(Photo: Acme Packing Company)
One of my favorite moments of Super Bowl week is when the NFL Honors are aired, and we get to find out who the next group of legends are to be enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Just about everyone I grew up watching has received a gold jacket and is enshrined in football heaven, as Cris Carter refers to it, I remember the class of 2011 and Shannon Sharpe was a headliner in that class. His presenter was no other than his big brother, Sterling, and I remember Shannon mentioning during his speech that he was being inducted into the Hall of Fame but was the second-best player in his family, referring to his brother 14 years later, Sterling will get to join his little brother in Canton as he was selected as a member of the Class of 2025.
I don’t think people understand how good Sterling was during his time in the NFL. Watching the film, I saw a guy who could line up anywhere you asked him to, and when the football came his way, he was coming away with it Sterling was quick off his release, often used physicality to win at the line of scrimmage and most importantly, he had the wiggle room to free himself to get open. With the football in his hands, he had excellent speed and knew how to power himself up the field. Sterling had everything you wanted in a Wide Receiver from the hands, the footwork, acceleration, speed, consistent route running, and he was a strong guy that made it difficult for defenders to tackle him. Sterling was a nightmare in single man coverage because he was winning that battle each time. He was the receiver where if you just threw the football up, he was coming away with it. I remember Deion Sanders saying Sterling was one of the toughest matchups for him and when you faced him, you had to bring your a game because Sterling was going to bring his. He was always that reliable target for his Quarterback whether it was first down, or the chains needed to be moved. He knew his role within the offense and played it well.
Sterling only played eight seasons and was highly productive. Unfortunately, his career was cut short due to a neck injury and was forced to retire early. During his time in the NFL, Sterling was one of the best Wide Receivers in the game. Can you all imagine if he had never suffered the neck injury? He and a prime Brett Favre would’ve been one of the best Quarterback/Wide Receiver tandems in the league and who knows how many Super Bowls they could’ve won together. I’m so happy Sterling is receiving his flowers and along with his brother, they will become the first set of brothers to be inducted to the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Congratulations Sterling and well deserved.
