Six immortalized

CANTON, Ohio – There no longer is a question about whether Bob Hayes is a Hall of Famer. The former Dallas Cowboys receiver was inducted Saturday night, the 250th member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

The only question left is: What would Hayes have said in his induction speech?

“For us, he’s always been a Hall of Famer,” said Bob Hayes Jr., Hayes’ son. “I knew one day it was going to happen. He was always going to be a big joker, so maybe he would say, ‘It’s about time, y’all. I’ve been waiting 30-something years.’ ”

Time and the Hall wait for no man.

Hayes’ induction came in his 29th year of eligibility, but it came seven years after his death. Hayes’ son honored his father in a 2-minute, 54-second video that was taped earlier this summer, and Hall of Fame quarterback Roger Staubach gave a live, 10-minute presentation before a mostly Buffalo Bills crowd of 12,695.

Staubach talked about Hayes’ speed, his impact on the NFL and his happy-go-lucky personality.

“I know that he’s smiling now, and I hope he’s near Coach (Tom) Landry,” Staubach said, “because I know if he’s there, he’s in good shape. The only thing we miss is … he’s not here to show you his big smile.”

Hayes won two Olympic gold medals before he played a down in the NFL. He became known as the “world’s fastest human” after he tied the world record with a 10.0 in winning the 100-meter dash at the 1964 Olympics.

Hayes averaged 20.0 yards per catch, 56.2 yards per game and scored a touchdown every 5.23 catches – fourth all time among receivers with at least 250 catches behind only Hugh Taylor, Don Hutson and Paul Warfield. Of Hayes’ 371 catches, 19.14 percent went for touchdowns.

Hayes couldn’t wait to get here.

His family, believing Hayes would one day get his due, left a spot on his headstone for “Pro Football Hall of Fame” to be etched into the stone.

Buffalo Bills owner Ralph Wilson loosened up the crowd with a couple of anecdotes at the induction ceremony, and Bruce Smith finished them off with a passionate tribute to Western New York.

“This certainly feels like a home game,” said Smith, acknowledging the chants of “BRUUUCE!” which resounded through Fawcett Stadium long before the former Bills defensive end and NFL’s career sacks leader took the podium as the sixth and final inductee.

Though, he played the final four years of his career in Washington, Smith’s best memories came in Buffalo, where he was two-time NFL defensive player of the year and part of a Bills team that won four straight AFC titles in the early 1990s.

Wilson, entering the Hall 50 years since founding the Bills, also paid tribute to his team’s fans for their support despite the economic troubles that have hit the rustbelt region for the past two decades.

“I picked Buffalo and it was a lucky pick,” said Wilson, who makes his home in Detroit.

Also inducted were Chiefs linebacker Derrick Thomas, defensive back Rod Woodson and offensive guard Randall McDaniel. Thomas’ career was cut short in 2000 when he died following a car accident.

“For all Derrick Thomas fans, the light has gone back on,” former Chiefs president Carl Peterson said. “Today does culminate the life of a great NFL player, who did so much both on and off the field, a life that ended too young.”

Despite playing only 11 seasons, Thomas had the most sacks of any NFL player through the 1990s. He was a nine-time Pro Bowl selection and still holds the NFL record for most sacks in a game, seven. His 1261/2 sacks rank fourth among linebackers.

Woodson described himself as humbled, letting his numbers speak for themselves as during his playing days. Woodson was a triple threat during a 17-year career, in which he excelled at cornerback, safety and returning kickoffs.

The NFL’s defensive player of the year in 1993, Woodson was an 11-time Pro Bowl pick and was selected to the NFL’s 75th anniversary team while still playing. He appeared in three Super Bowls with three different teams – Pittsburgh, Baltimore and Oakland – and won one with the Ravens in 2001.