Polian's choices dot Hall ballot

In this Saturday, Aug. 8, 2015 file photo, former President and General Manager of the Indianapolis Colts Bill Polian poses with his bust during an induction ceremony at the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio. Bill Polian entered the Pro Football Hall of Fame last year, making one of the most dynamic speeches heard at the Canton shrine. This year, Polian has nearly as strong a connection to the hall. Four of the finalists for the class of 2016 have major ties to him, Friday, Feb. 5, 2016.
In this Saturday, Aug. 8, 2015 file photo, former President and General Manager of the Indianapolis Colts Bill Polian poses with his bust during an induction ceremony at the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio. Bill Polian entered the Pro Football Hall of Fame last year, making one of the most dynamic speeches heard at the Canton shrine. This year, Polian has nearly as strong a connection to the hall. Four of the finalists for the class of 2016 have major ties to him, Friday, Feb. 5, 2016.

SAN FRANCISCO -- Bill Polian entered the Pro Football Hall of Fame last year, making one of the most dynamic speeches heard at the Canton shrine.

This year, Polian has nearly as strong a connection to the hall. Four of the finalists for the Class of 2016 have major ties to him.

2016 HALL OF FAME FINALISTS

MORTEN ANDERSEN

KICKER, 6-2, 218 1982-1994 New Orleans Saints, 1995-2000, 2006-07 Atlanta Falcons, 2001 New York Giants, 2002-03 Kansas City Chiefs, 2004 Minnesota Vikings. … 25 seasons, 382 games.

STEVE ATWATER

SAFETY, 6-3, 218 1989-1998 Denver Broncos, 1999 New York Jets. (Arkansas Razorbacks)

DON CORYELL

COACH 1973-77 St. Louis Cardinals, 1978-1986 San Diego Chargers.

TERRELL DAVIS

RUNNING BACK, 5-11, 206 1995-2001 Denver Broncos. … 7 seasons, 78 games.

EDWARD DeBARTOLO JR.

OWNER Contributor. 1977-2000 San Francisco 49ers.

TONY DUNGY

COACH 1996-2001 Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 2002-08 Indianapolis Colts.

ALAN FANECA

GUARD, 6-4, 322 1998-2007 Pittsburgh Steelers, 2008-09 New York Jets, 2010 Arizona Cardinals. … 13 seasons, 206 games.

BRETT FAVRE

QUARTERBACK, 6-2, 225 1991 Atlanta Falcons, 1992-2007 Green Bay Packers, 2008 New York Jets, 2009-2010 Minnesota Vikings. … 20 seasons, 302 games.

KEVIN GREENE

LINEBACKER/DEFENSIVE END, 6-3, 247 1985-1992 Los Angeles Rams, 1993-95 Pittsburgh Steelers, 1996, 1998-99 Carolina Panthers, 1997 San Francisco 49ers. … 15 seasons, 228 games.

MARVIN HARRISON

WIDE RECEIVER, 6-0, 181 1996-2008 Indianapolis Colts. … 13 seasons, 190 games.

JOE JACOBY

TACKLE, 6-7, 305 1981-1993 Washington Redskins. … 13 seasons, 170 games.

EDGERRIN JAMES

RUNNING BACK, 6-0, 219 1999-2005 Indianapolis Colts, 2006-08 Arizona Cardinals, 2009 Seattle Seahawks. … 11 seasons, 148 games.

JOHN LYNCH

FREE SAFETY, 6-2, 214 1993-2003 Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 2004-07 Denver Broncos. … 15 seasons, 224 games.

TERRELL OWENS

WIDE RECEIVER, 6-3, 224 1996-2003 San Francisco 49ers, 2004-05 Philadelphia Eagles, 2006-08 Dallas Cowboys, 2009 Buffalo Bills, 2010 Cincinnati Bengals. … 16 seasons, 219 games.

ORLANDO PACE

TACKLE, 6-7, 325 1997-2008 St. Louis Rams, 2009 Chicago Bears. … 13 seasons, 169 games.

KEN STABLER

QUARTERBACK, 6-3, 215 Senior nominee. 1970-79 Oakland Raiders, 1980-81 Houston Oilers, 1982-84 New Orleans Saints. … 15 seasons, 184 games.

DICK STANFEL

GUARD, 6-3, 236 Senior nominee. 1952-55 Detroit Lions, 1956-58 Washington Redskins. … Seven seasons, 73 games.

