NFL Hall of Fame announcement for 2012 coming Saturday

"The Bus" may roll into Canton this weekend

Over the next ten years, Steelers fans will be watching the stars of this past great era of Steelers football become eligible for the Hall of Fame.  That process started last year, when RB Jerome Bettis - the face of the franchise from 1996-2005 - became eligible.  Bettis did not get voted in last year, and he will once again be a finalist when the NFL Hall of Fame Selection Committee meets this Saturday to decide the 2012 class.  Pittsburgh will be well represented this year with "The Bus", C Dermonnti Dawson, and CB Jack Butler all in the finalist bracket.  The City of Pittsburgh will be further represented with RB Curtis Martin - who played high school football at Taylor Allderdice High School and college ball at Pitt.

The case for Jerome Bettis seems pretty cut and dry to those who watched "The Bus" carve up opposing defenses for a decade in the black and gold.  Bettis was the embodiment of a Steelers running back, big and strong, durable and productive.  When he finished his storied career on the podium in Ford Field after winning Super Bowl XL, he was the 5th leading rusher in NFL history.  The win in Detroit to secure the Steelers fifth Lombardi trophy was the crowning moment for Bettis, who after delivering the "One for the Thumb" retired and walked off into the sunset as a Pittsburgh Steelers icon.  For his career, Bettis rushed for 13,662 yards and 94 touchdowns.  He was a six-time Pro Bowl selection, three-time All Pro selection, three-time Steelers team MVP, and won the Walter Payton Man of the year award in 2001, all while playing in Pittsburgh.  At the outset of his career with the Los Angeles Rams, Bettis was the NFL Offensive Rookie of the year (1993).  The 1996 trade that brought him to Pittsburgh will forever live as the greatest trade in Steelers team history.

While Bettis did not get voted into the Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility, that is not uncommon in the NFL.  His odds of making it this year are far better, as his main competition will come from other players who are in the same category in WR Cris Carter, WR Tim Brown, OT Willie Roaf, and Martin. 

The Steelers could be represented by multiple entrants this year, as C Dermontti Dawson looks like a good bet to be inducted in 2012.  Dawson was one of the players who bridged the gap from the Dynasty teams of the 1970's and early 80's into the recent mini-Dynasty roster that dominated the AFC for most of the 1990's.  While "Dirt" never got his elusive Super Bowl ring, he was by far the best center in the game during his 12-year career (1988-2000).  He played in 184 games for Pittsburgh, being voted into seven Pro Bowls, and being honored as a member of the NFL All 1990's Decade team.  Offensive linemen are tougher to validate for Hall of Fame credentials, since linemen are not subject to many statistical categories like skill players are.  The worth of an offensive lineman comes from how the opposition changed their gameplan in order to accommodate his skill set.  Many coaches - including future Hall of Famer Bill Bellichick - have given their opinion that Dawson was the hardest player to game plan for simply because he was the most dominant player on the field.  His durability was another factor, as he played in 170 consecutive games before hamstring injuries eventually shelved him for 9 games in 1999-2000, ultimately leading to his retirement. 

Dawson will be attempting to enter the Hall of Fame against several other offensive line players, namely T Willie Roaf and G Will Shields, both of the Kansas City Chiefs. 

Dermontti Dawson played for the Steelers from 1988-2000

The Steelers will also have a Veterans committee finalist in this class, as CB Jack Butler will be a finalist for the first time.  Butler played his entire career with Pittsburgh from 1951-1959 and was considered one of the best at his position during that era of professional football.  Butler played in four Pro Bowls in his short career, and dominated from the cornerback spot, finishing his career with 52 interceptions for 827 yards and 4 touchdowns.  In addition, he returned kickoffs and punts and was used as a WR due to his incredible athleticism.  As a wide receiver, Butler caught 7 passes for 102 yards and 4 touchdowns in an era when passing was still considered a novelty. 

CB Jack Butler played in Pittsburgh from 1951-1959

The Steelers may not be playing in Super Bowl XLVI this weekend, but the franchise - as always - is well represented during the NFL's yearly celebration.  We at Steel World Order will be pulling for all of our Steelers heroes to be elected into the NFL Hall of Fame this Saturday, February 4th.