Last evening in Canton, Ohio, the Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2011 was officially inducted. As part of this annual ceremony, each new Hall of Famer of gets to give a speech, and with this 2011 Class being perhaps the most "Broadcast-y" of all time, the fans and media knew to expect some wordiness from Shannon Sharpe, Deions Sanders and even Marshall Faulk.
Deion's speech was actually a topic of conversation for some Redskins fans, as opinion seem divided on whether Prime Time would even mention his magical one year stint here with the Burgundy and Gold. You remember that wonderful time, right?
It was the year 2000, and Daniel Snyder's money trees were in full bloom. Sanders signed a seven year, 56 million dollar deal, with an eight million dollar signing bonus. Washington received four interceptions, 38 tackles, and a retirement notice from Deion when the season ended. But look, he made sure to still remember them in his Hall of Fame speech (kind of):
I told you I had five teams. Washington Redskins, Daniel Snyder, Vinny Cerrato, Norv Turner, Ray Rhodes, once again, Ray Meeks, Jay Byrd, equipment man, and my man, Mel Brad, man, I appreciate you so much.
If that isn't a murderer's row of football brain power, I don't know what is. Deion did indirectly mention the Redskins a second time in his speech, to thank his teammate on that 2000 Washington squad, Irving Fryar:
Irving Fryar from the Washington Redskins, Andre Rison, the guys I adore.
Well done Deion, but sorry, Chris Hanburger and Shannon Sharpe's speeches were still better.