"Bullet" Bob Hayes finally gets his due
by Dave Halprin on Jan 31, 2009 1:50 PM CST
in Dallas Cowboys News
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The Pro Football Hall of Fame finally rectified a wrong. Bob Hayes, known as the Bullet, the Dallas Cowboys WR who basically created the zone defense with his speed, was elected to the Hall of Fame.
The Dallas Cowboys drafted him in the seventh round of the 1964 NFL Draft, taking a chance an Olympic sprinter with unrefined football skills could excel as a wide receiver. The bet paid off, due to his amazing feats as a receiver, Hayes has been credited by many with forcing the way the rest of the NFL conducted pass defense (see zone defense below). His first two seasons were most successful, during which he led the NFL both times in receiving touchdowns.
In 1966 when the Cowboys played at Washington, Hayes caught nine passes for 246 yards. Earlier that same season he caught six passes for 195 yards against the Giants at the Cotton Bowl. Hayes' speed forced other teams to develop the zone defense since no single player could keep up with him. By spreading the defense out in order to contain Hayes, it allowed the Cowboys running game, with players like Don Perkins, Calvin Hill, Walt Garrison and Duane Thomas to flourish. Hayes returned punts for the Cowboys and was the NFL's leading punt returner in 1968 with a 20.8 yards per return average and two touchdowns including a 90 yarder against Pittsburgh. He was named to the Pro Bowl three times and All Pro four times. He helped Dallas win five Eastern Conference titles, two NFC titles, played in two Super Bowls, and was instrumental in Dallas' first ever Super Bowl victory in 1971, making Hayes the only person so far to win both an Olympic gold medal and a Super Bowl ring.
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This is just great!
I wonder who will give his induction speech? I think maybe his sister, but if not, then Roger Staubach should. Or maybe me!
Maybe Gil Brandt
He and Coach Landry drafted him and turned him from track star to football player.
T-New, shutting down WR's for Dallas since 2003
by APerfectStar on Jan 31, 2009 2:00 PM CST up reply actions
This is awesome
and long overdue!
You'll never get in a traffic jam,while going the extra mile. -Roger staubach
Well Deserved and Long Overdue
One of the most electrifying players of his generation. I’m so happy for him, his family and team mates. Now if we could only instill some of their…never mind, I’m going to keep this positive.
Way to go Bullet Bob !
'It is not enough for me to win. My enemies must lose' - David Merrick
Good news
Nice to see this happen, and another Cowboy legend get a just reward
Awesome! But waaaay overdue.
How many NFL executives (and Buffalo Bills) have they enshrined since they should have put Bullet Bob in there?
Heck yeah! bout damn time!!!
"Remember this. Bear Bryant retired at age 69, and he died 28 days after he stopped coaching. If you don't have something, and a purpose in your life, you're gonna die."- Lou Holtz (funny old man)
by BLUE_Thru-n-Thru on Jan 31, 2009 2:12 PM CST reply actions
It's about time
because of his speed teams had to come up with zone coverage
It would've been nice if it had happened when he was still withn us.
It,s just good that it happened.
I'm glad Sharpe didn't make it
He (along w/ 3.9 yards/carry Jerome Bettis) belongs in the hall of pretty good. If he gets in, so should Keyshawn – who was a better receiver and a better blocker than Shannon Sharpe.
Sharpe was one of the best tight ends in NFL history
at least statistically…plus he was a key part of 3 super bowl winners. Great postseason player. He deserves to be in the NFLHOF
One thing I wonder
Was he really a TE, or more of a slot WR like Dallas Clark? I don’t recall him having much in the way of blocking responsibilities, so I am not sure if it is fair to compare his stats to other TEs.
(Romo) still gets excited when he buys a new t-shirt at Target for crying out loud
by I_miss_Switzer on Jan 31, 2009 3:23 PM CST up reply actions
so.....
who thinks there is still a Cowboys curse in the hall???
In reference to how good the Steelers have been in their history: "No one is even close to them."- Steal Home
I think it can be argued Pearson deserves to be in the NFL HOF
Rookie free agent
NFL All-70s receiver
Led NFL in yards once and NFC in catches/yards a couple times
3 times All Pro
3 Pro Bowls
Hail Mary catch
1980 divisional playoff heroics
1973 divisional playoff heroics
3 Super Bowls, 1 TD
Plus blocking
on Dorsett’s 99-yard run.
