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A20 SPORTS
Saturday 3 February 2018

Moss, Owens, Bruce: quite the wideout collection

By BARRY WILNER per Bowl.
AP Pro Football Writer Like Owens, Moss also had
BLOOMINGTON, Minn. (AP) some run-ins with team-
— Randy Moss on one side, mates, opponents, coach-
Terrell Owens on the other. es and executives. Whether
Isaac Bruce in the slot. that affects him as Owens
A defensive coordinator’s believes it has impacted
dilemma. him for Hall of Fame consid-
On Saturday, the 48 voters eration remains to be seen.
for the Pro Football Hall of “Going through college
Fame face a similar com- and my first couple years in
plexity. Is Moss, in his first the league, I never looked
year of eligibility for the at the Hall of Fame or at
Canton, Ohio, shrine, wor- the (gold) jackets,” Moss
thy of induction? And what says. “I loved and enjoyed
about T.O., in his third year the game. As I retired, now
on the ballot? Or Bruce, in on my fifth year and up as
his fourth year. a finalist, now is the time I
How about all of them? really looked at, ‘Am I Hall
The two dynamic and some- of Fame worthy? Will I get
times controversial wide the nod?’
receivers and the always- “Through my playing ca-
reliable and often spec- reer, the Hall of Fame was
tacular Bruce are among In this Dec. 22, 2007, file photo, Dallas Cowboys’ Terrell Owens (81) pulls away from Carolina not in my equation. I just
15 modern-era candidates. Panthers’ Richard Marshall (31) as Owens runs for a touchdown after a reception during the first enjoyed coming to the sta-
From that group, no more quarter of an NFL football game in Charlotte, N.C. dium and being around my
than five will be selected. Associated Press teammates and just com-
Also being considered are ly well. Moss and Owens first time — and everybody “Early in my career when peting.”
first-year eligibles lineback- made the Team of the De- else said at the same time, I I was an adolescent and Moss admits there might be
ers Ray Lewis and Brian Ur- cade for the 2000s. Bruce’s should have been in — and teenager, I had self-esteem some nerves Saturday.
lacher, and guard Steve TD reception won the 2000 even the second time, I issues,” he explains. “I had “It’s kind of like you go-
Hutchinson. Other finalists Super Bowl for the Rams have been in (contention) to get out of that. You have ing into court and being
are running back Edger- against the Titans. — I am very fortunate and to believe in yourself in or- in front of a jury, the fate is
rin James; center Kevin Owens has been a light- blessed to have played the der to progress in order to in their hands,” he says. “I
Mawae; safeties John ning rod because despite game as long as I did con- do anything in your life. No don’t have a vote.
Lynch and Brian Dawkins; impressive career numbers, sidering I thought I would
guard Alan Faneca; tack- he’s failed twice to get the never play beyond the col-
les Joe Jacoby and Tony necessary 80 percent for in- lege level.”
Boselli; and cornerbacks Ty duction. Owens played for five
Law and Everson Walls. “I think it diminishes the rep- teams in 15 pro seasons,
The senior nominees are utation and the credibility having the most success
linebacker Robert Brazile the Hall of Fame is really with San Francisco and
and guard Jerry Kramer. In revered for,” Owens says of Dallas, losing a Super Bowl
the contributor’s commit- not being elected for what with Philadelphia. Each of
tee it is Bobby Beathard. he believes are “charac- his stints in those cities — he
Much of the attention will ter” reasons. also was with Buffalo and
be paid to the guys who “I have kind of just moved Cincinnati — didn’t end
caught the ball extreme- on from it. Me not getting in well.

In this Dec. 24, 2006, file photo, St. Louis Rams’ Isaac Bruce (80)
eludes Washington Redskins Sean Taylor after making a catch
during the first half of an NFL football game in St. Louis.

matter what, I am not go- “What I will do is be around
ing to look at the Hall of close family and friends
Fame as a platform to kind and just wait it out. ... I
of validate what I did in my guess your overall final ac-
career.” complishment for playing
Nor does Moss, who spent in the NFL is the gold jack-
14 NFL seasons with five et. Some nervousness will
clubs, having his best years come in.
with Minnesota and New “I think I am worthy of get-
England. He was the 1998 ting in on the first ballot,
Offensive Rookie of the but if not, you win some,
Year with the Vikings, and you lose some. If the Hall of
In this Jan. 9, 2005, file photo, Minnesota Vikings receiver Randy Moss (84) tries to break away in 2007 helped the Patriots Fame is my final stop, I am
from Green Bay Packers cornerback Al Harris (31) after catching a pass during the first quarter of go undefeated until they definitely honored to be
their NFC wild-card football playoff game in Green Bay, Wis. fell to the Giants in the Su- part of it.”q