Former Raider Ray Guy, arguably the greatest punter in NFL history, was among seven players named to the Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2014, the Hall announced Feb. 1.
After waiting 23 years, Guy is the first punter elected to the Hall of Fame. He was a modern era finalist seven times.
Joining Guy (top photo) in the Class of 2014 are fellow HOF senior committee nominee defensive end Claude Humphrey and modern era candidates defensive end Michael Strahan, receiver Andre Reed, defensive back Aeneas Williams, linebacker Derrick Brooks and offensive tackle Walter Jones.
Former Raiders wide receiver Tim Brown was among eight finalists not chosen. Brown has been a finalist the past five years.
"Good things are worth waiting for," Guy told reporters at the NFL Honors show in New York on Feb. 1. "It's just a matter of time when it will show up. And I knew it would, sooner or later. It had to, whether it was me or somebody down the road. But sooner or later, it had to show up, because that is a part of a football game."
Induction will be on Aug. 1 in Canton, Ohio.
Guy, right, had a career punting average of 42.4 yards after playing for the Raiders from 1973 to 1986. He played in seven Pro Bowls and was named All-Pro six times. The former Southern Mississippi All-America was the first punter selected in the first round (23rd by Oakland in 1973) of the NFL draft.
Only three of his 1,049 punts were blocked, and he had 209 punts downed inside the 20-yard line while playing all of his 207 games in 14 seasons with the Raiders.
"It's gratifying to now see a punter go into the Hall of Fame," Guy told reporters Feb. 1. "Whether it was me or somebody else, they needed representation in that position.''
Said former Raiders coach Tom Flores:
“With his ability, he was such a unique and great punter that he changed the way that punting was viewed and changed the whole complexion of the game. There were some punters before him that were pretty impressive, but Ray was the kind of guy that gave you that ‘wow’ when you watched him. Ray was more than just a punter – he was a great athlete."
Said Raiders Hall of Fame receiver Fred Biletnikoff:
"Ray could have been considered our most valuable player every year, as he was the one constant whose performance in every game gave us a chance to win. Statistics didn’t do him justice, as Ray sacrificed those for good of the team. If the situation called for him to boom a punt long and high, he would. If it called for a coffin corner kick, He was a weapon and had the ability to flip the field. Ray set the standard for all punters to follow.”
Guy joins Jan Stenrud as the only kickers enshrined in the Hall of Fame.
For more information on the Class of 2014, please click Pro Football Hall of Fame
Raiders.com
Guy, Brown Among HOF Finalists
Former Raiders receiver/returner Tim Brown is among 15 modern-era finalists
for induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2014, the Hall announced Jan. 10.
The HOF 46-member selection committee will vote Feb. 1 in New York, with a minimum 80 percent required for induction.
Brown, 47, has been a HOF finalist five times.
The other 2014 finalists are linebacker Derrick Brooks, coach Tony Dungy, receiver Marvin Harrison, offensive tackle Walter Jones, defensive end Michael Strahan, defensive end/linebacker Charles Haley, defensive end/linebacker Kevin Greene, receiver Andre Reed, running back Jerome Bettis, safety John Lynch, guard Will Shields, cornerback/safety Aeneas Williams, kicker Morten Andersen and former San Francisco 49ers owner Edward DeBartolo Jr.
Former Raiders punter Ray Guy and defensive end Claude Humphrey were announced as senior nominees in August.
If selected, Guy would become the first punter to be inducted. Andersen would become the second pure kicker, following Jan Stenerud.
Brown, right, played 16 seasons (1988-2003) for the Raiders and one with the Buccaneers. When he retired, the 1987 Heisman Trophy winner from Notre Dame ranked fifth in NFL total yards with 19,682. The Dallas, Texas, native was chosen to a Raiders franchise-high nine Pro Bowls.
Brown finished his NFL career with 1,094 receptions for 14,934 yards and 101 touchdowns — all in the top three all-time when he retired after the 2004 season. He holds Raiders franchise records for most receptions in a season (104 in 1997), career receptions (1,070), touchdowns (104), receiving touchdowns (99), games played (240) and all-purpose yards (19,434).
The modern-era finalists were chosen by the selection committee from a list of 126 nominees that was reduced to 25 semifinalists. Each finalist received a minimum vote of 80 percent.
For more information on the Class of 2014, please click Pro Football Hall of Fame
Guy Chosen Senior Nominee
Former Raiders punter Ray Guy and ex-Atlanta Falcons defensive end Claude Humphrey were named the Pro Football Hall of Fame's senior committee nominations for induction into the Class of 2014, the Hall announced Aug. 21, 2013.
Guy and Humphrey will join 15 yet-to-be-named modern-era candidates on the list of finalists from which the Class of 2014 will be selected. The Hall of Fame selection meeting will be held on Feb. 1, 2014, the day before Super Bowl XLVIII in New York/New Jersey.
Guy, right, had a career punting average of 42.4 yards after playing for the Raiders from 1973 to 1986. He played in seven Pro Bowls and was named All-Pro six times. The former Southern Mississippi All-America was the first punter ever selected in the first round (23rd by Oakland in 1973) of the NFL draft.
Guy, 63, has been a finalist for induction into the Hall of Fame seven times.
For more information on the Class of 2014, please click Pro Football Hall of Fame