Keep doing what you been doing, keep getting what you been getting.
Not Drew
Too many other receivers have accomplished way more.
0 = The number of Super Bowls the Eagles have won.
More? Drew has more game winning and game changing catches than
most already in the HOF. And he blocked. Dallas was a running team, so Drew’s total catches are not among the hghest for sure, but his catches were big. Many receivers have a highlight catch or two. Drew had bunches. Drew was involved in just about every highlight play Dallas made duing his carreer. On Dorsett’s 99 year TD against the Vikes, it was Drew at the 50 yard line, throwing the block that kept Tony running. To keep Drew Pearson out of the PFHOF is to deny the greatness of the Cowboys all together during those years.
Family, Friends, Cowboys, Beer & BBQ. Life is good!
reasonable people.
Stability is key, and JD is a Beast.
Jindal - 2012
"AMMIITAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAABHH!!!"
I think there was
but it’s been alleviated because people have made noise and put pressure
on the writers to justify their positions. And since then Mel Renfro, Bob Hayes
and Rayfield Wright have been inducted.
Look, the sportswriters got cute a few years ago when they only elected two or
three players in years when they could have put in six. Then, two years later,
Peter King is whining that there’s a backlog of worthy players and he and his
colleagues have never had tougher decisions to make.
But fans appear to be catching on. I made this point years ago when Redskins
fans were whining that Art Monk should have been in. They were taking it out on
fans other players and claiming there was a Redskins bias.
The case is that A LOT of these guys deserve to be in, and the Hall should be electing
the maximum for many consecutive years to overcome it. The point is that MORE fan
bases should be doing what the Cowboys fans and some area writers did, which is
raise the specter of bias and repeat it over and over again.
Because things HAVE changed since the complaining began. It does work. And it
needs to be done with a lot of players, on a lot of teams.
When you put revolving doors on the hall. When you drop the standards.
I have no doubt that there are many who deserve to be in. I just think it should remain difficult. The ones that deserve it will eventually get in.
You tell
me how the hell does wilson, woodson and thomas make it and not harvey martin or pearson.
The HOF is a joke.
The guys who made it deserved it
Don’t rip on them because people you like didn’t.
Derrick Thomas is the only guy who I thought was borderline. Every other player
elected as a slam dunk.
It looks awfully petty and indignant
when a Cowboys player is elected to the HOF and your immediate reaction
is to complain.
How about a congratulations for Bob Hayes? Who was just elected to that “joke.”
I complain
because for every 1 Cowboy who makes it 3 are left out.
Hard pressed to see what thomas did to deserve this.
when martin/Pearson/Howley make it then I won’t complain.
Two chances of all of those guys making it.
As they say Slim and none and Slim ain’t at the game!
by oneforthethumb on Jan 31, 2009 8:23 PM CST up reply actions
For every one in three are left out?
That’s insane.
There are now nine Cowboys players in the Hall. Emmitt is a lock in the coming years and Darren Woodson will probably get a good look.
So where are the 30 to 33 neglected Cowboys players, by your logic?
Cliff Harris doesn’t deserve it. I don’t care what Paul Zimmerman says. I think Chuck Howley and Drew Pearson deserve looks. Harvey Martin? Uh, have you noticed the incredible backlog of worthy pass rushing ends on the outside looking in? Guys like Claude Humphrey and Richard Dent? It’s the biggest backlog of Hall worthy guys around.
That’s three. Find me another organization that doesn’t have a few players in similar positions?
But here’s the problem with your whine.
A few years ago, Cowboys were being blackballed. Hayes had his nomination shot down and Wright had his yanked from his grasp on a shameful last ballot vote when it was a simple up or down vote.
There was an outcry by Dallas fans. Randy Galloway, thought I bash him mercilessly, did something very good with his “Cow-Bias” campaign. He got people talking about it, put a lot of pressure on the voting process to be more open and got a lot of writers, like Peter King, to backpedal on this.
So, what has happened?
