Roaf to enter HoF as a Saint?

Direckshun · 06-11-2007, 01:53 PM

Hm.

http://www.thenewsstar.com/apps/pbcs...=2007706100338

Trench toughness
Willie Roaf deserving of gridiron glory
By Paul J. Letlow
pletlowthe@newsstar.com

Others have mulled Willie Roaf's legacy for years.
The former Louisiana Tech and NFL offensive lineman was a Pro Bowl pick 11 times during his 13-year career. One of the greatest athletes to ever play for the New Orleans Saints, he's a sure bet for the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

"He'll get my vote," said Hall of Fame running back Barry Sanders. "To be good at that position, you've got to be tough. He's not tough off the field — but when the ball is snapped ..."

Roaf, who retired last summer as a member of the Kansas City Chiefs, has been pondering his own place in football history lately.
"I feel like I have a good resume," Roaf said. "I feel like I kept my nose clean and I played hard. My peers respected me a lot."

Sanders, who employed the same agent as Roaf, always wanted to play on the same team as his friend. Ironically, his Detroit Lions traded the pick that went for Roaf to the Saints for Pat Swilling in 1993.

"You look at his body of work, you look at how he competed and really dominated his peers," said Sanders, who attended Roaf's annual golf tournament earlier this month. "He's definitely a Hall of Famer."

Respect for Roaf also runs deep back home too.

"He came from a small town and Louisiana Tech," said Tech offensive line coach Petey Perot, who played in the NFL himself. "To do the things that he's done, there's no doubt in my mind that he's a Hall of Famer. And I think it will be on the first ballot."

At 6-5, 320 pounds, Roaf had prototype size. But he also had the passion to compete at an elite level.

"Obviously, he was big and strong," Sanders said. "But a lot of guys are big and strong that didn't always feel like playing. Willie had that toughness about him when you snapped the ball. I think he loved the position that he played. You could see that in the results of all the guys that ran behind him."

STILL A SAINT AT HEART

Roaf didn't finish his career with the Saints, but he spent the first nine years of his NFL career in New Orleans.

He understands his place in team history. Roaf will be the first Pro Football Hall of Famer inductee who spent the bulk of his playing career with the Saints.

"It will be special for New Orleans fans," Roaf said. "I'll go into the Hall of Fame as a Saint. There are no Saints in the Hall of Fame, so it will be great."

Roaf was the eighth overall pick out of Louisiana Tech in 1993. He started all 16 games at right tackle as a rookie before making seven consecutive Pro Bowls at the left side, a streak that was snapped in 2002 when he suffered a knee injury.

Although he has few personal ties to the Saints these days, Roaf noted that his relationship with the team is good. With that said, he'd like to see the organization do more to maintain its ties to former greats.

"You wish you could see more of the old guys who played there be embraced and go back there," Roaf said. "I know Archie (Manning) lives there and is in that community. But the Ricky Jacksons, the Wayne Martins, the Vaughn Johnsons, they need to do more to bring those guys back to show the history of that team."

Roaf cheered for his old team last season as the Saints made it all the way to the NFC Championship game.

"I was very excited to watch them play and happy they were playing good," Roaf said. "The great thing about it is, it's a great young team with a young nucleus. They're going to be good for a long time."

RETIRING AS A CHIEF

Roaf suffered a knee injury that made him expendable to the Saints in 2002. The Chiefs made a deal to get him and he continued playing at a high level as part of one of the most dominating lines in the league.

Players like quarterback Trent Green and running backs Priest Holmes and Larry Johnson became the darlings of fantasy football operating behind Roaf.

"After going to Kansas City, I was on some of the league's top offenses for a four-year period," Roaf said. "Being a part of that probably helps a little in becoming a Hall of Famer."

Roaf missed six games in 2005 with a strained hamstring, which led him to start thinking about his future in the game.

"There comes a point in time where you decide, 'I've played a long time — do I want to continue?'" Roaf said. "I went through a couple of injuries. It was just a decision I had to make."

His retirement caught some by surprise last summer. After his announcement, there was speculation that he could eventually change his mind.

He didn't

"It was tough to walk away from everything," Roaf said. "It was the right time and you have to move forward from there."

Roaf played in 189 NFL games, all starts.

"It's unbelievable what he did and how he trained," Perot said. "It's amazing how far he came from where he was when he first got to Louisiana Tech."

BACK TO SCHOOL

Roaf is now pursuing another goal his college degree.

"I see him being that person who wanted to lay the foundation for the future," Sanders said, "while he was enjoying the game and being one of the best in the game."

He's taking courses in California but hopes to return to Tech to finish up and graduate. When he's not hitting the books, Roaf also spends time with his four children and travels.

"That's about it," Roaf said. "Enjoying family time and doing things I couldn't do when I was playing football."

While other Tech legends like Terry Bradshaw and Karl Malone have made visible reconnections with the school in recent years, Roaf has quietly remained supportive in his own way too. He made a recent return home to sponsoring his namesake golf tournament that he started during his playing career.

"Willie has always loved Louisiana Tech and always spent time here," Perot said. "Even when he was playing at New Orleans, he'd come up for a game. It's something to have guys like that. We need more people like him."

