Sat Aug 4 22:37:23 2007

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Irvin, Thomas enshrined into Hall of Fame

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Canton, OH (Sports Network) - Michael Irvin, Thurman Thomas, Bruce Matthews, Charlie Sanders, Gene Hickerson and Roger Wehrli were enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame Saturday night.

Irvin was a three-time Super Bowl champion in his 12 seasons with the Dallas Cowboys from 1988-99. The 11th overall pick of the '88 draft totaled 750 catches for 11,904 yards with 65 touchdowns and was a member of the NFL's All- Decade Team of the 1990s.

Thomas played the first 12 years of his career with the Buffalo Bills and helped the team to four straight AFC Championships in the 1990s. He is the only player to lead the NFL in total yards from scrimmage for four consecutive seasons and was the league's MVP in 1991. A five-time Pro Bowl choice, he rushed for 12,074 yards in his career and only Emmitt Smith and Barry Sanders had more rushing yards during the 1990s.

Matthews played 19 seasons with the Houston Oilers/Tennessee Titans franchise and his 296 games are the most for any positional player in league history. He was the ninth overall selection of the 1983 draft, earned 14 straight Pro Bowl berths to tie a record and was chosen as a guard for the NFL's All-Decade Team of 1990s.

Sanders, a Seniors Committee nominee, played 10 seasons with the Detroit Lions from 1968-77. He was a seven-time Pro Bowl choice and, at the time of his retirement, was the Lions' all-time leader with 336 receptions and 4,817 receiving yards. He was also voted to the NFL's All-Decade Team of the 1970s.

Hickerson, also a Seniors Committee nominee, spent 15 seasons with the Cleveland Browns from 1958-73. His teams never had a losing season and he blocked for Hall of Fame running backs Jim Brown, Bobby Mitchell and Leroy Kelly while earning NFL All-Decade Team honors for the 1960s.

Wehrli played 14 seasons for the St. Louis Cardinals from 1969-82 and was a seven-time Pro Bowl pick. He amassed 40 career interceptions and was a member of the All-Decade Team for the 1970s.