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Eddie DeBartolo Jr. misses cut for Hall of Fame induction - San Francisc... http://www.examiner.com/article/eddie-debartolo-jr-misses-cut-for-hall-o...

SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS FEBRUARY 2, 2013 BY: CHRISTIAN GIN

Eddie DeBartolo Jr. Credits: George Rose/Getty Images

Former 49ers (http://49ers.com) owner RELATED TOPICS Eddie DeBartolo Jr (http://www.examiner.com/topic/eddie- Hall of Fame debartolo-jr/articles) . failed to make the list for the Pro (http://www.examiner.com (http://www.examiner.com Football Hall of Fame (http://www.examiner.com/topic/hall- /topic/san-francisco-49ers) /topic/hall-of-fame) of-fame) induction for the 2013 class. The 2013 Hall of Eddie DeBartolo Jr Fame class was announced on Saturday afternoon. This (http://www.examiner.com (http://www.examiner.com was the second consecutive year that DeBartolo was /topic/eddie-debartolo- /topic/charles- unable to make the Hall of Fame after being named a jr/articles) haley/articles) finalist. Kevin Greene Other former 49er notable Kevin Greene (http://www.examiner.com (http://www.examiner.com (http://www.examiner.com/topic/kevin-greene/articles) , along /topic/kevin-greene /topic/larry-allen/articles) with DeBartolo, was also unable to make the top 10. /articles) Charles Haley (http://www.examiner.com/topic/charles- haley/articles) was able to make the cut into the final 10, but couldn't make the last five.

1 of 3 2/22/2013 11:05 AM Eddie DeBartolo Jr. misses cut for Hall of Fame induction - San Francisc... http://www.examiner.com/article/eddie-debartolo-jr-misses-cut-for-hall-o...

Larry Allen (http://www.examiner.com/topic/larry-allen/articles) was the only former 49er to get the nod and be inducted in the Pro Football Hall of Fame class of 2013.

DeBartolo has been consistently a semifinalist for the last few years, but this is only his second time being a finalist. Several former 49ers have felt frustration with DeBartolo not being in the Hall of Fame.

"This is a no-brainer. I'm actually embarrassed that Eddie DeBartolo is not already in," said , a 49ers from 1987-1997. "He's as good an owner as there's ever been in professional sports. There will never be another Eddie. There may be people who try to be like him, but there will never be another Eddie."

From 1977-2000, the 49ers had 16 postseason appearances, won 13 division titles and made 10 NFC Championship games under DeBartolo's ownership. He was well-known for spending money by taking care of players on his team, treating them as family members.

"He's one of those who owners that went beyond the call of duty for people that played for him," said , a 49ers Hall of Fame who played from 1979-1992. "The greatest thing I got from my experience was that relationship. Everybody was family to him."

Former 49ers offensive lineman said on his Twitter (http://twitter.com/randycrossFB/status /289745803730382850) that DeBartolo was an owner who was successful on the field. His success should've translated to a Hall of Fame induction.

“He was the most dominant NFL owner ever,”said Cross. “He's the only one with five rings."

Former 49er defensive back said DeBartolo raised standards of the game. He was a unique owner with how he ran the team.

"If you look at today's game, and how owners think in all sports, it was led by Eddie DeBartolo," said Lott. "What I mean by that is that owners now have more of an appreciation for the athletes that played for them. Other prominent teams saw that they had to raise their bar. They had to create a better environment. Now, facilities are better. If you look around the league, Eddie was one of the first to build a nice facility. So he did a lot of things that owners had to do and forced other owners to do to show that they could keep up."

Larry Allen spent the final two years of his career with the 49ers in 2006 and 2007. He was best known for being a franchise guard on the . Allen was part of the offensive line during 's best season when he ran 1,695 rushing yards and eight in 2006. He was named to the 11 times in his career, once with the 49ers during the 2006 season. Allen won his only with Dallas Cowboys in the 1995.

Defensive end Kevin Greene, who spent the 1997 season with the team, was also a finalist but did not make the list of 10. Greene helped the 49ers become a dominant defense in his lone season with the 49ers. He was named the Defensive Player of the Year

Defensive linemen Charles Haley failed to receive enough votes to get into the Hall of Fame. He was a dominant pass rusher during 1980s and won two Super Bowls in the process. Haley is the only player in NFL history to play on five different Super Bowl winning teams.

Here is the full list of this year's class:

Larry Allen - Guard/Tackle: 1994-2005 Dallas Cowboys; 2006-07, San Francisco 49ers

2 of 3 2/22/2013 11:05 AM Eddie DeBartolo Jr. misses cut for Hall of Fame induction - San Francisc... http://www.examiner.com/article/eddie-debartolo-jr-misses-cut-for-hall-o...

(http://www.examiner.com/topic/san-francisco-49ers) . - : 1987-89 ; 1990-2001, ; 2002, Miami Dolphins. - Defensive Lineman: 1968-1974, ; 1974-1980 Houston Oilers; 1980-81, . - Offensive Tackle: 1996-2007, Baltimore Ravens. - Coach: 1983-1990, ; 1993-96, ; 1997-99, New York Jets; 2003-06, Dallas Cowboys. Dave Robinson - : 1963-1972, ; 1973-74, Washington Redskins - : 1995-2003, ; 2004-07, Oakland Raiders.

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Christian Gin, San Francisco 49ers Examiner Christian Gin is a journalism student at San Jose State University focusing on reporting and editing. He will be graduating in May 2013.

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