-one with the receivers. He'd talk to Marvin and Reggie about how to run a certain route out wide as a receiver."

Clark wasn't just a tireless worker – his positive attitude had a major impact on the Colts, too. When players made a mistake or hit a rough patch, Clark was the first guy to talk to them, offering words of encouragement to go get the next play.

"The ultimate teammate," Wayne said. "He never had a bad day. He kept everybody together. ... He was the glue that kept us all together when we were in difficult times."

"He just had a great attitude every single day," Manning said. "He was always upbeat, whether it was in the dog days of training camp or after a long conditioning session, throwing, he was always just upbeat. He loved everything about it, and those were the kind of guys that I enjoyed playing with, they were going to give you everything that they had. I don't think it ever felt like work to Dallas."

"You'd want 100 guys like him in a locker room," Saturday said.

***

The Colts have inducted plenty of members of those great 2000s teams into their Ring of Honor in recent years – Harrison, James, Saturday, Manning, Wayne, Freeney, Robert Mathis and Glenn have all gone up at Lucas Oil Stadium in the last decade or so. Every time that group gets together to honor another name permanently going up at Lucas Oil Stadium, they reflect on that person's legacy, and how they contributed to such a successful era of Colts football.

On Sunday, when those guys all get back together in Indianapolis, they'll think back to everything No. 44 did on and off the field – and how Dallas Clark belongs next to their names among the greatest players in franchise history.

"The further we get away from it and the more I see how good we really were and how these guys – we had a squad," Saturday said. "And it's all about people. It's the people, man. We had good people on our team and he's just another example of it, which I feel so fortunate to have played with him."

Bubba Ventrone Reveals New Story About Phil Dawson's Capabilities

 

Story by Browns Nation

September 27, 2024

Years after he became the organization’s second all-time scorer, Cleveland made official what fans had felt for over a decade: kicker Phil Dawson deserved to be recognized as a Browns Legend.

Dawson – along with longtime play-by-play broadcaster Jim Donovan – were inducted last week as the 2024 class of Browns Legends during the team’s home contest against the New York Giants.

Since first being announced this summer, fans and former teammates have shared stories about Dawson as his abilities on the field were among the best in the NFL.

During his press conference on Thursday, special teams coach Bubba Ventrone – who was Dawson’s teammate – recalled a unique story about Dawson’s capabilities on the field.

Analyst Camryn Justice summarized his story on X, noting that Dawson could choose from one of six varieties of onside kicks and used signals on the field to alert teammates to which one he would employ.

#Browns Bubba Ventrone said when Phil Dawson was kicking in Cleveland he had six varieties of onside kicks he would choose from, calling which version he was going with on the field with a signal.

Ventrone said that they had "Dawson Six Pack" t-shirts made back then.

— Camryn Justice (@camijustice) September 26, 2024

“Ventrone said that they had ‘Dawson Six Pack’ t-shirts made back then,” Justice wrote on X.

Dawson was a unique talent, unlike anything the NFL has seen in recent years.

The kicker started his NFL career in the 1999 season, coinciding with the Browns’ rebirth.

Dawson played 14 years with the Browns, making 305 of his 363 field goals attempted during that time.

The placekicker made 24 field goals from 50-plus yards, a record he still holds for the Browns.

After his time in Cleveland, Dawson played six more years – four with the San Francisco 49ers and two with the Arizona Cardinals. 

Jim Souhan: Katie Smith helped Lynx duo break her record

 

Story by Jim Souhan, The Minnesota Star Tribune

Associate head coach Katie Smith of the Minnesota Lynx yells to players during a game against the Las Vegas Aces at Michelob ULTRA Arena on June 19, 2022, in Las Vegas.© Ethan Miller/Getty Images North America/TNS

 

MINNEAPOLIS — Sometimes, she puts a hand in their face. Sometimes, she rebounds. Always, she needles, cajoles, jokes.

“Sometimes,” Katie Smith said, “I think the best defense of all is to make them laugh.”

For an hour before most every Minnesota Lynx practice, Smith, the team’s associate head coach, works on shooting with Kayla McBride and Bridget Carleton, among others.

Smith helped both surpass her team record for most made three-pointers in a season, as they transformed the way the Lynx play offense.

“I have the easiest job in practice,” Smith said with a smile. “I rebound for them. Which means taking the ball out of the net.”

Carleton and McBride have long been considered modern 3-and-D players — meaning they could shoot three-pointers and excel on defense. Alanna Smith was a late-blooming post who neither frequently shot nor frequently made three-pointers.

