PHOENIX Linebacker Junior Seau was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame on Saturday one of eight members of the Class of 2015.
Seau gained entry in his first year of eligibility.
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In addition to Seau running back Jerome Bettis wide receiver Tim Brown defensive end/linebacker Charles Haley and offensive lineman Will Shields make up the players of the Class of 15 former general managers Bill Polian and Ron Wolf were selected in the contributor category and senior nominee Mick Tingelhoff rounded out the group.
Seau who died of a self inflicted gunshot wound in 2012 just three years after playing his last game is best known for playing 13 years for his hometown San Diego Chargers but spent the final four years of his remarkable career with the Patriots.
For three years in between he played for the Dolphins traded to Miami by the Chargers after 200 games and nearly 1 500 tackles.
Seau tore his Achilles tendon in 2005 and was released by the Dolphins in March 2006. During training camp later that year he announced his retirement but preferred to call it his graduation.
Only his retirement lasted just four days. Bill Belichick called Seau and talked him into playing for the Patriots sweetening the deal by essentially giving him permission to skip training camp as long as he was in shape.
Seau played 11 games for the Patriots in his first season before breaking his right arm against the Bears infusing his trademark enthusiasm into the New England defense.
In the locker room he spoke fondly of surfing which he loved but admitted he wasn t very good at and talked of playing the ukulele an instrument played in his family s native Samoa.
Seau also called everyone teammates and media alike Buddy. He didn t often memorize names but it was an endearing habit.
He returned in 2007 and played all 19 games remarkable considering he was 38 by the time the Patriots played in Super Bowl XLII.
Elise Amendola/Associated Press/File 2007
Patriots coach Bill Belichick said that Junior Seau s election to the Pro Football Hall of Fame has obviously got to happen.
New England players wanted to win the Super Bowl that year not just for themselves and for the feat of recording the league s first 19 0 season but also spoke of winning for Seau who had played in just one other Super Bowl with the Chargers in 1995.
It was the last full season of his career Seau played four games late in the 2008 season for the injury riddled Patriots defense and seven more in 2009.
He announced his retirement for a second time in January 2010.
This week Belichick said Seau s election to the Hall has obviously got to happen.
I can t imagine having a Professional Football Hall of Fame without Junior Seau in it Belichick said. The one word that comes to me when I think of Junior in life and football is passion. He s a very passionate guy a lot of energy lot of enthusiasm.
First guy in the building in the morning watching film lifting weights ready for practice always loved to practice flying around on the practice field energy before the game on the sideline during the game. An emotional player but a smart player.
Everybody in the locker room loved Junior. They loved what he did and they loved the way that he interacted with the team. He was a great player. I was very fortunate to have the opportunity to coach him.
Born in San Diego Seau starred at Southern California before the Chargers drafted him fifth overall in 1990. In his NFL career he played 268 games (234 starts) with 1 522 tackles 56 sacks 18 interceptions 11 forced fumbles and 18 fumble recoveries. He was a 12 time Pro Bowler and six time Associated Press first team All Pro selection.
Gronkowski feted
Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski won The Associated Press NFL Comeback Player Of The Year award.
The unanimous All Pro received 27 votes from a nationwide panel of 50 media members followed by Philadelphia receiver Jeremy Maclin and Dallas linebacker Rolando McClain with seven apiece.
Gronkowski played in seven games in 2013 because of knee problems. He returned in style that style being powerful and aggressive with 82 catches for 1 124 yards and 12 TDs.
Irsay speaks
Colts owner Jim Irsay said he s confident NFL investigators will figure out how Patriots footballs got deflated in the AFC Championship game.
I think Ted Wells and Jeff Pash are going to dig into it be very detailed. Irsay said before the NFL Honors show in Phoenix. Every play in the playoffs is so important.
Every aspect is so important. You want to make sure you have a level playing field but they are a great team and a great franchise and we have a great rivalry with them And we look forward to playing them. I am confident that they will thoroughly look into it and find out what happened.
Rodgers is MVP Aaron Rodgers was awarded his second Most Valuable Player award in somewhat surprisingly easy fashion.
Rodgers who also took the honor in 2011 received 31 votes. Houston s J.J. Watt seeking to become the first defensive player to win since 1986 got 13 votes.
Patriots quarterback Tom Brady and Seahawks linebacker Bobby Wagner received one each.
Rodgers threw for 38 TDs and five interceptions.
Watt did earn a consolation prize He was a unanimous choice for Defensive Player of the Year.
He is the first unanimous choice for an AP award since Tom Brady won Most Valuable Player in 2007.
Watt had 20 sacks 50 quarterback hits 4 forced fumbles and 10 blocked passes. He also scored five touchdowns.
He is the first NFL player with multiple 20 sack seasons.
DeMarco Murray ran off with the Offensive Player Of The Year award. The Dallas Cowboys running back led the league in rushing with 1 845 yards . Gronkowski got one vote.
A desert sweep
Bruce Arians won the Coach Of The Year award for the second time in three years with different teams. Arians led Arizona to an 11 5 record despite losing his top two quarterbacks. In 2012 Arians stepped in for an ill Chuck Pagano and helped the Indianapolis Colts to the playoffs becoming the first interim coach to win the award. Bill Belichick earned one vote . . . Todd Bowles won the first Assistant Coach Of The Year award. Bowles won it as defensive coordinator of the Cardinals. He has since become the coach of the New York Jets . . . The Giants s sensational wideout Odell Beckham Jr. grabbed the Offensive Rookie Of The Year award. The 12th overall pick in the draft received 42 votes. Beckham finished with 91 receptions for 1 305 yards and 12 TDs . . . St. Louis Rams tackle Aaron Donald won the Defensive Rookie Of The Year award. Selected one spot after Beckham Donald drew 25 votes. Donald led all rookies with nine sacks.
Material from the Associated Press was used in this report. Shalise Manza Young can be reached at syoung globe.com. Follow her on Twitter shalisemyoung.
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