The biggest casualty of the lockout, from a schedule perspective, was the hall of fame game. Originally scheduled for this Sunday the Hall of Fame game is traditionally the first game of the NFL season. This season it was cancelled because the NFL and the NFL Players Association couldn’t come to terms of a settlement agreement quite soon enough.
While the hall of fame game was cancelled the rest of the festival marches on. In addition to tonight’s enshrinement ceremony in Canton Ohio a new, unexpected ceremony is taking place at 11:00 AM ET. Maybe it will help take the sting out of losing the game for festival attendees.
The end of the lockout didn’t end the negotiations between the NFL and NFLPA. Until late yesterday afternoon the two sides worked to finalize the collective bargaining agreement (CBA) which includes the details that needed to be collectively bargained after the lockout settlement, including benefits, disciplinary policy and drug testing. It went longer than expected and many camp practices were interrupted until everybody got an OK from the leage offices. Now, in a show of good spriit, Executive Director of the NFLPA DeMaurice Smith and NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell will sign the CBA finalized late yesterday before the fans in Canton.
Seven men will form the Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2011 and will get inducted during an enshrinement ceremony tonight.
Defensive End Richard Dent was the Chicago Bears eighth round draft pick who went on to play eleven seasons with the club.
Running back Marshal Faulk started his career as the second overall draft pick and spent four years with the Colts and eight years with the Rams.
Linebacker Chris Hanburger spent his entire fourteen year career with the Redskins from the mid-sixties to the mid-seventies.
From the mid-fifties linebacker Les Richter defended for the Los Angeles Rams.
Cornerback Deion Sanders moved a lot during his fourteen year career playing on five different teams: Falcons, 49ers, Cowboys, Redskins, and Ravens.
At the beginning and end of his career tight end Shannon Sharpe played with the Broncos with a short stint with the Ravens in between.
The man behind the idea of NFL Films Ed Sabol had over a thirty year career pioneering the manner in which sports are presented.
