Matthews

Except for the occasional holding penalty that negates a big play, offensive linemen are the anonymous creatures on NFL teams. That makes Bruce Matthews' immediate election to the Pro Football Hall of Fame somewhat remarkable.

It can take years, even decades, for blockers to get noticed by the Hall voters. Not Matthews, whose versatility and reliability for 19 seasons made him an easy choice in his first year of eligibility.

On Saturday, the outstanding guard-tackle-center for the Houston Oilers and Tennessee Titans will join Thurman Thomas, Michael Irvin, Roger Wehrli, Charlie Sanders and Gene Hickerson in football's shrine. Matthews is the only inductee to make it on his first try this year.

"If you would've told me then that one day I'd play in the NFL and one day I'd make the Hall of Fame, I would've said you've got to be kidding," Matthews said.

And if you'd told Matthews — or anyone else — that he would play every offensive line position, well, that would have seemed absurd. Yet Matthews did so, and excelled at all of them.

In his 296 games, more than any full-time positional player in league history when he retired, Matthews spent 99 at left guard, 87 at center, 67 at right guard, 22 at right tackle and 17 at left tackle.

So while Irvin "the playmaker," and Thomas, the onetime MVP, get much of the airtime, the heaviest accolades go to Matthews.

"A lot of guys can't move around because mentally it's hard, especially to go from center to tackle," said former Matthews teammate Mike Munchak, himself a Canton inductee. "Not many guys in football can do that and also play center. Usually center-guard or guard-tackle, but not a guy who can play center, run the show and do all that for you, but if someone gets hurt can go to left tackle and finish the game."

Munchak will present Matthews on Saturday night.

"I don't think there'll be too many guys like him around again," Munchak said.