Four Cowboys have entered the Hall in the last four years. One will certainly go very soon and another ’90s Cowboy will have a good shot.
In other words, the players are getting what they deserve and the fans are getting what we asked for.
Let’s remember that the voters are not the same. The guys voting now are not the guys who blackballed a lot of these ’70s Cowboys back in the day. The current generation appear more open to reviewing and giving a lot of overlooked old pros their due. Look at Larry Wilson and Gene Hickerson, Ron Yary, Lynn Swann, Elvin Bethea, Harry Carson and Roger Wehrli. All worthy. All had to wait over 20, in some cases over 30 years to get their call.
In short, the Hall seems to be improving.
Call me crazy, but when the somebody actually listens to my case and makes a change in my favor, my first impulse is to thank them, not spit in their face.
You never congratulated Bob Hayes. You never thanked the Hall. Your only response to this great news has been to piss all over the NFL Hall of Fame.
What a great way to aid the causes of those Cowboys you claim to support.
by Rafael Vela on Jan 31, 2009 10:01 PM CST up reply actions
No way Woodson gets in
Larry Allen, on the other hand…
Woodson was the best strong safety...
…of the 90’s. Why would he not get in? Haley is another he should get in some day.
0 = The number of Super Bowls the Eagles have won.
Yep, Haley
What other player has five rings?
Keep doing what you been doing, keep getting what you been getting.
Did he just get two with us
because he got another with SF I thought?
It's easier
to have someone else do it for me. I’ll let you know if I need anything else, Ha Ha
Exactly...
Cowboys fans have to remember that other teams have also had great players over the years. Chris Carter for example belongs in there and it looks like he may be waiting for awhile.
The 80’s 49ers won 4 super bowls and only have two players, if I’m not mistaken, from those squads in the Hall right now, (Montana & Lott). If I were a 49ers fan I’d be screaming for Roger Craig to get in. Guy was the 1st player in NFL history to both run and catch for 1,000 yards in a single season.
Shannan Shapre belongs in the hall. If Kellon Winslow got in then so should Sharpe. And speaking of Tight Ends guys like Novachek and Brent Jones should at least get a look.
0 = The number of Super Bowls the Eagles have won.
Is the HOF based
on individual awards, etam awards or longevity?
by oneforthethumb on Feb 1, 2009 11:44 AM CST up reply actions
Raf stop it
with this let’s be grateful Hayes got in along with the other upcoming Cowboys of the 90’s.
Hayes and the Cowboysof the 90’s deserve to be in HOF just like Howley and Martin.
Look at all the steelers in the HOF.
Stallworth,blount,swann,bradshaw,harris,greene ,ham,webster to name a few.
Maybe 19 in total. twice as many as the Cowboys. No way.
If they had steriod testing in the 70’s the entire steeler’s offensive line would have been tossed from football including Webster who is in the HOF.
by oneforthethumb on Feb 1, 2009 11:43 AM CST up reply actions
Finally the injustice is righted!
And I won’t dwell on the fact that it should have happened a long time ago. I just won’t do it.
I remember watching that KC vs Seattle game
when Derrick Thomas sacked Kreig 7 times. As a kid, I was pretty upset when he died.
Gosh, Bruce Smith’s thankyou speech kinda shook me up too.
George Teague, Brock Marion, the Roy Williams-of-old: Where are you?
I remember the game
However if Thomas is in the HOF than Howley deserves to be there.
Only player named MVP on the losing super bowl team.
There has to be another way to let these old timers get in the HOF.
by oneforthethumb on Jan 31, 2009 2:55 PM CST up reply actions
+1 Howley deserves it
Is he still eligible for the Senior Committee consideration?
T-New, shutting down WR's for Dallas since 2003
by APerfectStar on Jan 31, 2009 3:07 PM CST up reply actions
+1
Keep doing what you been doing, keep getting what you been getting.
On a losing team.
That’s amazing. Remember the 1990 Pro Set Football Cards with all the Superbowl MVPs? That’s the extent of my Chuck Howley knowledge.
