Pro Football Hall of Fame: Former 49ers rooting hard for Eddie DeBartol... http://www.mercurynews.com/raiders/ci_22500630/pro-football-hall-fam... SIGN IN | REGISTER | NEWSLETTERS Part of the Bay Area News Group Like 47k eEdition / Subscriber Services Mobile | Mobile Alerts | RSS NEWS PHOTOS BUSINESS TECH SPORTS ENTERTAINMENT LIVING OPINION PUBLICATIONS MY TO W N HELP JOBS CARS REAL ESTATE CLASSIFIED SHOPPING Site Web Search by YAHOO! San Jose, CA Now:41°F High:63°F Low:43°F city or zip Pro Football Hall of Fame: Former 49ers rooting hard for Eddie DeBartolo By Daniel Brown
[email protected] Posted: 02/01/2013 02:21:25 PM PST Updated: 02/01/2013 10:07:07 PM PST NEW ORLEANS -- Before the 46-member selection committee meets Saturday to choose the Pro Football Hall of Fame Class for 2013, there's something Joe Montana, Jerry Rice, Ronnie Lott and other former 49ers would like to say on behalf of their former owner. "This is a no-brainer. I'm actually embarrassed that Eddie DeBartolo is not already in," said Brent Jones, a 49ers tight end from 1987-97. "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." DeBartolo Jr. is one of the 15 modern-era Hall of Fame finalists this year, a group that also includes a pair of first-time nominees with Bay Area ties, offensive lineman Larry Allen (49ers, 2006-07) and defensive tackle Warren Sapp (Raiders, 2004-07).