Browns 2/7 Clay Matthews Jr. Denied Induction Into Pro Football Hall Of Fame: Clay Matthews Jr., a former Cleveland Browns linebacker, was absent. The Las Vegas Raiders placed DT Richard Seymour on injured reserve on December 27, 2012. He had been eligible for selection since October 4. The Browns selected OT Joe Thomas in the first round (29th overall) of the 2010 NFL Draft.
Seymour's career ended after nine seasons and two trips to the Pro Bowl. He finished with 96 sacks during his career. The last time a Brown played in a Super Bowl was Jim Brown in III. The Baltimore Colts defeated the Browns 20-17 in 1971.
After graduating from Vanderbilt University, Seymour entered the NFL as a first-round draft choice of the Browns. He spent seven seasons with Cleveland before being traded to the Chicago Bears in 2004. In 2005, he started all 16 games for the first time in his career and led the league with 19 sacks. He was named to the Pro Bowl that year.
In 2006, Seymour had 12 1/2 sacks before breaking his ankle in November. He returned the following season and had 6 1/2 sacks before being sidelined by back problems in 2009. He missed most of 2010 due to a torn biceps muscle in his shoulder. Surgery to repair the injury ended his season early. The Bears released him in March 2011.
Seymour was a seven-time Pro Bowler, a three-time first-team All-Pro pick, a three-time Super Bowl champion, and a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame's All-Decade Team for the 2000s. These are the honors that voters and fans look for when deciding which players should be inducted into the Hall of Fame, but Seymour was much more than these highlights. He was one of the best centers in football during his career, helping lead the Baltimore Colts to four AFC South titles and making the Pro Bowl every year from 1987 to 1992. After leaving the Colts as a free agent after the 1993 season, he played one more season for the New York Giants before retiring.
In his seven seasons with Baltimore, Seymour played in 77 games, starting 76 of them. He made the All-Pro team each year from 1987 through 1991 and was also selected as a first-team all-star in 1992. In addition to his work at center, he also won two Super Bowl rings with Baltimore in 1990 and 1991. The Colts lost both games, but they were close contests in both matches. In fact, the last minute of game six is still considered one of the greatest endings in NFL history. With just over a minute left to play, the Colts held a 23-17 advantage over their rival Pittsburgh Steelers. On the next play, quarterback Jim Harbaugh threw an incomplete pass, then took a knee to end the game and send it to overtime. In the first overtime period, the Colts scored a touchdown to take a 30-17 lead over their rivals.
"Richard was a unique physical and athletic talent who possessed outstanding brains," Belichick remarked after Seymour was inducted into the Patriots Hall of Fame. "He was more than most offensive players could handle, which allowed us to benefit as a defense in a variety of ways."
Seymour's size (6 feet 4 inches, 275 pounds) and speed made him one of the most feared defenders in football during his career at Boston College. He was drafted first overall by the New York Giants in the 1986 NFL Draft and went on to win two Super Bowls with them. He played eight seasons in New York and one season with the San Francisco 49ers before finishing his career with the Patriots in 2001.
During his time with the Patriots, he started every game but one and recorded at least 100 tackles six times. His best year as a pro came in 1994 when he led the league with a total of 119 tackles. Seymour also had 9 1/2 sacks, three interceptions, and two fumble recoveries during that season.
He was named to seven All-Pro teams and won the Ed Block Courage Award in 2000. After his retirement, he worked as a security guard for New England Airlines and did color commentary for Boston College football games on ESPN. He died in October 2010 due to heart disease related issues. He was 47 years old.
According to Belichick, yes, Seymour was very good.
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