2007 Hall Of Fame Capsules

GENE HICKERSON Guard, 6-3, 248

• 1958-1973 Cleveland Browns. 15 seasons, 202 games.

Selected as future choice in seventh round of 1957 draft. . . . A tackle in college, was shifted to guard. . . . Was lead blocker for three Hall of Famers: Jim Brown, Bobby Mitchell and Leroy Kelly. . . . First-team All-Pro five consecutive seasons (1966-1970). . . . Voted to Pro Bowl six straight times (1966-1971). . . . During Hickerson's tenure, Browns never had a losing season. . . . Before Hickerson joined Browns, only seven runners in NFL history reached 1,000 yards rushing. With Hickerson as lead blocker, Browns posted 1,000-yard rushers in nine of his first 10 seasons. . . . Cleveland featured league's leading rusher in seven of those 10 seasons. . . . Chosen for NFL's all-decade team of the 1960s.

MICHAEL IRVIN Wide receiver, 6-2, 207

• 1988-1999 Dallas Cowboys. 12 seasons, 159 games.

Cowboys' first-round pick (11th overall) in 1988 draft. . . . Became the first rookie receiver to start a season opener for Dallas in more than 20 years. . . . Led league with 1,523 yards on 93 catches in 1991. . . . Had 1,000-yard seasons in all but one year from 1991-1998. . . . In 1995, Irvin had his finest season: 111 catches for 1,603 yards. He also established an NFL record with 11 100-yard games and scored 10 touchdowns. . . . Cowboys made four straight appearances in NFC championship game (1992-1995) and won three Super Bowls. . . . Finished career with 750 receptions for 11,904 yards and 65 TDs. . . . Selected to five straight Pro Bowls. . . . Picked for NFL's all-decade team of the 1990s.

BRUCE MATTHEWS Guard, tackle, center, 6-5, 289

• 1983-2001 Houston Oilers/Tennessee Oilers/Titans. 19 seasons, 296 games.

Selected by Houston in first round (ninth overall) of 1983 draft. . . . Regarded as one of game's finest offensive linemen for nearly two decades. . . . Played in more games than any positional player in NFL history. . . . Started 292 of 296 games he played and 15 playoff games. . . . Played at every position on line. . . . Most starts came at guard (99 on left side, 67 as right guard) and at center (87). . . . Also had 22 starts at right tackle, 17 at left tackle. . . . Voted to first of 14 consecutive Pro Bowl teams (nine at guard, five at center) following 1988 season, tying Hall of Famer Merlin Olsen for most ever. . . . Was voted All-Pro nine times. . . . Selected as guard on NFL's all-decade team of the 1990s.

CHARLIE SANDERS Tight end, 6-4, 230

• 1968-1977 Detroit Lions. 10 seasons, 128 games.

Selected by Detroit in third round (74th player overall) of 1968 draft. . . . Was only rookie selected to play in Pro Bowl in 1968. . . . Was voted to seven Pro Bowls. . . . In second season, caught 42 passes for 656 yards and three TDs, earning first of three consecutive All-Pro honors. . . . Made 30 or more receptions in a season seven times and had more than 500 yards receiving in six seasons. . . . At retirement was Lions' career receptions leader (336); his career yards receiving (4,817) ranked second. . . . Was Lions' leader or co-leader in receptions six of his 10 seasons. . . . Chosen for NFL's all-decade team of the 1970s.

THURMAN THOMAS Running back, 5-10, 198

• 1988-1999 Buffalo Bills, 2000 Miami Dolphins. 13 seasons, 182 games.

Selected in the second round of the 1988 draft. . . . A key part of Bills' unprecedented run of four straight Super Bowl appearances. They lost all of them. . . . Led NFL in total yards from scrimmage four consecutive seasons. . . . In 1991, gained over 2,000 yards from scrimmage and was voted league's MVP. . . . At time of retirement, ranked sixth all-time in career yards from scrimmage (16,532). . . . Rushed for 12,074 yards. . . . Only Emmitt Smith and Barry Sanders ran for more yards in the 1990s. . . . One of only three Hall of Fame running backs (Walter Payton and Marcus Allen) to have more than 400 receptions and 10,000 yards rushing. . . . Selected to five consecutive Pro Bowls. . . . Chosen for NFL's all-decade team of the 1990s.

ROGER WEHRLI Cornerback, 6-0, 190

• 1969-1982 St. Louis Cardinals. 14 seasons, 193 games.

Selected in first round (19th overall) of 1969 draft. . . . In 1970 picked off career-high six passes (a feat he matched in 1975) to earn first-team All-Pro and Pro Bowl honors. . . . Led or tied for lead in interceptions for Cardinals four times. . . . Registered interception in all but two seasons and amassed 40 career interceptions, two for touchdowns. . . . Intercepted three of Roger Staubach's passes during key 31-17 win over division rival Dallas, Dec. 7, 1975. . . . In 1981, was moved to left cornerback. . . . Recovered 19 fumbles during career. . . . Voted to NFL's all-decade team of 1970s, was first-team All-Pro five times (1970, 1974-1977) and made Pro Bowl seven times.

Source: Pro Football Hall of Fame