CANTON, Ohio (AP) — The latest from the Pro Football Hall of Fame inductions (all times local):
7:40 p.m.
Kenny Easley, a hard-hitting safety for the Seahawks and a member of the 1980s All-Decade Team, was inducted Saturday night into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
A seniors committee choice, Easley played only seven seasons and 89 games for Seattle. But what an impact he made as an intimidator and ballhawk.
The 1981 NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year, Easley was the league’s top overall defender in 1984 when he had a league-leading 10 interceptions, a career high.
Easley, who was presented for induction by his high school coach, Tommy Rhodes, retired after the 1987 season. He had to wait 24 years before being voted into the hall.
“I was first nominated for the hall in 1997,” Easley said. “Twenty years later — be anxious for nothing — the Hall of Fame was dropped on the shoulders of Kenny Easley like a pair of shoulder pads. Some folks said I deserved to be in the hall earlier; I don’t believe that. Others say he didn’t play long enough, I don’t believe that.”
Easley concluded a politically and religiously toned speech by saying: “I thank you for welcoming me into your exclusive club.”
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7 p.m.
The Pro Football Hall of Fame has opened a display honoring NBC’s “Sunday Night Football” for its record six consecutive seasons as the top-rated show in prime time.
The centerpiece of the display describes how the program debuted in September 2006 and soon became a huge TV hit. Five years after the series launch, SNF averaged more than 21 million viewers, becoming the first sports series to rank as the prime-time leader for a full TV season (2011-12). It has remained on top since.
“The Pro Football Hall of Fame celebrates excellence everywhere,” Hall of Fame President David Baker said. “We are excited to recognize NBC ‘Sunday Night Football’ for its tremendous presentation of our great game to more than 20 million Americans each week, and its record run as the No. 1 show in all of prime-time television.”
Among the items on display is the Sports Emmy for outstanding live sports series won by “Sunday Night Football” for the 2015 NFL season.
Also on view are:
—The spotting board for the 2015 Super Bowl won by New England over Seattle, which is the most-watched program in U.S. TV history (114.4 million viewers).
—Carrie Underwood’s dress, shoes, and jewelry from the 2017 show opening.
—A highlight reel chronicling memorable moments in the history of the series.
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