Photo Credit:
Charlie Nye/The Indianapolis Star
Bill Polian spent 32 years working in the NFL. Polian started his career as a scout with the KC Chiefs. In 1984 Polian as hired as GM in Buffalo and immediately began turning the franchise into a winning organization. Pollen worked in the NFL office as Vice President of Development before a brief stint with the Carolina Panthers. He left the Panthers and went to Indianapolis and where his Midas touch continued.
He is credited with drafting or sining some of the greatest NFL players of all time during his tenure in front offices in the league. Polian had knack for seeing diamonds in the rough and cultivating and elevating talent where others failed. Peyton Manning will be in present when Polian is enshrined in the Hall of Fame Saturday along with many of the other Hall of Famers he’s touched paths with during his illustrious career. Polian led the Bills to the AFC championship four times, the Panthers once, and the Colts three times. In 2009, he became the only administrator ever to be named the NFL’s Executive of the Year by The Sporting News six times.
After leaving the Colts, Polian took a job as an analyst with ESPN. Jim Irsay spoke told the Hall of Fame media, “He’s a tremendous talent evaluator. He looks at 20- and 21-year-olds and projects what they can do in the NFL.” The eye for talent Polian has it what prompted him to draft Peyton Manning over Ryan Leaf. A few of Polian’s most notable signings and draft picks include: Peyton Manning, Jim Kelly, Edgerrin James, Jim Kelly, Dwight Freeney, Kelly Collins, Thurman Thomas, and Corneilus Bennet. Many of Polian’s picks are already in the Hall of Fame and others like Peyton Manning are sure to be 1st ballot Hall of Famers when they retire. Bill Polian will be the 5th person enshrined in the class of 2015.
Tim Brown’s NFL career spanned 17 seasons and all but 1 one was spent in a Raiders uniform. Brown spent one season with Tampa Bay after leaving Oakland. Brown is considered to be one of the best WR to play in the NFL. Beginning with the 1993 season Brown recorded nine straight 1,000-yard seasons and 10 consecutive years with 75 or more catches.Brown played in 9 Pro Bowls and retired in 2004 as number 3 the third all-time leading receiver list with 1,094 receptions for 14,934 yards, and 100 touchdowns. At the time of his retirement Brown ranked fifth in career combined net yardage with 19,682 yards.
There are 24 WRs in the Hall of Fame, but Jerry Rice is the only one with more receiving yards than Brown. When asked about the long wait to get in the Hall, Brown explained why he thought it had taken 6 years to get the coveted yellow jacket (he was eligible in 2009.) “If that is the case, how are these guys [today’s WR] going to get in when they didn’t surpass our numbers? And we supposedly didn’t play in the passing era — they’re in the passing era, but they haven’t been able to put up our numbers. It’s going to be tough, no doubt.” It may be a daunting task for future Hall of Famers, but for now at least one well deserving wideout can take place among the stars. Tim Brown will be the 6th person enshrined in Canton during Saturday’s induction ceremony.
The order of enshrinement is below:
1. Ron Wolf
2. Charles Haley
3. Mick Tingelhoff
4. Will Shields
5. Bill Polian
6. Tim Brown
7. Junior Seau
8. Jerome Bettis
The enshrinement ceremony will be televised live on ESPN at 7:00 p.m. ET on Saturday, Aug. 8. Get the latest Pro Football Hall of Fame updates all weekend by following the #PFHOF15 on social media. The Minnesota Vikings and The Pittsburgh Steelers will play in the annual Pro Football Hall of Fame Game Sunday August 9. The Hall of Fame Game will air live on NBC at 8 ET.