George Teague, Brock Marion, the Roy Williams-of-old: Where are you?
by Aaron Novinger on Jan 31, 2009 6:27 PM CST up reply actions
Derrick Thomas sacked Kreig 7 times
I kinda remember that game. Thomas barely missed his eighth sack and the result was that Krieg threw the game winning touchdown.
That's right!
Maybe NFL Network will replay that game soon.
George Teague, Brock Marion, the Roy Williams-of-old: Where are you?
by Aaron Novinger on Feb 1, 2009 9:12 AM CST up reply actions
Bullet Bob in and Cris Carter still out!!
Almost makes up for the disappointing end to the season. Almost.
i'd say
gil brandt deserves in. he changed the way drafts are done. the way talent is evaluated.
best scout ever. he was integral for the success of the cowboys. he deserves as much or more credit as schramm.
bout damn time
congratulations Bullet! You deserve it!
Next up. Drew Pearson.
"They need security in the world, Craig!"
With Hayes getting in
this means that the Cowboys drafted three HOFers in 1964. Not bad! I think second-most HOFers drafted by one team in a single year (bested only by the 1974 Steelers).
There Is Justice In the World
The Hall will induct someone who changed how the game is played. Thank goodness.
Much more rewarding than watching another system wide receiver with gaudy stats get in.
Finally!
I’ll take full credit for this induction – if I hadn’t created my sig when coming to BTB then I’m not sure this would have happened. 8^P
Stop the Madness - Enshrine Bob Hayes
"I played for the world's greatest professional sports team in history. Once a Dallas Cowboy, always a Dallas Cowboy." - Bob Hayes
http://www.bloggingtheboys.com
by Raul Villaronga on Jan 31, 2009 4:36 PM CST reply actions
Yeah its all on you
good work
"Ask Philly was it hard tryin' a stop TO, he da main reason that the fans would come fo'."
by aussie_cowboy on Jan 31, 2009 10:25 PM CST up reply actions
I'm absolutely ecstatic. Bob Hayes is the reason I'm a Cowboy fan.
I didn’t even follow the NFL in 1964. I was 17. I followed track & field & olympic weightlifting back then. Then the Cowboys took Hayes in the draft following his 100 meter, and 400×100, gold medal runs in the Olympics. I was a Cowboy fan as soon as I found out.
I had airline & game tickets, a hotel reservations, for Hayes Ring of Honor night (Sept. 2001). Bin Laden and his ahole buddies kept me from going. I’ll do my best to get to Canton for the induction of Bullett Bob Hayes. Ecstatic!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
If Bob Hayes’ nephew still posts on this blog. Man, he’s finally in and I’m very happy for Hayes, you, and your entire family. See you in Canton.
Family, Friends, Cowboys, Beer & BBQ. Life is good!
Pretty sure that CowboyMan meant that
al Qaeda’s attack on 9/11 prevented him from flying to Texas Stadium. If that’s what he meant, that ain’t propaganda.
What propaganda? I didn't fly for years after 911. I finally broke down and...
went ot Taxas last year on vacation. Propaganda? What?
Family, Friends, Cowboys, Beer & BBQ. Life is good!
Bob Hayes, Hall of Famer
Sounds appropriate. Watching him run away from every CB that opposed him, I remember asking my Dad why the Cowboys didn’t throw to him every down. His answer? “That would make the game boring, Son.” Personally, I would love him on today’s team. May he rest in peace with an even bigger smile!
Anybody know if Charles Haley is in consideration soon?
Other than his 5 rings, he was dominant enough of a player to receive recognition.
100 career sacks and nearly 500 tackles is nothing to sneeze at.
George Teague, Brock Marion, the Roy Williams-of-old: Where are you?
Hayes was a FB player first, sprinter second
Proof? His horrible track start.
He never developed true explosion out of the blocks — Hayes was notorious for his slow starts. It was his closing speed that earned him gold in Tokyo in ’64, Hayes played FB at Florida A&M, as well as running track.
Congrats on (posthumously) making the HOF.
--
Dallas Cowboy Books Blog
http://tinyurl.com/CowboyBooksBlog
I think it is 2...
and I think both Emmitt and Jerry Rice will be eligible at that time.
0 = The number of Super Bowls the Eagles have won.
