The 2011 Pro Football Hall of Fame Induction was not short on inductees that enjoyed the sound of their own voices. The usual practice of saving the 'star' inductee for last, however, may need changed after former Denver Broncos and Baltimore Ravens tight end Shannon Sharpe stole the show with an emotional 23-minute speech that paid homage to his brother Sterling and the grandmother who raised him from the time he was 3-months old.
Left to try and keep up were Indianapolis Colts and St. Louis Rams running back Marshall Faulk and Deion 'Primetime' Sanders. Their speeches were lacking, however, and all who watched knew it was Sharpe that mixed the perfect amount of emotion, jokes and seriousness.
Sharpe easily had the line of the night when paying tribute to his brother Sterling Sharpe, a receiver with the Green Bay Packers until he was forced to retire with a neck injury.
"I am the only professional football player in the Hall of Fame that is the 2nd best player in my own player."
It brought the crowd to its' feet and tears to Sterling's eyes.
For his part Sanders seemed to try and get emotional, but like much of his career it seemed to be an act. Not that Deion wasn't honest and truthful, but Sanders didn't pull it off the way Sharpe did.
The weekend was lacking, however, since the Hall of Fame game that was scheduled to be played on Sunday night between the St. Louis Rams and Chicago Bears was a casualty of the NFL Lockout.
Joining Sharpe, Sanders and Faulk in the Class of 2011 were Richard Dent, NFL Films founder Ed Sabol - whose introduction by his son Steve Sabol stole the show - Chris Hanburger and Les Richtor.