KURT WARNER

QUARTERBACK, 6-2, 220 1998-2003 St. Louis Rams, 2004 New York Giants, 2005-09 Arizona Cardinals. … 12 seasons, 124 games.

Polian hired Tony Dungy as his coach in Indianapolis, where together they won the Super Bowl in 2007.

He drafted receiver Marvin Harrison and running back Edgerrin James, two stalwarts of the Colts who were quarterbacked by Peyton Manning.

Before moving to Indy, Polian traded for Kevin Greene, who then sparked a defense that helped the Carolina Panthers make the NFC title game in their second season as a franchise.

Polian chuckles about all the tie-ins before delving into the qualifications of each of the four candidates he is most familiar with.

"All of them are difference-makers in their own way," said Polian, looking ahead to today's balloting. "These are guys who could win for you on their own merits."

Those are traits the voters must consider when looking at Dungy, Harrison, James, Greene, Brett Favre, Alan Faneca, Terrell Owens, Terrell Davis, Don Coryell, Steve Atwater (Arkansas Razorbacks), Morten Andersen, Joe Jacoby, John Lynch, Orlando Pace and Kurt Warner among modern-era nominees. Favre, Faneca and Owens are in their first year of eligibility, having retired five years ago.

The veterans committee has nominated Ken Stabler, who died last year, and Dick Stanfel, and the contributors category nominee is former 49ers owner Ed DeBartolo Jr.

Polian isn't totally unbiased about this group, of course. He also makes a thoughtful, sometimes powerful analysis of the four men who affected his career.

For Dungy, Polian points out not only the coaching record (139-69 regular season) but also the fact Dungy refined a defense, the Tampa-2, and turned around two franchises, the Buccaneers and the Colts.

And he emphasizes Dungy's status as a leader and role model.

"Not only has he been the heart and soul of his football team, the players loved him and listened to him religiously and respected the way he taught them, and that he lived the way he taught them," Polian said. "He actually transcends the game now, and he did when he was coaching.

"In my Hall of Fame speech, I called him 'America's Coach.' That's who he is."

One of Dungy's biggest stars was Harrison, a six-time All-Pro and a receiver on the All-Decade Team of the 2000s. Harrison had eight consecutive years with 1,000-plus yards receiving with 10 or more TDs; 143 catches in 2002; and career totals of 1,102 receptions, 14,580 yards and 128 touchdowns, behind only Jerry Rice.

"What people didn't see, because he was very quiet and private, was an extremely intelligent man, a devoted father and an incredibly dedicated professional," Polian said.

"Marvin was largely invisible to the press, but highly respected by teammates. He was an incredible ambassador ... gifted like few others; like Derek Jeter, he took his craft to a higher level."

James became a key to Indy's success after being drafted in the first round in 1999, the year after Manning came aboard. Ricky Williams was considered the prototype running back available in that draft, but Polian pounced on the chance to take James instead.

He was rewarded with seven 1,000-yard campaigns, and James was the Offensive Rookie of the Year in '99.

"On pure ability, he was one notch above Ricky," Polian said. "Incredible speed, great acceleration into the hole, made every cut. His acceleration in the open field, his shake-and-bake, and he could catch the ball.

"Edgerrin was as good a blocker as I have ever been around. We were a running team, we were not a 70 percent passing team, and Edgerrin was a huge part of the offense.

"Buffalo had its Triplets in three Hall of Famers (Jim Kelly, Thurman Thomas, Andre Reed). Dallas, of course, in Troy Aikman, Emmitt Smith and Michael Irvin. We had ours in Peyton, Marvin and Edgerrin."

Unlike Dungy, Harrison and James, Greene was an itinerant in a 15-season career. He played for the Rams, Steelers, Panthers and 49ers, compiling 160 sacks, making the 1990s All-Decade Team.

Polian believes Greene has been misunderstood, judged as a one-dimension sack machine.

No way, Polian notes.

"As a pure pass rusher, he was as good as there ever was," Polian said. "The only difference between him and Lawrence Taylor was that LT was stronger and a little more effective against the run.

"But Kevin was a complete player, a highly consistent pass rusher and every bit as run stopper as he was a pass rusher. He played in a 4-3 as an end, a 3-4 as an edge linebacker, he played over tight ends, and he was terrific at it."

Sports on 02/06/2016

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