Gary Zimmerman gets in the Hall
Posted: February 2, 2008 10:12 pm
At last...
broncos
Zimmerman gets Hall of Fame call
By Mike Klis
The Denver Post
Article Last Updated: 02/02/2008 06:55:03 PM MST
Gary Zimmerman (File photo)PHOENIX — At long last, voters for the Pro Football Hall of Fame could not rush past the credentials of Gary Zimmerman.
It is no longer accurate to say Zimmerman, a left tackle for the Broncos and Minnesota Vikings, is the only Hall-eligible player to have been selected to two All Decade teams and not be chosen for football immortality.
It is also no longer accurate to say John Elway is the only Bronco to be elected to the Hall of Fame. Elway will gladly make room. Stepping in from his blind side is Zimmerman, who was elected Saturday to the Hall of Fame class of 2008 after receiving at least 80 percent of the vote from a 44-person board of selectors.
"I'm shocked because I didn't think I had a chance," Zimmerman said
Gary Zimmerman became the second Bronco selected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame on Saturday, Feb. 2, 2008. (Post file)while snow-bound at his Bend, Ore., home. "All the years they passed me over I thought it was going to happen again. It's too good to be true."
Another Bronco player who was among the 17 finalists, middle linebacker Randy Gradishar, was not elected in his 20th, and final year of eligibility on the modern-era ballot. Gradishar can still be elected to the Hall of Fame, but he now must now receive recommendation from the senior committee.
Zimmerman, a 6-foot-6, 294-pound linemen from the University of Oregon, played five seasons with the Broncos, from 1993-97. Although he played his first seven seasons with the Vikings, Zimmerman has disassociated himself from the Minnesota franchise and wants to walk through the hallowed halls in Canton, Ohio, as a Bronco.
Better believe Broncos owner Pat Bowlen will be invited to the Hall induction ceremonies in August.
"The reason I want to go in as a Bronco is I feel that's my family," Zimmerman said. "Minnesota had kind of cast me off and Mr. Bowlen and the whole organization has been nothing but first class to me. I'm a man of loyalty and my loyalty lies with Mr. Bowlen."
Joining Zimmerman in the Hall class of 2008 were defensive end Fred Dean, cornerback Darrell Green, receiver Art Monk, outside linebacker Andre Tippett and one senior committee submission, cornerback Emmitt Thomas.
The Hall finalists who made it to the cut of 11 Saturday, but failed to make the Hall, were receiver Cris Carter, linebacker Derrick Thomas, defensive end Richard Dent, guards Randall McDaniel and Bob Kuechenberg and multi-purpose back Marshall Goldberg.
The surprise omission from the Hall was Goldberg, whose election was considered to be rubber stamped after he was nominated by the senior committee.
Mike Klis: 303-954-1055 or mklis@denverpost.com
CONGRATS GARY!
broncos
Zimmerman gets Hall of Fame call
By Mike Klis
The Denver Post
Article Last Updated: 02/02/2008 06:55:03 PM MST
Gary Zimmerman (File photo)PHOENIX — At long last, voters for the Pro Football Hall of Fame could not rush past the credentials of Gary Zimmerman.
It is no longer accurate to say Zimmerman, a left tackle for the Broncos and Minnesota Vikings, is the only Hall-eligible player to have been selected to two All Decade teams and not be chosen for football immortality.
It is also no longer accurate to say John Elway is the only Bronco to be elected to the Hall of Fame. Elway will gladly make room. Stepping in from his blind side is Zimmerman, who was elected Saturday to the Hall of Fame class of 2008 after receiving at least 80 percent of the vote from a 44-person board of selectors.
"I'm shocked because I didn't think I had a chance," Zimmerman said
Gary Zimmerman became the second Bronco selected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame on Saturday, Feb. 2, 2008. (Post file)while snow-bound at his Bend, Ore., home. "All the years they passed me over I thought it was going to happen again. It's too good to be true."
Another Bronco player who was among the 17 finalists, middle linebacker Randy Gradishar, was not elected in his 20th, and final year of eligibility on the modern-era ballot. Gradishar can still be elected to the Hall of Fame, but he now must now receive recommendation from the senior committee.
Zimmerman, a 6-foot-6, 294-pound linemen from the University of Oregon, played five seasons with the Broncos, from 1993-97. Although he played his first seven seasons with the Vikings, Zimmerman has disassociated himself from the Minnesota franchise and wants to walk through the hallowed halls in Canton, Ohio, as a Bronco.
Better believe Broncos owner Pat Bowlen will be invited to the Hall induction ceremonies in August.
"The reason I want to go in as a Bronco is I feel that's my family," Zimmerman said. "Minnesota had kind of cast me off and Mr. Bowlen and the whole organization has been nothing but first class to me. I'm a man of loyalty and my loyalty lies with Mr. Bowlen."
Joining Zimmerman in the Hall class of 2008 were defensive end Fred Dean, cornerback Darrell Green, receiver Art Monk, outside linebacker Andre Tippett and one senior committee submission, cornerback Emmitt Thomas.
The Hall finalists who made it to the cut of 11 Saturday, but failed to make the Hall, were receiver Cris Carter, linebacker Derrick Thomas, defensive end Richard Dent, guards Randall McDaniel and Bob Kuechenberg and multi-purpose back Marshall Goldberg.
The surprise omission from the Hall was Goldberg, whose election was considered to be rubber stamped after he was nominated by the senior committee.
Mike Klis: 303-954-1055 or mklis@denverpost.com
CONGRATS GARY!
![[smilie=happydance.gif]](./images/smilies/happydance.gif "happydance"){kind=small}
