Pirate Galaxy » llege football, Washin

CANTON, Ohio -- Brett Favre seemed a bit surprised by the question.Asked if he ever imagined himself wearing a gold jacket in Canton, Favre quickly responded: Absolutely not.Hes still not sure he belongs in the Pro Football Hall of Fame, which he will enter on Saturday night.Pretty amazing, the record-setting quarterback said Friday. Incredible. I have a tremendous amount of respect for the game. I hold these guys in the highest regard. I just find it hard to believe I am in with those guys.Those guys are the 295 members of the hall that Favre will join, along with Tony Dungy, Marvin Harrison, Orlando Pace, Kevin Greene, Ken Stabler, Dick Stanfel and Ed DeBartolo Jr.That Favre even remotely doubted he belonged after one of the greatest careers in NFL history -- 20 seasons, tons of records, including a stunning 299 consecutive games, an NFL title in 1996 -- is folly to most.The first three-time league MVP (1995-97), Favre has put up numbers that can be overwhelming. Add in his spirit, competitive fire and fun-loving attitude, and he was such a slam dunk in his first year of eligibility that his candidacy wasnt even discussed by the selection committee in February.When he began getting text messages from his heroes, particularly Roger Staubach, Favre said he had to pick his jaw off the floor.It wasnt a goal of mine, Favre said. I have the utmost respect for the players who go in, but I just wanted to play, and people who saw me identified with that. If they paid me $50, I would have felt the same way. What they pay is a lot of money. When Id drive home, I would say to myself, `This is stealing!Favre recalled the first time he visited the Hall of Fame, in 1993, before his third pro season. The Packers were playing the Raiders.His lasting memory wasnt exactly a sporting one.I just remember the Raiders players standing outside the locker room smoking, he said, drawing laughs from reporters. Theres something wrong with this.When Favre dons the gold jacket Saturday night, it might stay on for a while. Asked what he would be doing Monday back in Mississippi, he said mowing the grass -- in my gold jacket.Dungy made history with the Colts in February 2007, becoming the first black coach to win a Super Bowl. He has been a mentor to many other coaches and players, and his insistence on people doing things the right way is as much his legacy as is his coaching record.Dungy doesnt deny his role as a trailblazer in the sport, but he doesnt promote it, either.Others do.Coach Dungy has been a shining beacon of light in every facet of his life and vocation, said John Wooten, chairman of the Fritz Pollard Alliance, an organization of minority coaches, front office, scouting and game day officials in the NFL. He is a man of faith and an inspiration and mentor to countless individuals.One of his stars with the Colts was Harrison, who holds the NFL mark for receptions in a season, with 143 in 2002. Harrison needed three tries before he was elected to the hall, one less than it took Dungy.Harrison, who made 1,102 catches, third on the career list, thought about how he got started in football in Philadelphia.On the street, he said. There were no parks. We played two-hand touch, and we played tackle if it was snowing.A supreme route runner with terrific hands, Harrison excelled against such illustrious defensive backs as Deion Sanders, Aeneas Williams and Darrell Green -- all of them Hall of Famers.I learned to just play hard and everything else falls into place, he said.Greene, a sackmaster with four franchises who stands third in career quarterback traps with 160, added some other characteristics that lead to success -- if not a quick entrance into the hall; he retired in 1999.A lot of things separate people, the former linebacker/defensive end explained. You have to be tougher and meaner than the guys in front of you. You need technique and fundamentals. Then study the game; people dont study the game the way they used to.And heart. Are you doing it for the love of the game or for a paycheck? I think I just played and let it flow. Dont be afraid to let your love and excitement for the game show.Favre couldnt have said it better.---AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP-NFL Tom Brady Patriots Jersey . "I was fortunate to play many years at this level with a great organization and unbelievable teammates," said Hejduk in a statement. Julian Edelman Jersey .C. -- Kemba Walker and the Charlotte Bobcats got off to a fast start, and the Sacramento Kings were never quite able to catch up. https://www.patriotssportsgoods.com/Womens-Stephon-Gilmore-Inverted-Jersey/ . No. 13-seeded John Isner and No. 21 Philipp Kohlschreiber were among six players who dropped out of the tournament on Tuesday, joining No. 12 seed Tommy Haas and two other players who withdrew on Monday. Jarrett Stidham Jersey . The visitors took a deserved lead in the 16th minute with midfielder Yohan Cabaye curling the ball beyond Adrian from inside the penalty area. Tedy Bruschi Patriots Jersey .com) - The Chicago Blackhawks aim for their third three-game winning streak of the season when they host the struggling Edmonton Oilers in Sundays battle at the United Center. SEATTLE -- Its too simple of an equation to say that Budda Baker was the cause and Washington being on the cusp of a Pac-12 North title was the effect.But its not too far of a stretch to believe that the most impactful recruit landed by Chris Petersen since he arrived at Washington came in February 2014. Thats when Baker decided to stay home with the Huskies rather than follow the lengthy parade of premier recruits from the state of Washington who decided to go out of state.We were very urgent. We knew he was a big time football player that could really change the direction of this program and that was job No. 1 when we first took this job was to make sure we kept a homegrown talent in Budda Baker here at the University of Washington, Washington defensive backs coach Jimmy Lake said. It was an intense battle and were obviously happy that we got him.There are numerous pieces that Washington has woven together to create a roster that this year is 10-1 and on the cusp of not only a Pac-12 North title but potentially a shot in the College Football Playoff headed into Fridays Apple Cup against Washington State. Some were holdovers from the previous coaching regime, who have developed into stars later in their careers, like linebacker Keishawn Bierria and wide receiver John Ross. Others were recruits from out-of-state that Petersen and his staff convinced to make Washington their home, like quarterback Jake Browning.But ultimately, for Washington to be successful, it must be keeping the top in-state recruits at home. And beginning with Baker, it has.I always heard it every day by friends, family, even random people that `Youre a hometown guy, you can put this program back on top, and all that type of stuff, Baker said. It hit because like they said I have a lot of family here, I had a chance to go to a great school.Since Bakers commitment in 2014, the Huskies have had a pipeline of in-state talent staying home, including running back Myles Gaskinn, wide receiver Chico McClatcher, left tackle Trey Adams, safety Taylor Rapp and offensive lineman Kaleb McGary.dddddddddddd Its not a huge list, and while California will always be the hotbed for Washingtons recruits, getting the top kids from the state is influential in what the Huskies are trying to build.I didnt know where I wanted to go. I thought if I stayed here I would always being going home and doing chores and stuff, Gaskin said. My mom and dad kept it real. They said, `You are going to Washington. At the time I didnt understand why but Im very thankful for them.When many of the current Huskies were first making impressions about college football, Washington was a struggling program. The 2008 season where Washington went 0-12 was the clear bottom, but even under Steve Sarkisian there was a plateau reached -- 7-win Sark became the nickname -- with little indication the Huskies would rise much beyond that mark.Additionally, the group watched a number of top recruits from the state -- Jonathan Stewart, Jake Heaps, David DeCastro, all the way up to Myles Jack -- take the route out of the state rather than remain at home.Which all leads back to why landing Baker was so important.Its huge for that year and the years following, all the in-state talent that hey it is cool to stay at home and play for the hometown (Huskies), Lake said. Now hopefully those young guys are seeing where were at now and seeing the following that he has here and now when his career is over at Washington hes going to be a legend here. Hes already made a ton of plays and hopefully we do some bigger things this year and next year and hell be a legend here for a long time to come if he keeps doing what hes doing, and those other guys are seeing that.---More AP college football: www.collegefootball.ap.org and https://twitter.com/AP-Top25 ' ' '