Want to know why the Lynx have exceeded expectations and enter the WNBA playoffs as the No. 2 seed?

The excellence of Napheesa Collier and the savvy of point guard Courtney Williams rank high, but the biggest change has been in three-point shooting.

This season, Carleton and McBride were the two best volume three-point shooters on the team that led the WNBA in three-point percentage, at 38.0%. Last year, the Lynx finished 11th in the 12-team league at 32.5%.

Alanna Smith entered this season with a career three-point percentage of 24.9% and easily set a career best by making 39.8% in 2024. Reserve Cecilia Zandalasini returned to the WNBA for the first time since 2018. Her career three-point percentage was 38.3% entering 2024, when she made 44.3%.

With Collier operating near the paint and Williams excelling at clutch two-pointers, Carleton, McBride and Smith became proficient at the most effective play in basketball.

What was it like for Katie Smith to help players break her record? “It’s awesome,” said Smith, the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Famer and five-time All-Star with the Lynx, speaking animatedly after practice Saturday. “They’re such a joy to work with. First of all, they’re great shooters, but it’s kind of fun to nitpick and build their confidence and how they can exploit defenses. At the end of the day, I just want them to keep shooting.”

Smith dropped a coaching phrase: “shot credibility.” Being able to make three-pointers offers the obvious benefit of maximizing the scoring potential of a possession, as well as the secondary benefit of forcing defenses to scramble wildly to cover players 25 or 30 feet from the basket, stretching defensive concepts and defenders’ lung capacities.

“Shot credibility is huge, and creates so many other things for them,” Smith said. “I’m so lucky to work with them. They’re just such great people. They work so hard, and they bring a lot of joy. I just want them to have the utmost confidence in every situation.”

A season of sharpshooting culminated when Carleton confidently swished a 34-foot three-pointer in the waning seconds to beat Connecticut on Tuesday and secure the No. 2 seed.

Carleton took a pass from Collier, who was asking for a return pass. Carleton turned and shot with confidence, and only later realized just how far she had been from the basket.

This season, Carleton produced career bests in points (9.6) and minutes (29.9) per game. What’s interesting is that while she improved her three-point shooting percentage from 33.7% last year to 44.4%, she didn’t match her career best in that category — 45.7% in 2020, the last year the Lynx advanced to the league semifinals.

In McBride’s first 10 years in the league, she had made the All-Rookie team and three All-Star teams. She was coming off a 2023 season in which she made 34.2% of her three-point shots, tied for her lowest mark since 2017.

This year, she made better than 40% of her three-pointers (40.7%) for the second time in her career and first time since 2019.

“We love coming to work with Katie,” McBride said. “She’s a Hall of Famer, so everything she says, we take to heart.”

____

©2024 The Minnesota Star Tribune. Visit at startribune.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

 

How Jimmy Donovan, Phil Dawson reflected the heart of Browns fans – Terry Pluto

 

Phil Dawson kicked for the Browns in their first 14 years since coming back as an expansion team in 1999. John Kuntz, cleveland.com

By Terry Pluto, cleveland.com

Published: Sep. 22, 2024, 5:49 a.m.

CLEVELAND, Ohio – For some of us, the Browns began with Paul Brown, Jim Brown and then moved into the middle 1960s with Blanton Collier and the 1964 title team.

Or the Browns began in the 1980s, with Brian Sipe and Bernie Kosar and teams that made the playoffs, year after year.

It’s been 35 years since the Browns had back-to-back winning seasons (1986-89). That means you have to be in your mid- 40s to remember those days.

But there is another group of Browns fans, almost a lost generation. They’re younger. They came later. The only Browns they know opened with the heart break of the move ... then the “new Browns,” the expansion Browns in 1999.

I thought about them when the Browns introduced Phil Dawson and Jimmy Donovan into their Legends Club.

Jim Donovan and Doug Dieken doing the Browns game in 1999, the first year back as an expansion franchise.

How it started

Dawson and Donovan, a kicker and a radio broadcaster.

Dawson had been cut by three teams in 1998. He made the Browns near the end of training camp in 1999. It was the expansion year.

Dawson still remembers former coach Chris Palmer saying, “I guess we’ll start with you.” Not exactly a comforting endorsement. He often mentioned how he knew “My next kick could be my last kick.”

It’s that way it’s for many NFL kickers. But Dawson lasted 14 years in Cleveland. The Browns prematurely cut him. He never wanted to leave Cleveland. Dawson kicked for six more years with two other teams.