It's 2010
Emmitt’s last season was 2004 so he will be inducted in 2010. Aikman’s last season was 2000 and he was inducted in 2006.
Congratulations Bob Hayes
"I played for the world's greatest professional sports team in history. Once a Dallas Cowboy, always a Dallas Cowboy." - Bob Hayes
http://www.bloggingtheboys.com
by Raul Villaronga on Feb 1, 2009 11:04 AM CST up reply actions
Sweet
Emmitt next year.
Then Woodson will get consideration. I’m not sure he’ll get in.
Then Larry Allen should get in on the 1st or 2nd ballot.
T-New, shutting down WR's for Dallas since 2003
Its about time
"Ask Philly was it hard tryin' a stop TO, he da main reason that the fans would come fo'."
Fantastic
He deserves it and I am estatic.
But somebody tell me, is it true he still lies in an unmarked grave just outside of Dallas? Seems like I read that somewhere in the last few years. I hope it’s not true, it would be travesty, a real disgrace.
by dcfansinceiwasababy on Jan 31, 2009 11:24 PM CST reply actions
Congrats to Hayes
On the other hand I’m soooo happy that POS Carter didn’t get in…….Hey Carter…..bang!!!!! back at you….Somewhere TO is smiling….lol
I was stunned that both Carter and Sharpe didn't get in.
Its gonna be tough next year too with Jerry Rice, Emmitt and Tim Brown eligible.
Oh I thought it was 2 years...
… If that is the case then Tim Brown will have to wait because Jerry and Emmitt are automatic first ballot guys and the committee will want to make someone old-timey gets in.
0 = The number of Super Bowls the Eagles have won.
Tim Brown should take a while
he and Carter are pretty indistinguishable…except Carter has more TDs and Brown more yards.
It was a great day for Cowboy fans
Long overdue but worth it.
I think Sharpe deserves to be in but I’m not sold on Carter.
Thomas was a very good pass rusher but I wonder if he hadn’t died would he have got the same consideration?? Like Raf said there are a lot of great pass rushers that are backlogged right now.
There is no theory of evolution. Just a list of creatures Chuck Norris has allowed to live.
Finally...
Bob Hayes deserved to be in the HOF many years ago, and finally got what he deserved. Congratulations to him and his family.
Emmitt will go in next year. Its all good.
Carter is number 2 all time in yards and catches
and never played with a great QB so he definitely dissevers to get in. Certainly long before say Drew Pearson does.
0 = The number of Super Bowls the Eagles have won.
Hayes' sister read Bob's thank you letter
Article link is here
"I would like to thank everyone who supported me to get into the NFL Hall of Fame, the Dallas Cowboys organization, all of my team mates and everyone who played for the Cowboys (thank the San Francisco 49ers too).
"Thank the fans all around the country and the world, thank the committee who voted for me and also the ones who (maybe) did not vote for me. Thank Mother and my family, thank (quarterback) Roger Staubach and tell all my team mates I love them.
"Thank the Pro Football Hall of Fame, all the NFL teams and players, Florida A & M University, thank everyone who went to Matthew Gilbert High School, then everyone in Jacksonville and Florida…
"Thank everyone in the city of Dallas and in Texas and just thank everyone in the whole world.
“I love you all.”
Congratulations Bob Hayes
"I played for the world's greatest professional sports team in history. Once a Dallas Cowboy, always a Dallas Cowboy." - Bob Hayes
http://www.bloggingtheboys.com
by Raul Villaronga on Feb 1, 2009 11:07 AM CST reply actions
Finally
The Cowboy-hating New England media pulled their heads out of Terry Bradshaw’s butt and decided to do what was right. Someone who changes the game and the way it’s played deserves his place in the Hall of Fame.
by GhostofGaryHogeboom on Feb 1, 2009 12:31 PM CST reply actions
Its about freakin' time!
Its a shame he wasn’t elected earlier when he was still alive.
In Romo we Trust
In with a Bullet
I never got to see him play in person but this man was a legend on the field.He changed the game of pro football.
It is ashame that what he did off the field kept him out of the HOF so long.
Peter King
made a point of noting (see his MMQB today) that he did not vote for Hayes and brought up his Homer Jones argument again…..I cannot stand that man
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