NEW ORLEANS - Bill Parcells was a winner everywhere he coached. Time and time again, he took over struggling franchises and showed them what it takes to be a success, including a pair of Super Bowl titles with the New York Giants.
Parcells pulled off another victory Saturday - election to the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Getting in on his fourth try, Parcells led an induction class that also included mouthy defensive lineman Warren Sapp, prolific receiver Cris Carter and a pair of stalwarts from the trenches, offensive linemen Jonathan Ogden and Larry Allen.
The class of 2013 also included a pair of senior selections, Curley Culp and Dave Robinson. The announcement was made in New Orleans, site of Sunday's Super Bowl.
Almost as noteworthy were the finalists who didn't get in, including running back Jerome Bettis and owners Art Modell and Edward DeBartolo Jr. Players and coaches from the Baltimore Ravens, who will face the San Francisco 49ers in the Super Bowl, spent all week lobbying for Modell, their former owner who died last year, to claim a place in the hall.
It didn't work out, no doubt pleasing fans in Cleveland who remain bitter about Modell moving the original Browns to Baltimore.
Parcells had to wait a while, earning a bust in Canton on his fourth try.
Giants president and CEO John Mara said Parcells' selection for the hall was "long overdue."
"He's one of the best coaches in NFL history," Mara said. "He turned our franchise around."
No one was more emotional than Carter, who took six years to get in despite putting up some of the best receiving numbers in NFL history. He broke down in tears but quickly pointed out "it's not because I'm sad."
"This is the happiest day of my life," he said. "It's unreal you're going to end your career in Canton."
In addition to Bettis, four other players failed to get in on the final vote: Charles Haley, Andre Reed, Michael Strahan and Aeneas Williams.
Sapp got in on his first year of eligibility after playing 13 seasons with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Oakland Raiders. He amassed 96 1/2 career sacks despite playing on the interior of the defensive line, including double-digit sack totals in four seasons.
Carter played 16 seasons, becoming only the second player in NFL history to reach 1,000 receptions in a career. He caught at least 70 passes in 10 seasons, and totaled 130 touchdown receptions from 13 passers.
Allen played 203 games over 14 seasons, spending the bulk of his career with the Cowboys. He played every position on the offensive line except center and was a first-team All-Pro seven straight seasons.
Ogden spent a dozen seasons with the Ravens, a lineman who led the way for Jamal Lewis to become just the fifth running back in NFL history to rush for 2,000 yards in a season. Ogden was a six-time All-Pro and was voted to 11 Pro Bowls.
Original Print Headline: Parcells, Sapp, Carter among Hall inductees
Hall of Fame Members
Members of the Pro Football Hall of Fame by year of induction (x-old timer/senior nominee):
2013: Larry Allen, Cris Carter, x-Curley Culp, Jonathan Ogden, Bill Parcells, x-Dave Robinson, Warren Sapp.
2012: x-Jack Butler, Dermontti Dawson, Chris Doleman, Cortez Kennedy, Curtis Martin, Willie Roaf.
2011: Richard Dent, Marshall Faulk, x-Chris Hanburger, x-Les Richter, Ed Sabol, Deion Sanders, Shannon Sharpe.
2010: Russ Grimm, Rickey Jackson, x-Dick LeBeau, x-Floyd Little, John Randle, Jerry Rice, Emmitt Smith.
2009: x-Bob Hayes, Randall McDaniel, Bruce Smith, Derrick Thomas, Ralph Wilson, Rod Woodson.
2008: Fred Dean, Darrell Green, Art Monk, x-Emmitt Thomas, Andre Tippett, Gary Zimmerman.
2007: x-Gene Hickerson, Michael Irvin, Bruce Matthews, x-Charlie Sanders, Thurman Thomas, Roger Wehrli.
2006: Troy Aikman, Harry Carson, x-John Madden, Warren Moon, Reggie White, x-Rayfield Wright.
2005: x-Benny Friedman, Dan Marino, x-Fritz Pollard, Steve Young.
2004: x-Bob Brown, x-Carl Eller, John Elway, Barry Sanders.
2003: Marcus Allen, Elvin Bethea, Joe DeLamielleure, James Lofton, x-Hank Stram.
2002: x-George Allen, Dave Casper, Dan Hampton, Jim Kelly, John Stallworth.
2001: x-Nick Buoniconti, Marv Levy, Mike Munchak, Jackie Slater, Lynn Swann, Ron Yary, Jack Youngblood.
2000: Howie Long, Ronnie Lott, Joe Montana, Dan Rooney, x-Dave Wilcox.
1999: Eric Dickerson, Tom Mack, Ozzie Newsome, x-Billy Shaw, Lawrence Taylor.
