Carson finally exits Hall’s waiting room

By Connor Byrne  |   Monday, July 31, 2006  |  Comments( 0 )

New York Giants
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Former New York Giants linebacker Harry Carson has spent much of the last decade-plus as an opponent of the Pro Football Hall of Fame's voters. The 13-year veteran was snubbed countless times by those who decide the inductees, but he was finally elected to join the all-time best back in February.

The now 52-year-old wanted his name removed from the ballot earlier, but he decided the best move would be to not only give himself a much-deserved honor, but his family and the Giants organization and fans, too.

Thus, the day has finally arrived in Canton, OH for Carson, the former captain of numerous great defensive units in the Meadowlands.

In the 1976 NFL Draft, the Giants selected the former South Carolina State defensive end in the fourth round. The choice was certainly low-profile at the time, but Carson evolved into one of the all-time greats in team and league history. Without giving it a second thought, the Giants' coaching staff elected to move Carson to middle linebacker, where he quickly joined the game's elite.

Although the inside linebacker never necessarily received fair amounts of attention in his lengthy career, Carson was always a model of consistent greatness. He achieved outstanding things in his first five seasons in New York then was joined by perhaps the greatest linebacker in the history of football, Lawrence Taylor, in 1981. The pair dominated on a weekly basis and gained demigod status among the Giants' faithful.

Fellow linebacker Carl Banks came along in 1984 and completed the most feared trio of 'backers in the league. The triumvirate led New York's defense to a Super Bowl championship in the 1986 season. After a 14-2 mark in the year's 16-game set, Carson and the gang tore through their three playoff opponents - San Francisco, Washington and Denver.

Subsequent to clobbering the 49ers and Redskins by a combined total of 66-3 in the NFC Divisional and Championship rounds, the Giants ventured to Super Bowl XXI with little doubt that they'd fulfill their ultimate dream. Carson, Taylor, Banks and the rest lambasted the Denver Broncos by a score of 39-20, helping to earn the first of two titles for celebrated head coach Bill Parcells.

In the team's Super Bowl drubbing of Denver, Carson took center stage on defense with a key, momentum-building goal-line stand in New York's 19-point victory.

Following his and the Giants' triumph on the most prodigious of football stages, Carson spent two more seasons in the NFL and made two more Pro Bowl appearances. Not only did the 6-foot-2, 237-pounder perform gracefully on the field, but he exited the game gracefully, too, with plenty of upper-echelon play still remaining in his tank.

A nine-time Pro Bowler and seven-time All-Pro, Carson is second on the New York Giants' all-time fumble recoveries list with 14. He also led the team in tackles in five different seasons. Undoubtedly, the Florence, SC native will be cheered loudly by his loyal fans in Ohio this weekend. There's no question that the ultimate run-stuffer deserves all the applause the massive crowd can possibly dole out.

Harry Carson always did things the right way when he played. Now it's time for the New York hero to ride off into the sunset having finally achieved the foremost of football's individual glories.

--Connor J. Byrne can be reached at cbyrne@realfootball365.com

Get more on the 2006 Canton class at Realfootball365.com
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