Carter’s induction into hall concludes festivities
With a forceful and emotion-filled speech, Cris Carter has become the seventh and final inductee from the Class of 2013 to enter the Pro Football Hall of Fame on Saturday night.
Carter mentioned dozens of people in his life who were “going into the Hall of Fame with me tonight,” as he followed Jonathan Ogden, Dave Robinson, Larry Allen, Bill Parcells, Curley Culp and Warren Sapp in being inducted.
More than 120 hall members, a record, returned for the 50th anniversary celebration of the shrine.
CANTON, Ohio (AP) — “I appreciate the process you have to go through to get to be a Hall of Famer,” said Carter, who had perhaps the best hands of any receiver the NFL has seen. “To be able to join these men on this stage in football heaven is the greatest day of my life.”
The emotional Carter, an Ohio native, needed six tries to make the hall, even though he retired as the No. 2 career receiver behind Jerry Rice. He choked back tears talking about his mentor Reggie White during his speech after being presented by his son, Duron. Carter referred to his problems with alcohol while playing three years for the Eagles before being released.
Carter hooked on immediately with the Vikings and hooked onto nearly everything thrown his way. Known for his superb hands, Carter finished his 16-season career with 1,101 catches for 13,899 yards and 130 touchdowns.
He stressed his disappointment at not winning a title for Vikings fans; Carter is the only one of the seven new inductees without a championship ring.