1998: Paul Krause, x-Tommy McDonald, Anthony Munoz, Mike Singletary, Dwight Stephenson.
1997: Mike Haynes, Wellington Mara, Don Shula, Mike Webster.
1996: x-Lou Creekmur, Dan Dierdorf, Joe Gibbs, Charlie Joiner, Mel Renfro.
1995: Jim Finks, x-Henry Jordan, Steve Largent, Lee Roy Selmon, Kellen Winslow.
1994: Tony Dorsett, Bud Grant, Jimmy Johnson, x-Leroy Kelly, Jackie Smith, Randy White.
1993: Dan Fouts, Larry Little, Chuck Noll, Walter Payton, Bill Walsh.
1992: Lem Barney, Al Davis, John Mackey, John Riggins.
1991: Earl Campbell, John Hannah, x-Stan Jones, Tex Schramm, Jan Stenerud.
1990: Buck Buchanan, Bob Griese, Franco Harris, Ted Hendricks, Jack Lambert, Tom Landry, x-Bob St. Clair.
1989: Mel Blount, Terry Bradshaw, Art Shell, Willie Wood.
1988: Jack Ham, Mike Dikta, Fred Biletnikoff, Alan Page.
1987: Larry Csonka, Len Dawson, Joe Greene, x-John Henry Johnson, Jim Langer, Don Maynard, Gene Upshaw.
1986: Paul Hornung, Ken Houston, Willie Lanier, Fran Tarkenton, x-Doak Walker.
1985: x-Frank Gatski, Joe Namath, Pete Rozelle; O.J. Simpson, Roger Staubach.
1984: Willie Brown, Mike McCormack, Charley Taylor, x-Arnie Weinmeister.
1983: Bobby Bell, Sid Gillman, Sonny Jurgensen, Bobby Mitchell, Paul Warfield.
1982: Doug Atkins, Sam Huff, x-George Musso, Merlin Olsen.
1981: x-Morris (Red) Badgro, George Blanda, Willie Davis, Jim Ringo.
1980: Herb Adderley, David (Deacon) Jones, Bob Lilly, Jim Otto.
1979: Dick Butkus, Yale Lary, Ron Mix, Johnny Unitas.
1978: Lance Alworth, Weeb Ewbank, x-Alphonse (Tuffy) Leemans, Ray Nitschke, Larry Wilson.
1977: Frank Gifford, Forrest Gregg, Gale Sayers, Bart Starr, x-Bill Willis.
1976: x-Ray Flaherty, Len Ford, Jim Taylor.
1975: Roosevelt Brown, George Connor, Dante Lavelli, Lenny Moore.
1974: x-Tony Canadeo, Bill George, Lou Groza, Dick (Night Train) Lane.
1973: Raymond Berry, Jim Parker, Joe Schmidt.
1972: Lamar Hunt, Gino Marchetti, Ollie Matson, x-Clarence (Ace) Parker.
1971: Jim Brown, Bill Hewitt, Frank (Bruiser) Kinard, Vince Lombardi, Andy Robustelli, Y.A. Tittle, Norm Van Brocklin.
1970: Jack Christiansen, Tom Fears, Hugh McElhenny, Pete Pihos.
1969: Glen (Turk) Edwards, Earle (Greasy) Neale, Leo Nomellini, Joe Perry, Ernie Stautner.
1968: Cliff Battles, Art Donovan, Elroy (Crazylegs) Hirsch, Wayne Millner, Marion Motley, Charley Trippi, Alex Wojciechowicz.
1967: Chuck Bednarik, Charlie Bidwill, Paul Brown, Bobby Layne, Dan Reeves, Ken Strong, Joe Stydahar, Emlen Tunnell.
1966: Bill Dudley, Joe Guyon, Arnie Herber, Walt Kiesling, George McAfee, Steve Owen, Hugh (Shorty) Ray, Clyde (Bulldog) Turner.
1965: Guy Chamberlain, John (Paddy) Driscoll, Dan Fortmann, Otto Graham, Sid Luckman, Steve Van Buren, Bob Waterfield.
1964: Jimmy Conzelman, Ed Healy, Clark Hinkle, Roy (Link) Lyman, August (Mike) Michalske, Art Rooney, George Trafton.
1963: Sammy Baugh, Bert Bell, Joe Carr, Earl (Dutch) Clark, Red Grange, George Halas, Mel Hein, Wilbur (Pete) Henry, Cal Hubbard, Don Hutson, Earl (Curly) Lambeau, Tim Mara, George Preston Marshall, Johnny (Blood) McNally, Bronko Nagurski, Ernie Nevers, Jim Thorpe.
