The Haggar Gold Jacket Report - Issue 16

The Haggar Gold Jacket Report is a weekly update on recent news surrounding the very select group of men who’ve earned a place in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Hall of Famers Birthdays

May 5 – Tony Canadeo* (1919) May 6 – Weeb Ewbank* (1907) May 7 – Johnny Unitas* (1933) May 8 – Doug Atkins (1930) May 8 – Ronnie Lott (1959) *deceased

Last week Jared Green, son and presenter of Class of 2008 enshrinee DARRELL GREEN, was eligible for the 2012 NFL Draft. Although the 6-2, 191-pound wide receiver was not drafted in any of the seven rounds, it didn’t take long thereafter for him to find a team. The Carolina Panthers signed him as free agent shortly after the draft.

When asked about the younger Green, Panthers head coach Ron Rivera acknowledged that he was fast, although maybe not as fast as his father.

“He’s a good route runner, too,” Rivera said. “Good vertical threat and he catches the ball well on the run.”

Jared knows that whether he was drafted or undrafted his job remains the same. He now has an opportunity to get to training camp and make an NFL roster and follow in his father’s footsteps.

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Speaking of DARRELL GREEN the former great Washington Redskins cornerback can add The D.C. Sports Hall of Fame to his long list of honors. Darrell has already been inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, the College Football Hall of Fame, the NCAA Division II Hall of Fame, the Texas Sports Hall of Fame, the Lone Star Conference Hall of Honor, and the Javelina Hall of Fame.

Green is one of six recipients to be inducted into the D.C. Sports Hall of Fame during a ceremony at Nationals Park, before Sunday’s game between the Washington Nationals and the Philadelphia Phillies.

Green’s name will be added to the Washington Hall of Stars list in the outfield of Nationals Park. Darrell joins 35 other Redskins in the Hall of Stars, including Pro Football Hall of Fame quarterbacks SAMMY BAUGH and SONNY JURGENSEN.

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Pro Football Hall of Famer and Canton, Ohio native DAN DIERDORF has agreed to be the keynote speaker for the 67th Annual Varsity Awards Banquet at Petoskey High School on Wednesday, May 30 in Petoskey, Mich.

The banquet honors Northmen varsity athletes, and several individual awards will be presented, including the U.S. Army Reserve Scholar Athlete Awards. Seniors Joe Robbins and Olivia Pizii are the recipients of those prestigious honors.

Robbins is headed to Grand Valley State to play football, while Pizii will play golf at Ferris State University.

Before embarking on a 13-year pro football career with the St. Louis Cardinals, Dan was a three-year starter at the University of Michigan where he was a consensus All-American in 1970.

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This week the Hall of Fame's Educational Outreach Program was busy building character through its "Heart of a Hall of Famer" series. The program provides students across the country the opportunity to learn first-hand what it took beyond athletic ability for legendary Hall of Famers to achieve great success both on and off the field. The program focuses on the positive character qualities these men possess and how to live life according to the Six Pillars of Character: Trustworthiness, Respect, Responsibility, Fairness, Caring and Citizenship.

Pro Football Hall of Fame running back and the NFL’s all-time leading rusher EMMITT SMITH got things started on Tuesday, May 1 when he connected through videoconference and engaged with more than 1,100 students from 32 different schools throughout the United States. He discussed and stressed to the children about being accountable for their own actions because every decision one makes in life can have a direct impact on their future.

The series then continued two days later with the NFL’s all-time sack leader and Class of 2009 enshrinee BRUCE SMITH. He spoke to over 550 students from 21 schools spread across eight different states. Clearly still shaken from hearing the sad news about the passing of his friend Junior Seau, Smith delivered a strong message to the children. His first word of the day talked about encouraging people to find someone if they are having issues or trouble of any kind whether it’s a teacher, a coach, a parent or anyone with life experience, to sit down with and discuss one’s feelings.
 

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Links Related to this story:

HOF Bios: Sammy Baugh | Dan Dierdorf | Darrell Green | Sonny Jurgensen | Bruce Smith | Emmitt Smith
More: 2012 NFL Draft | Heart of a Hall of Famer series | Hall of Famers by college

Archived:

Issue 15 (April 27) | Issue 14 (April 20) | Issue 13 (April 13) | Issue 12 (April, 6) | Issue 11 (Mar. 30) | Issue 10 (Mar. 23) | Issue 9 (Mar.16) | Issue 8 (Mar. 9) | Issue 7 (Mar. 2) | Issue 6 (Feb. 24) | Issue 5 (Feb. 17) | Issue 4 (Feb. 10) | Issue 3 (Feb. 3) |  Issue 2 (Jan. 27) | Issue 1 (Jan. 20)