L.T. Voted Into Hall Of Fame

January 30, 1999 / 9:32 PM EST / CBS Sportsline

In the end, the Lawrence Taylor debate was no debate at all.

The dominant defensive player of his time was voted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame on Saturday, elected in his first year of eligibility.

Joining him in the class of 1999 were running back Eric Dickerson, tight end Ozzie Newsome, and guards Tom Mack and Billy Shaw.

It was Taylor, however, whose candidacy dominated conversation and sparked debate throughout Super Bowl week.

Suspended once while he was playing and arrested twice on drug charges after he retired, he has struggled with off-the-field problems that left some voters uneasy with his candidacy.

Saturday's meeting lasted longer than usual, with the Taylor debate taking the most time. One voter characterized the discussion as non-contentious.

Unlike baseball, there is no "good citizenship" clause in the football hall's bylaws and when it was time to vote, he received the 80 percent necessary for election. With all 36 voters present, 29 were needed. There was no announcement on the final vote.

Taylor, filming an Oliver Stone movie in South Florida, issued a statement saying:

"I am humbled by being elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame. As I have said, I feel like it is the ultimate reward for playing the game that I love so much and gave so much. I appreciate the debate and the consideration that was given to my nomination. Ultimately, this honor has to do with how I played the game. Obviously, the majority of the committee felt the same way."

"It doesn't always come across, but I do appreciate the well wishes and concerns of my family, my friends, and my former teammates. It means a great deal to me; it truly does."

Taylor played 13 seasons at linebacker for the New York Giants. He was a three-time choice as defensive player of the year, the NFL's most valuable player in 1986 and was selected for a record 10 consecutive Pro Bowls. He finished his career with 132.5 sacks, not including 9.5 recorded in 1981 before sacks became an official statistic.

Dickerson set a single-season rushing record of 2,105 yards in 1984 and wound up third on the career rushing list with 13,259.

Like Taylor, Dickerson was somewhat controversial, forcing a trade from the Los Angeles Rams to Indianapolis Colts in 1987 following a long holdout.

"In life, everything doesn't go like you planned," he said. "For me, there were ups and downs, but I know I was a good football player. I never said I was a great football player."

Dickerson said he thought his records would fall one day.

"Every year, it seems someone gets closer and closer," he said. "If someone breaks my records, I'll be happy for him."

Mack was an 11-time Pro Bowl choice when he played for the Rams and one of the best blocking guards of his generation. He played in 184 consecutive games -- never missing one in his 13-year carer -- and was elected in his final year of eligibility.

Newsome tops all tight ends in receptions with 662 catches for 7,980 yards and 47 touchdowns in 13 seasons with the Cleveland Browns. He had back-to-back 89-catch seasons in 1983 and 1984 and played in 197 consecutive games before moving into the team's front office.

He goes into the hall the same year that Cleveland, the only team he played for, returns to the NFL.

"Getting the opportunity to go in when the Browns are going back on the football field is a double whammy," he said. "It makes it more special for myself. I'm a Cleveland Brown. I wore that orange helmet."

Shaw, a guard, played nine seasons with the Buffalo Bills and made pro football's All-Decade team of the 1960s and the all-time AFL team.

"He was everything you look for in an offensive lineman -- competitive, strong and tough," said team owner Ralph Wilson. "He was a great leader. Billy played an integral role in our 1964 and '65 championship teams and he deserves the honor that only the Hall of Fame can bestow upon a player."

Two other finalists -- wide receiver Lynn Swann and defensive lineman Howie Long -- failed to win election.

Eight other candidates were eliminated in earlier voting: coaches George Allen and Marv Levy, Pittsburgh Steelers owner Dan Rooney, defensive end Carl Eller, punter Ray Guy, wide receiver John Stallworth, tackle Ron Yary and defensive end Jack Youngblood.