A barefoot Joe Thomas, some laughs, a lot of pride: Class of 2023 Hall of Fame roundtable held in Canton

CANTON, Ohio – Of all the enshrinement-week activities and ceremonies, Sunday’s roundtable might have been the most relaxed for the attendees. That was obvious to anyone who saw Joe Thomas saunter in to the main stage at Canton Memorial Civic Center, clad in his newly minted Gold Jacket, casual shorts and bare feet.

It was a true football fan’s dream. Statistics were mentioned only in passing. The afternoon was about a kindred spirit, a brotherhood, and all the emotions that went into having a bust in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Six of the nine enshrinees – Thomas, Zach Thomas, DeMarcus Ware, Ronde Barber, Darrelle Revis and Joe Klecko – talked about football and the kinship the sport offers. Chuck Howley could not make the trek to Canton, and Don Coryell and Ken Riley have passed.

They laughed and joked and remembered opponents’ moves as if they had played last Sunday. Moderator Steve Wyche of the NFL Network didn’t have to work much to get the six men reminiscing.

It quickly turned into a mutual admiration society.

Barber praised his position compatriot, Revis. The friendship and respect between Ware and Zach Thomas – sitting next to each other – was evident. Joe Thomas recalled one of his first games when he was matched up against Ware.

“After that game, I wasn’t sure I belonged. His quickness off the ball … I had never felt it,” he said.

Ware said before he went up against Joe Thomas for the first time a position coach warned him: “Listen, this is going to be the most technically sound offensive tackle you go against. … Joe was like a wall, my nemesis every time I went against him.”

And Barber said when it came to bump-and-run coverage, “There is nobody who did it better” than Revis.

Their talk also turned technical as they described players’ moves, where their hands were, how they got opponents off balance.

Joe Thomas said that a day earlier at the enshrinement ceremony, players who had gone head-to-head finally had a chance to tell each other what they used to do to counter each other’s moves, how they shifted and reacted.

The luncheon drew about 1,000 people to hear the players. The afternoon took on a humility as players described how they worked to become great in their own ways.

Wyche described the unscripted afternoon as being “part of the fabric of what greatness is all about.”

Barber, who a day earlier had spoken about the importance of being “uncommon,” said: “You have to find ways to be different to separate yourself from the crowd. I couldn’t stop watching film. That was part of my ‘nonfunction’ … I was a guy who needed to do more, who needed to be challenged.”

Wyche also went around the group, asking a traditional question: Who is not in the hall who should be?

Ware - Dwight Freeney, defensive end.

Zach Thomas – lineman Bob Kuechenberg, receiver Mark Clayton, offensive lineman Richmond Webb.

Joe Thomas - Dwight Freeney. “He changed the way guys spin. He basically cut your playbook in half because you couldn’t run against him,” said Thomas, who then mentioned former Browns linebacker Clay Matthews, which drew loud, deep “woofs!” throughout the arena.

Revis – Receiver Reggie Wayne (“The duel down there with him and Peyton Manning … was incredible,” he said.

Klecko – Steve McMichael. “I don’t think Steve McMichael gets the due he’s deserved because of how tough he is,” he said. Klecko’s plea was the most urgent. McMichael has been hospitalized with sepsis and has ALS. He added: “There’s 20 of ‘em who belong here. The one thing that’s real rough … to see somebody on their last leg, and as tough as he is, I think it’d be a good idea.”

Barber - Simeon Rice, Mike Alstott and an admittedly biased opinion, Tiki Barber, his twin brother. “I think it would be really cool to have twins in the Hall of Fame.”

Through the laughs and jokes, the honors and speeches, remains that unique kinship, and it wasn’t lost on anyone Sunday.

“I think the best part of it is family,” Klecko said of being in the hall. “Now I’m included in this family. It’s so nice to know I can’t get cut no more. You’re a team of 370 guys.”

Ware said at an event this week, the Class of 2023 was welcomed by the previous enshrinees like they were “the new first-round draft pick in our locker room. These jackets come with emotion, these jackets aren’t invincible.”

As Zach Thomas said: “It’s a dream come true, and I’m a part of that.”

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I am on cleveland.com’s life and culture team and cover food, beer, wine and sports-related topics. For my recent stories, here’s a directory on cleveland.com. Bill Wills of WTAM-1100 and I talk food and drink usually at 8:20 a.m. Thursdays. Twitter: @mbona30. My latest book, co-authored with Dan Murphy, is “Joe Thomas: Not Your Average Joe” by Gray & Co.

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