Junior Seau earns emotional send-off at Hall of Fame

Bettis joined the Pittsburgh Steelers in 1996 and eclipsed 1,000 yards rushing in each of his first six seasons.

The other 2015 inductees were modern-era players: defensive end/linebacker Charles Haley, linebacker Junior Seau and guard Will Shields, senior finalist Mick Tingelhoff, and contributors Bill Polian and Ron Wolf. It was the largest induction class since 1967.

There was no wondering for Bettis, who wasnt shy about his desire to follow in the footsteps of other Steeler greats already in the Hall.

“This night is not about me,” he said.

In a way, Saturday’s pageantry was overshadowed by the concussions that precipitated Seau’s death, mounting evidence that links playing the sport to adverse health, and a chorus of voices – former players and the media included – who have been critical of the NFL’s handling of it all.

Bettis was a member of the Super Bowl XL championship team collecting 43 yards on the ground to help the Steelers surpass the Seahawks with a 21-10 victory. And when you look at the landscape of pro football, Marshawn Lynch is one of those guys. Nana, Papa, all my aunts, uncles, cousins, mother and brothers who share the Seau name, I know that he would say that this honor is also yours.

Here’s how the Patriots players remembered him.

“I really thought the Bus’ last stop was in Detroit at Super Bowl 40”, he said, referring to his nickname during his playing days, “the Bus”.

Bettis would take a handoff from Ben Roethlisberger and run over the Midway linebacker on his way to the end zone and lead they would not let go of.

Note to self, don’t take a 3 year old to an NFL game in December. “And I went up to him and told him that I was going to be that one. He admired her toughness “” the fight that enabled her to win her bout with cancer. “She handled it like a champion”.

Bettis was talked into coming back in 2005, and while statistically he wasn’t a huge factor – though he did score nine touchdowns – his role was much larger. “I was always just “Timmy” to them, not Tim Brown (football player)”.

“He was just a bigger, faster guy than most of the people he played with in his era”, recalled Art Rooney.

“But today, I am getting back into the locker room, to my teammates, and tell them the mistakes that I’ve made, and that the only way that you can grow is that you’ve got to ask for help”.

He also became a fan favorite. I got the chance to spend some time with Jim Brown, Willie Lanier, Ted Hendricks, Curley Culp, Mel Blount, Claude Humphrey, Lawrence Taylor, Harry Carson, Michael Irvin, Troy Aikman, John Madden, Forest Gregg, Dave Robinson, Jim Taylor, Willie Davis, Mel Renfro, Jackie Smith, Charlie Joiner, Curtis Martin, Thurman Thomas, Joe Greene, Jerry Rice and on and on and on.

“That was handsome the way that happened”, said Porter. “He epitomized Steelers’ football: smash-mouth, down-your-throat football”. We had Jack Lambert, Joey Porter and James Harrison, but (Bettis) infused attitude into the offense. We felt like we had a personal relationship with Jerome because he wore his heart on his sleeve as he left it all on the field for the whole world to see. “We can not celebrate his life and achievement without feeling the constant piece that’s missing”. A seven-time All Pro selection, he won the Walter Payton Man of the Year Award in 2003.

“Bettis was our dog,” Buchan said as he watched Bettis walk onto the stage moments before the induction ceremony began. “If you handle those, success is in your path and greatness is available”. He understood what you were trying to do to him. He was the strongest man I will ever know, and it’s because of him that I am here.

– Jerome Bettis, a running back with the Los Angeles-St. It was his tenacity that had fans clamoring for a handshake as he entered the stadium. But what would she have said if allowed to deliver a speech? A daughter is what she is.

Now what kind of father would I have been if I had said no? “I’m always afraid to meet someone that I love, but he was as nice and gracious as he appears from a distance.”.