Former Patriots security Rodney Harrison and defensive sort out Vince Wilfork have been named modern-era semifinalists for the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s Class of 2024 on Tuesday.
This is the third time Harrison and Wilfork have been named semifinalists. Harrison was nominated in 2021 and every of the previous two years, whereas Wilfork reached his third straight semifinal spherical. Neither participant has ever been named a finalist for the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Last 12 months, Wilfork grew to become the thirty second member of the Patriots Hall of Fame. He spent 11 of his 13 seasons in New England, the place he received two Super Bowls and developed right into a five-time Pro Bowler. Patriots coach Bill Belichick calls Wilfork the best nostril sort out he ever coached.
The Patriots chosen Wilfork within the first spherical of the 2003 NFL Draft.
Harrison final performed in 2008, his sixth and remaining season with the Patriots. Over his 15-year profession, Harrison earned two All-Pro nods, made two Pro Bowls and received a pair Super Bowls, each with the Patriots. He is the one defensive again in NFL historical past to document 30 profession sacks and 30 interceptions.
Harrison, a fellow Patriots Hall of Famer, beforehand informed the Herald in a 2019 interview he believes ex-Patriots are discriminated in opposition to within the Pro Football Hall of Fame choice course of.
“It’s just unfortunate. It’s almost a form of discrimination. People don’t want to elevate us, or recognize, or acknowledge how great we are, because they’re such haters,” he mentioned. “Everywhere I’m going, folks hate on the Patriots. So we don’t get credit score. All I hear is Tom (Brady) and Bill (Belichick). But that’s such a lazy evaluation.
As for making the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Harrison added: “The bottom line for me is this. I never sought out to be a Hall of Famer. That was never my goal. I’m not upset because I’m not in the (Pro Football) Hall of Fame. That doesn’t upset me. … A lot of guys need that to identify and let people know who they are, and their worth. It is what it is. I believe my numbers speak for themselves.”
The different ex-Patriots amongst this 12 months’s semifinalists are operating again Fred Taylor, linebacker James Harrison and large receivers Reggie Wayne and Torry Holt, who every spent one coaching camp in New England.
The listing of 25 semifinalists might be trimmed to fifteen finalists early subsequent 12 months. In order to be eligible, gamers should have been out of soccer for the final 5 seasons. Notable first-time nominees embody defensive finish Juius Peppers and tight finish Antonio Gates.
Source: www.bostonherald.com