Donovan auditioned for the radio job, competing with several other local broadcasters. He was selected and paired with Doug Dieken. They were the radio voices of the Browns for more than two decades.

Ahead of the Cleveland Air Show, Browns radio play-by-play man Jim Donovan announced he's going off the air to fight chronic cancer.Jeff Darcy/Cleveland.com

The best phone call

Donovan had to give up the radio duties a few weeks before the 2024 season opened. He’s battled leukemia and cancer since 2010. He’s in a major fight now and isn’t healthy enough to attend Sunday’s game.

At his press conference, Dawson talked about Donovan calling all his Browns games.

“I can’t think of anyone better to go in with,” said Dawson. “It’s an honor. I call him a friend. He’s going through a lot right now on the personal side.”

The Browns had Dawson call Donovan with the news of the team honoring the broadcaster.

“Having the chance to make that phone call and bring joy to a friend takes this to a whole new level,” said Dawson.

The kicker and the radio broadcaster have a special place in the hearts of fans. I asked for their thoughts on my Facebook page.

In the wind and cold, nobody kicked better than Phil Dawson. The Plain Dealer

The first memories

“Having been born in the late 1990′s, some of my first memories of the Browns are of Jim Donovan on the radio announcing Phil Dawson’s kicks. It was one of the constants through those lean years. It’s definitely the end of an era now that Jimmy and Doug (Dieken) are both retired. Glad to see Phil get the recognition he deserves as well.” - Thomas Mendiola

“I was born in the mid 1990′s. I have only ever known Jim Donovan’s voice. When I couldn’t watch the game, I genuinely would get excited to listen to it on the radio. Jim Donovan and the Cleveland Browns go hand and hand. The Ravens have now have Justin Tucker. That’s what we had in Phil Dawson. We never had to worry! I wish he could have spent his entire career in Cleveland! He is the player that reminds me of my childhood Cleveland Browns!” - Ben Marzano

“Phil Dawson was gold for many years. The fans always knew he was steady in those Lake Erie winds. My favorite memory is his game winning kick in the blizzard game against the Bills. Jim Donovan was the only voice I knew growing up as a Browns fan. My Dad used to bring his ear phones just to listen to his play calling even while we were at the games.

“I’ll always remember his words as the Browns finally made it to the Playoffs during Covid in 2020: ‘The only thing that is missing, is all of you.’” – Brittany Kilbourne

Very few people know the extent of Jim Donovan's fight with cancer since 2000.The Plain Dealer

A special memory

“I have witnessed the utter decency of Jim Donovan. A few years back, I was having dinner at the bar in Parallax in Tremont. Donovan, his wife, and another couple were seated at one of the bar tables, having dinner. The bus boy came to their table and mistakenly poured tap water into Donovan’s glass, which had contained expensive bottled water. Rather than lash out at the young man, Jimmy patted him on the back and told him not to worry. Perhaps not a huge thing, but nonetheless an act of human kindness and decency. I was especially impressed, as the bus boy was my son, Lenny.” - Daniel Klonowski

The voice, the memories

“Jimmy’s voice gives me the chills just like Nev Chandler’s voice did. Being Cleveland fans we may be experienced in heartbreak, but we have had some of the best commentators in all of professional sports. Phil was the only thing we had to be proud of for years (besides Joe Thomas). How many games did most, if not all of our points come from his foot alone? Jimmy and Phil were definitely bright spots. Good luck to Jimmy in his fight against cancer.” – Jessica Barnett

“Jimmy’s voice, his cadence, and the ease in which he called the Browns games painted a picture that made me feel like I was at the game. The way he did his job didn’t matter if the Browns had a winning or losing team. His passion for Cleveland sports was ever present – yet he was realistic about the team’s challenges. I value his honest assessment. I am missing him each and every Sunday.” – Colleen Kenney Roach

“Phil and Jim always provided rays of light during some pretty dark times. Not ashamed to say that some of Jim’s calls over the years brought tears to my eyes. Thanks Phil and Jimmy.” – Tim O’Hara

“Every once in a while, the Powers That Be get something right. Jimmy and Phil came up together, and they deserve to be honored together. They both exemplify what Browns Town is all about. No matter what else happens this season, THIS will be the highlight of the year. P.S. I cried! – Valerie Takacs

The Browns said goodbye to Phil Dawson too soon. He played in Cleveland for 14 years, then kicked for six more in the NFL. Joshua Gunter, cleveland.com

