sign in sign up
<<
Home , Dick Stanfel, John Madden, Ken Stabler, Marvin Harrison, Tony Dungy

FOR USE AS DESIRED 8/2/16

FOOTBALL IS BACK! EIGHT INDUCTED IN CANTON, COLTS TAKE ON PACKERS 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.

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 2016 is inducted, sporting their new gold Hall jackets in front of returning Hall of Famers and thousands of fans.

“This is a wonderfully spectacular tradition, one of the greatest in all of sports,” says Hall of Fame president DAVID BAKER. “Nowhere can fans see so many of the greatest heroes of the game in one place at one time. There’s no better way to kick off the NFL season.”

The Hall of Fame class of 2016:

INDUCTEE POSITION(S) TEAM(S), YEARS Edward DeBartolo, Jr. Owner 1977-2000 49ers Coach 1996-2001 Buccaneers, 2002-08 Colts QB 1991 Falcons, 1992-2007 Packers, 2008 Jets, 2009-10 Vikings Kevin Greene LB/DE 1985-1992 Rams, 1993-95 Steelers, 1996, 1998-99 Panthers, 1997 49ers WR 1996-2008 Colts T 1997-2008 Rams, 2009 Bears QB 1970-79 Raiders, 1980-81 Oilers, 1982-84 Saints G 1952-55 Lions, 1956-58 Redskins

“…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.

BRETT FAVRE selected his wife DEANNA FAVRE to represent him, only the second time a wife will present her husband during the enshrinement ceremony. KIM SINGLETARY, wife of Pro Football Hall of Famer , served as a presenter in 1998.

“Deanna is the best teammate I’ve ever had,” says Favre. “She has been by my side throughout this journey and I’m so excited that she gets to play such an important role for me.”

The Pro Football Hall of Fame class of 2016 presenters:

INDUCTEE PRESENTER RELATIONSHIP Edward DeBartolo, Jr. Lisa DeBartolo Daughter Tony Dungy Teammate Brett Favre Deanna Favre Wife Kevin Greene Dom Capers Coach Marvin Harrison Jim Irsay Colts Owner Orlando Pace Justin Pace Son Ken Stabler Coach Dick Stanfel Coach

Then on Sunday night, it’s back to football with the first game of the year – the annual NFL/Hall of Fame Game at 8:00 PM ET at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium on ESPN – when the and meet.

Sunday marks the debut of the NFL’s new rules governing touchbacks on kickoffs. For the 2016 season, after a touchback resulting from a kickoff or safety kick, the ball will now be placed at the receiving team’s 25-yard line.

The NFL/Hall of Fame Game will cap a memorable weekend for Colts and Packers fans one night after three of their famed legends are formally enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Longtime Packers Brett Favre and former TONY DUNGY and MARVIN HARRISON are among the eight-man class of inductees.

“I always talked during our era that, not only was it great, but it was so entertaining,” says Colts owner JIM IRSAY about the impact Dungy and Harrison had on the organization’s history. “Those were really special guys on those teams.”

The Colts appearance will mark the fifth time the team has played in the NFL/Hall of Fame Game (1964, 1982, 1996, 2008).

“Everybody is going to play,” says Indianapolis head coach on whether the extra game will alter the players’ workload. “Every practice, every game and every snap that these guys take is going to define and determine roles. It is going to be great to cut these guys loose against a great organization and a great football team like the Green Bay Packers.”

Green Bay quarterback is looking forward to seeing his former teammate honored in Canton.

“It’s exciting for Brett and it is fun to be able to be out there and to see him put that jacket on is going to be really special,” says Rodgers. “To join the ranks of the greatest players off all time in our sport is pretty amazing and I’m really happy for him.”

The Packers will play in the preseason classic for the fifth time in franchise history (1969, 1980, 1993, 2003).

“The young guys are going to have more opportunities,” says Green Bay head coach MIKE MC CARTHY of playing in the Hall of Fame Game. “The fifth preseason game, nobody’s going to benefit from that more than those guys.”

# # #