hagan714

Roaf chosen for Saints' Hall of Fame

Stalwart left tackle to be inducted Sept. 26

Wednesday, May 21, 2008 By Mike Triplett


The Saints Hall of Fame introduced offensive tackle Willie Roaf as its newest and perhaps most prominent inductee Tuesday.
"We felt like he's the most significant player in the history of the franchise. The most honored, by far," said Ken Trahan, the general manager of the Saints Hall of Fame Museum.
Roaf, who played for the Saints from 1993 to 2001 and for the Kansas City Chiefs from 2002 to '05, will be inducted Sept. 26. But he was on hand for Tuesday's announcement at a restaurant in Metairie.

Roaf has a chance to become the first true Saint to be elected into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio. And according to Trahan, Roaf said Tuesday that he would choose to represent the Saints if he is inducted.
"He said that even though he's living in California, this is truly home and where he had his fondest memories," Trahan said.
Other former Saints who were inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame are:
-- Jim Taylor (inducted in 1976), who played for the Saints in 1967.
-- Doug Atkins (1982) -- 1967 to '69.
-- Earl Campbell (1991) -- 1984 to '85.
-- Jim Finks (1995) -- 1986 to '92.
-- Hank Stram (2003) -- 1976 to '77.
Roaf was drafted in the first round out of Louisiana Tech in 1993 with the eighth overall pick, and his dominance was immediately evident. He earned his first All-Pro nomination in 1994 -- the first of six with the Saints and 10 overall in his career. He was selected to 11 Pro Bowls, and he was chosen to the NFL's all-decade team for the 1990s. He was with the Saints for the first playoff victory in franchise history, in 2000.
Roaf retired in 2006, partly because of lingering knee and hamstring injuries.
The Saints Hall of Fame also selected Barra Birrcher as the recipient of the Joe Gemelli Fleur-De-Lis Award, which is given to a person who has contributed to the betterment of and/or supported the Saints in loyal fashion. Birrcher retired in 2007 after working for the Saints for nearly four decades in several different capacities.


Roaf chosen for Saints' Hall of Fame- NOLA.com

congrats to Willie.

"We may have lost the game, but you'll be hurting tomorrow." Doug Atkins