Two class acts

“Jim Donovan and Phil Dawson are shining examples of character, responsibility, loyalty and hard work. Phil could always be counted on to come through with the kick we needed. His professionalism is rare in today’s world. Jim somehow managed to call the games with accuracy and positivity; not an easy feat. His ability to remain positive and never complain despite battling cancer for two decades is amazing. His retirement brings tears to my eyes." – Jeanne Cooper

“Jim Donovan was always electric. No matter the Browns record, he gave us his full energy. He was made for Cleveland Browns football. My Dad has the same leukemia as Jim. He is doing well, God bless both of them. In 1999 and coming back, you couldn’t walk anywhere without seeing that #4 Phil Dawson jersey. He was one Brown we could always count on as he was automatic.” – Steve Retzer

“I got very emotional and just thought for sure two of the greats of my time as a season ticket holder for 39 years.” – Keri Miller

“Dad taught me about football at age 10 ... I’m 66 Never waivered from my loyalties to the Browns teams through the ages. Only ever listened to Jim Donovan’s voice AND always knew Phil Dawson would be spot on with nearly every kick. Nothing like it, or probably ever again in my lifetime. I cried, especially for Jimmy Donovan.” – Laureen Spring

DAWSON, DONOVAN ARE LEGENDS

 

BROWNS TAKEAWAYS

One constant in all of former Browns kicker Phil Dawson’s most memorable moments was the voice calling them on the radio: Jim Donovan.

Now the two will be linked as Browns Legends in the 2024 class.

Donovan, who retired as the play-by-play voice of the team at the beginning of this season to focus on his battle with leukemia, got the call from Dawson that he was going to join him.

“I get the honor to inform you that you will be joining me in this year’s class, you will officially be a Cleveland Browns Legend,”

Dawson said on the call to Donovan, the kicker told the team website. “And I can think of no better honor than to get to make this phone call.” Dawson and Donovan both joined the Browns in 1999. Dawson spent 14 years in Cleveland where he connected in 305 of 363 kicks and was often one of the few bright spots during difficult seasons.

The same could be said for Donovan, who served as the radio voice of the team from the time they returned to the league until this season.

Marshal Yanda: Hall of Fame Class of 2025

 

ESPN News Services

Sep 18, 2024, 02:03 PM ET

Two-time Super Bowl MVP Eli Manning, former Defensive Players of the Year Luke Kuechly and Terrell Suggs, and postseason kicking hero Adam Vinatieri are among the first-time nominees for the Pro Football Hall of Fame's Class of 2025.

The Hall announced 167 modern era candidates for the class Wednesday that included 16 players who became eligible this year, including two-time All-Pro guard Marshal Yanda.

A screening committee will reduce the list of nominees to 50 players next month. Then the full 50-person selection committee will cut the list down to 25 semifinalists and then 15 finalists for the annual meeting before the Super Bowl that will produce the new class. Players must get 80% of votes to get in. Under the Hall of Fame's bylaws, between three to five players can get in as modern era candidates.

There will also be three senior candidates, grouped with one coach and contributor. At least one and no more than three of those finalists will get in based on voting.

The other first-time candidates are offensive linemen Travis Frederick, Ryan Kalil and Joe Staley; running backs Marshawn Lynch and Darren Sproles; receiver Demaryius Thomas; tight ends Vernon Davis and Delanie Walker; and defensive backs Antoine Bethea, Aqib Talib and Earl Thomas.

There are also 10 players back under consideration who were finalists a year ago. Tight end Antonio Gates, receivers Torry Holt and Reggie Wayne; offensive linemen Willie Anderson and Jahri Evans; defensive backs Darren Woodson, Eric Allen and Rodney Harrison; defensive lineman Jared Allen; and running back Fred Taylor are back on the list.

Manning will look to follow his brother Peyton into the Hall following a standout career with the New York Giants. Manning was picked first overall in the 2004 draft by the Chargers and traded to the Giants, spending his entire career in New York. He led the Giants to an upset win over the undefeated New England Patriots in the Super Bowl following the 2007 season, throwing a game-winning touchdown pass to Plaxico Burress in the final minute.

He led another late TD drive to upset Tom Brady and the Patriots four years later. Manning is one of 13 QBs to win multiple Super Bowls, with eight of the nine who are eligible for the Hall getting inducted.

Only Jim Plunkett has not been inducted; more recent players in the category such as Brady, Ben Roethlisberger and Patrick Mahomes aren't eligible.