06-11-2007, 01:53 PM	Topic Starter
Direckshun __ Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Springpatch Casino cash: $2123447	Roaf to enter HoF as a Saint? Hm. http://www.thenewsstar.com/apps/pbcs...=2007706100338 Trench toughness Willie Roaf deserving of gridiron glory By Paul J. Letlow pletlowthe@newsstar.com Others have mulled Willie Roaf's legacy for years. The former Louisiana Tech and NFL offensive lineman was a Pro Bowl pick 11 times during his 13-year career. One of the greatest athletes to ever play for the New Orleans Saints, he's a sure bet for the Pro Football Hall of Fame. "He'll get my vote," said Hall of Fame running back Barry Sanders. "To be good at that position, you've got to be tough. He's not tough off the field — but when the ball is snapped ..." Roaf, who retired last summer as a member of the Kansas City Chiefs, has been pondering his own place in football history lately. "I feel like I have a good resume," Roaf said. "I feel like I kept my nose clean and I played hard. My peers respected me a lot." Sanders, who employed the same agent as Roaf, always wanted to play on the same team as his friend. Ironically, his Detroit Lions traded the pick that went for Roaf to the Saints for Pat Swilling in 1993. "You look at his body of work, you look at how he competed and really dominated his peers," said Sanders, who attended Roaf's annual golf tournament earlier this month. "He's definitely a Hall of Famer." Respect for Roaf also runs deep back home too. "He came from a small town and Louisiana Tech," said Tech offensive line coach Petey Perot, who played in the NFL himself. "To do the things that he's done, there's no doubt in my mind that he's a Hall of Famer. And I think it will be on the first ballot." At 6-5, 320 pounds, Roaf had prototype size. But he also had the passion to compete at an elite level. "Obviously, he was big and strong," Sanders said. "But a lot of guys are big and strong that didn't always feel like playing. Willie had that toughness about him when you snapped the ball. I think he loved the position that he played. You could see that in the results of all the guys that ran behind him." STILL A SAINT AT HEART Roaf didn't finish his career with the Saints, but he spent the first nine years of his NFL career in New Orleans. He understands his place in team history. Roaf will be the first Pro Football Hall of Famer inductee who spent the bulk of his playing career with the Saints. "It will be special for New Orleans fans," Roaf said. "I'll go into the Hall of Fame as a Saint. There are no Saints in the Hall of Fame, so it will be great." Roaf was the eighth overall pick out of Louisiana Tech in 1993. He started all 16 games at right tackle as a rookie before making seven consecutive Pro Bowls at the left side, a streak that was snapped in 2002 when he suffered a knee injury. Although he has few personal ties to the Saints these days, Roaf noted that his relationship with the team is good. With that said, he'd like to see the organization do more to maintain its ties to former greats. "You wish you could see more of the old guys who played there be embraced and go back there," Roaf said. "I know Archie (Manning) lives there and is in that community. But the Ricky Jacksons, the Wayne Martins, the Vaughn Johnsons, they need to do more to bring those guys back to show the history of that team." Roaf cheered for his old team last season as the Saints made it all the way to the NFC Championship game. "I was very excited to watch them play and happy they were playing good," Roaf said. "The great thing about it is, it's a great young team with a young nucleus. They're going to be good for a long time." RETIRING AS A CHIEF Roaf suffered a knee injury that made him expendable to the Saints in 2002. The Chiefs made a deal to get him and he continued playing at a high level as part of one of the most dominating lines in the league. Players like quarterback Trent Green and running backs Priest Holmes and Larry Johnson became the darlings of fantasy football operating behind Roaf. "After going to Kansas City, I was on some of the league's top offenses for a four-year period," Roaf said. "Being a part of that probably helps a little in becoming a Hall of Famer." Roaf missed six games in 2005 with a strained hamstring, which led him to start thinking about his future in the game. "There comes a point in time where you decide, 'I've played a long time — do I want to continue?'" Roaf said. "I went through a couple of injuries. It was just a decision I had to make." His retirement caught some by surprise last summer. After his announcement, there was speculation that he could eventually change his mind. He didn't "It was tough to walk away from everything," Roaf said. "It was the right time and you have to move forward from there." Roaf played in 189 NFL games, all starts. "It's unbelievable what he did and how he trained," Perot said. "It's amazing how far he came from where he was when he first got to Louisiana Tech." BACK TO SCHOOL Roaf is now pursuing another goal his college degree. "I see him being that person who wanted to lay the foundation for the future," Sanders said, "while he was enjoying the game and being one of the best in the game." He's taking courses in California but hopes to return to Tech to finish up and graduate. When he's not hitting the books, Roaf also spends time with his four children and travels. "That's about it," Roaf said. "Enjoying family time and doing things I couldn't do when I was playing football." While other Tech legends like Terry Bradshaw and Karl Malone have made visible reconnections with the school in recent years, Roaf has quietly remained supportive in his own way too. He made a recent return home to sponsoring his namesake golf tournament that he started during his playing career. "Willie has always loved Louisiana Tech and always spent time here," Perot said. "Even when he was playing at New Orleans, he'd come up for a game. It's something to have guys like that. We need more people like him."
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