Sharpe wows the Hall crowd

Associated Press

CANTON

That kid who went to college with two brown grocery bags filled with his belongings strutted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame on Saturday night.

Shannon Sharpe joined running back Marshall Faulk, Chicago Bears sackmaster Richard Dent, Washington Redskins linebacker Chris Hanburger, the late Les Richter, NFL Films founder Ed Sabol and Deion Sanders in being inducted into the hall.

When Sharpe headed to Savannah State, all he heard was how he was destined to fail.

“When people told me I’d never make it, I listened to the one person who said I could: me,” Sharpe said.

Failure? Sharpe went from a seventh-round draft pick to the most prolific tight end of his time. He won two Super Bowls with Denver and one with Baltimore.

Sharpe patted his bust on the head Saturday before saying, “All these years later, it makes me proud when people call me a self-made man.”

In a captivating acceptance speech, Sharpe passionately made a pitch to get his brother, Sterling, who played seven years with the Packers, considered for election to the shrine. Sterling, who introduced his younger brother for induction, wept as Shannon praised him.

“I am the only player who has been inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame and am the second-best player in my family,” Sharpe said.

Faulk was the running back of running backs for much of his 12-season career.

Through tears, Faulk said, “Boy this is pretty special. ... I am glad to be a part of it. This is football heaven.”

Dent was a dynamic pass rusher on one of the NFL’s greatest defenses, the 1985 NFL champions. He was the MVP of that Super Bowl and finished with 1371/2 career sacks, third all-time when he left the sport.

“When you have dreams, it is very tough to say you can do everything by yourself,” Dent said. “It’s all about other people.”

Seated in a wheelchair, the 94-year-old Sabol said he “dreamt the impossible dream, and I’m living it right at this minute.”

“This honor tonight really goes to NFL Films, I just happen to be accepting all the accolades,” Sabol added.

Sabol’s son, Steve, who replaced him as president of the company, introduced his father.