Manning was a four-time Pro Bowl selection but never made All-Pro or led the league in a major statistical category in a season but finished his career with 57,023 yards passing and 366 TDs.

His best moments were in those two postseason runs. Manning joined Brady (five), Mahomes (three), Joe Montana (three), Bart Starr (two) and Terry Bradshaw (two) as the only multiple winners of Super Bowl MVP awards.

Kuechly and Suggs were among the top defensive players of their era with Kuechly selected as the top defensive player in 2013 and Suggs in 2011.

Kuechly's career was brief but impactful. The first-round pick by the Carolina Panthers in 2012 was an All-Pro five times in his eight-year career with seven Pro Bowl nods and a Defensive Rookie of the Year award.

Over his eight-year career, Kuechly led all linebackers in the NFL in tackles (1,090), takeaways (26), interceptions (18) and passes defensed (66).

Suggs was one of the top pass rushers in the league over his 17-year career, with his 139 sacks ranking eighth best since they became an official stat in 1982.

Suggs had seven double-digit sack seasons in his 16 seasons with the Baltimore Ravens, including 14 in 2011 when he was selected as the top defensive player in the league and led the NFL with seven forced fumbles.

He won Defensive Rookie of the Year in 2003 and helped the Ravens win the Super Bowl in the 2012 season. He finished his career in Kansas City, where he helped the Kansas City Chiefs win the Super Bowl in the 2019 season.

Vinatieri was one of the most clutch kickers in NFL history, making the game-winning field goals in the first two Super Bowl titles during New England's dynasty.

He helped launch the run with one of the game's greatest kicks -- a 45-yarder in the snow to force overtime in the Tuck Rule game against the Raiders in the 2001 divisional round. He made the winning kick in OT in that game and then hit a 48-yarder on the final play of a 20-17 win in the Super Bowl against the Rams.

He then made a 41-yarder two years later to give the Patriots a 32-29 win in the Super Bowl against Carolina. Vinatieri also won Super Bowls in 2004 with New England and in the 2006 season with the Indianapolis Colts.

Vinatieri is the NFL leader in points (2,673) and made field goals (599) over a 24-year career with New England and Indianapolis. He also leads all players with 56 field goals and 238 points in the postseason.

Yanda was a member of the 2010s all-decade team as a key of Baltimore's success. He also was selected second-team All-Pro five times and made the Pro Bowl in eight of his final seasons, missing in 2017 when he played only two games because of an injury.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Austin Blythe to Serve As Honorary Captain

 

September 5, 2024

 

IOWA CITY, Iowa — Former University of Iowa standout offensive lineman Austin Blythe will serve as honorary captain when the Hawkeyes host Iowa State in an Iowa Corn Cy-Hawk Series contest on Saturday on Duke Slater Field at Kinnick Stadium. Kickoff is set for 2:40 p.m. (CT) and the game will be televised on CBS.

 

Blythe was a four-year starter for the Hawkeyes from 2012-15, helping lead Iowa to 31 victories, including 12 wins and a Big Ten West Division title as a senior. In his final year, he was a finalist for the Rimington Award, which is presented annually to the nation’s top center. Blythe also was a second-team All-Big Ten honoree and named a permanent team captain in 2015.

 

Blythe appeared in 50 contests during his career, starting at right guard as a redshirt freshman in 2012 before moving to center for his final three seasons. The native of Williamsburg, Iowa, helped lead the Hawkeyes to three January bowl games as the starting center (2014 Outback Bowl; 2015 TaxSlayer Bowl; 2016 Rose Bowl). He earned second-team all-conference laurels as a junior and was tabbed honorable mention all-league his sophomore campaign.

 

Blythe played seven seasons in the National Football League after being drafted in the seventh round by Indianapolis in 2016. He played four seasons with the Los Angeles Rams (2017-20), and one year each with the Colts (2016), Kansas City Chiefs (2021) and Seattle Seahawks (2022). Blythe started at right guard in Super Bowl LIII for the Rams.

 

Blythe will accompany the Iowa captains to midfield for Saturday’s pregame coin toss. He will also be with the Hawkeyes in the locker room before and after the game.

Mike Vrabel is helping the Browns while the Browns help set up his next chapter: Dan Labbe

 

Cleveland Browns consultant Mike Vrabel during training camp at The Greenbrier

 

By  Dan Labbe, cleveland.com

Published: Jul. 31, 2024, 5:53 p.m.

WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS, W.Va. -- It’s hard to believe Mike Vrabel isn’t a head coach in the NFL this season, but his bad luck in the coaching cycle is good fortune for the Browns and both parties will benefit from being together, for however long their relationship lasts

“I remember when (head coach) Kevin (Stefanski) and I were talking about (hiring Vrabel), we were like, ‘Do you think he’d do this?’” GM Andrew Berry said on Monday. “Or he’s going to maybe want to take the year off with his family? And so we kind of came in softly, tactfully, and it was, from the very beginning, ‘Oh, yeah, I’d love to do this.’”

Vrabel’s time as head coach in Tennessee came to an end last January after six years of generally overachieving, building a reputation as a hard-nosed, detail-oriented coach who wreaked havoc as an underdog and wasn’t afraid to play chicken with his former head coach, Bill Belichick.

He’s the perfect mix of football guy and analytics, bridging the gap between the two sides, learning from the likes of Belichick and Urban Meyer about building winning programs.

“He has such a unique perspective because here’s a former All-Pro player, coached in Power 5 college, defensive coordinator and then very, very successful head coach in Tennessee,” Berry said. “So there’s nothing that he hasn’t seen or that he can’t provide insight into, whether it’s how we’re practicing on the field, how we game plan, player development and player support areas, how we think about acquiring players.”

Vrabel ending up in Cleveland during this unexpected gap year is a testament to how stable the Browns organization has become in such a short time under Berry and Stefanski. Vrabel certainly doesn’t need this job. He’s a hot name in the next coaching cycle before it even begins. He and Belichick might be the two scariest men in football, at least if you’re a coach whose seat is starting the season a little warm.

“Have a lot of respect for this organization,” Vrabel said. “What (owners) Jimmy and Dee (Haslam) have done, have a ton of respect for Andrew and Kevin and what they’ve been able to do in a short amount of time. And I trust them and I trust them that they would do right by me and that they would help me and that the position and the fit would be beneficial to everybody.”

For Stefanski, there are plenty of coaches who might be intimidated having Vrabel in the building, even if they’re a two-time coach of the year. Vrabel is a native son, someone the Browns probably should have hired in 2018 instead of running it back with Hue Jackson after his 1-31 masterpiece.

After a brief detour, it worked out just fine and the Browns ended up with Stefanski and Berry at the helm.

Instead of being intimidated — admittedly two NFL of the Year awards and a new extension make it easier — Stefanski and Berry understand the importance of having smart people around and being opportunistic to take advantage of however long Vrabel is not in a head coaching chair.

“We’re probably on borrowed time with him,” Berry admitted.

You see how the Browns are benefitting every day when Vrabel spends time with the tight ends or working alongside his former teammate, Bubba Ventrone, on special teams.

This is a two way street, though, and Vrabel is going to benefit from his time here in ways you can’t see.

He has been working with Berry and his staff and was helping in the pre-draft process, writing up reports on players, almost making it sound like he was doing work the scouting staff does.

“They give you a list of players, you try to evaluate them, you try to figure out what they can do, figure out what they do best, figure out what their areas of focus are, write up a report and then when asked about them in the meeting, try to give a concise answer to how you see the player, how they could fit, what roles they could fill, what positions they may be able to play,” Vrabel said, “and if they don’t call on you, then you just go on to the next player.”

Yes, Vrabel brings his knowledge and background as a player and coach for members of this organization to learn from, but he’s learning, too. He’s being exposed to how a team like the Browns, who rely heavily on data and analytics, approach player acquisition and team-building as well as how they utilize information on the field.

“This is the opportunity that I think is best for me right now to be able to go through draft meetings, personnel meetings with Andrew and his staff and see how that all got navigated and how they may do things,” he said. “And there’s 32 flavors in this league and everybody does it a little differently. So it’s been fun to be a part of this and try to help where I can and most especially learn.”

Vrabel is like a USB stick already loaded with valuable information and now he’s getting plugged into a Browns organization on the leading edge of football’s analytics revolution. The Browns are getting plenty of information from him, but he’ll go back into the coaching world soon, too, after he unplugs, having learned new ways of doing things, adding to his vast store of knowledge.

The Browns and Vrabel are a perfect match, and not just because Vrabel ate dog bones in junior high. The two sides are helping each other — the Browns benefitting from one of the game’s top coaches helping players and other coaches grow and develop and Vrabel gets to learn some new tricks, too, as he sets up his next move.

He’s also being reminded of what football can be.

“You can work hard and have a good time at the same time,” Vrabel said.

He’s doing both with the Browns and both he and the Browns will be better because of it.