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July 14 Hall of Fame Players By Paul Johns FWL.com |
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After every season every GM in the FWL votes for players who have had great careers in the FWL. 10 nominees are announced and the top 4-5 players voted for by the GM's are elected to the HOF. The entrees to the Hall of Fame are: K Manfred Burgsmuller, Rhein Fire (Season 1) Despite being the oldest player in the league (43 years old, 19 pro seasons) Burgsmuller had a great year for the Fire in Season 1. Burgsmuller finished 4th in the league with a 68% mark on FG's (24 out of 35) and finished 4th in the league in scoring with 97 points. Burgsmuller was the only kicker in the league perfect on XP's (25 out of 25) and was great a kicking FG's from 40-49 yards (8 out of 13). Burgsmuller was also perfect on his XP's in the playoffs (3 out of 3). DT Peter Gross-Pass, Frankfurt Galaxy (Season 1) Veteran National player who had a huge year for the Galaxy. Only non-american to make the FWL All-Star team, Gross Pass started most of the year at defensive tackle for Frankfurt and notched up 30 tackles and 11 sacks and was the starter ahead of Scotland's Brad Keeney (16 sacks) in the All-Star game due to his relentless pass-rushing skills. Was injured in the Wildcard match against Rhein and was a non-factor in the European Championship game as he was carrying an injury, a sore back which eventually proved fatal in the offseason and Gross-Pass eventually decided to retire rather than risk further injury. Helped his team finished 4th in the league in sacks. CB Carl Kidd, Frankfurt Galaxy (Season 1-2) Kidd was a great two year starter in the secondary for the Frankfurt Galaxy but unfortunately missed the biggest game of his career due to a career ending injury late in the season. When he was healthy Kidd was a solid all-rounder, a late starter in Season 1, Kidd finished with 50 tackles and an interception which he returned 44 yards. In Season 2 Kidd helped the defense finish top in the league against the run with an amazing 625 yards in 14 games, Kidd was again a great all-rounder tackling players (74, 4th on the team) and intercepting passes (He led the team with 4 picks) and recovered a fumble. However late in the season Kidd suffered a terrible injury and had to miss the FWL Bowl. His teammates rallied round though and presented Kidd with a game ball after the match in which Frankfurt beat the Mexico Aztecs. Kidd unfortunately had to retire due to the injury but is now a consultant on the Galaxy staff. P Bernard Laird, Austria DarkKnights (Season 1) Bernard Laird is definately the best punter ever so far to play in the FWL. Laird finished way ahead at the top of the rankings for punting with an average of 44.1 yards, nearly 3 yards better than the #2 punter in the league. Despite punting 83 times Laird never had a kick-blocked and his net average of 41 yards is again nearly 3 yards better than his nearest rival. There have only ever been 7 punts of 65 yards or more in the FWL including this year and Laird has booted 3 of those and holds the current FWL record with a 68 yarder which he has achieved twice in his career ! Laird also holds record for highest average in one game with 52.3 against Ireland. When Laird surprisingly retired after the season Austria GM Mario Kreiner was outraged and begged Laird to come back but alas Laird wanted to retire from the game which he dominated so much. LB Reggie McKenzie, Paris Musketeers (Season 1-2) McMurtry was one of the best receivers early in his career, McMurtry started immediately for Mexico at the WR1 spot and didn't disappoint as he helped young QB Charlie Ward by having a great year finishing with 85 catches for 1074 yards, 5 td's and a long of 73 yards finishing 8th in the league. McMurtry also appeared to be a natural punt returner, in Season 1 he had only two returns but one he returned 77 yards for a touchdown. In Season 2 McMurtry was moved to WR2 so he could return punts where he had a great year with nearly 500 yards in return yardage and two touchdowns. Due to injuries and the success of Wayne Walker, McMurtry had a down year in receiving but still finished 3rd on the team with 38 catches for 455 yards and 5 touchdowns. The Aztecs went to the FWL Bowl but lost unfortunately but the lingering injury helped make the decision easier when McMurtry retired in the offseason. WR Greg McMurtry, Mexico Aztecs (Season 1-2) McMurtry was one of the best receivers early in his career, McMurtry started immediately for Mexico at the WR1 spot and didn't disappoint as he helped young QB Charlie Ward by having a great year finishing with 85 catches for 1074 yards, 5 td's and a long of 73 yards finishing 8th in the league. McMurtry also appeared to be a natural punt returner, in Season 1 he had only two returns but one he returned 77 yards for a touchdown. In Season 2 McMurtry was moved to WR2 so he could return punts where he had a great year with nearly 500 yards in return yardage and two touchdowns. Due to injuries and the success of Wayne Walker, McMurtry had a down year in receiving but still finished 3rd on the team with 38 catches for 455 yards and 5 touchdowns. The Aztecs went to the FWL Bowl but lost unfortunately but the lingering injury helped make the decision easier when McMurtry retired in the offseason. GM Ronnie Munro, Scottish Claymores (Season 1-2) Ronnie Munro was the first ever GM to sign for the FWL and was a pioneer of the league in its early days. Munro was named GM of the Scottish Claymores on 14th June 1997 of the team which he passionately loved. Munro knew there was work to be done and after seeing QB Dave Barr open up the season Munro made some major changes which paid off. There were shockwaves around the league when Munro traded Barr who had some of the best stats in the FWL but who never played like them, to the Austria DarkKnights in return for a whole host of players who would help the Claymores reach the FWL Bowl. Munro also picked up a lowly backup from Mexico, QB Shawn Moore who would later turn out to be a star with the team. All the wheeling and dealing in the early months paid off as Scotland won their last 7 games in the FWL to finish as EFC West champions with a 12-2 record which was jointly the best record in the league. The Claymores had a great defense and were 3 point favourites over the Birmingham Fire in the leagues first ever FWL Bowl but a state of unlucky fumbles and big plays by Birmingham gave the Fire a 30-17 win and the Claymores were very disappointed. Still Munro was sure to get his team to bounce back in Season 2. The Claymores had a very hard schedule and started 0-2 but bounced back in the playoff race when Munro made some major changes on offense, the result was a 55-14 drubbing of Paris a few days later and Scotland raced back into the playoff race. At 7-4 the Claymores needed a huge win over Scotland but unfortunately the Claymores beset with injuries played one of their worst games ever and lost to their rivals the London Monarchs. The team went out on top in Week 14 when shortly before the game it was announced that Ronnie Munro would retire and step down as GM. The Claymores played a great game in which Claymore favourites, Jim Ballard and Scott Couper played very well and the GM ran out a winner in his final ever FWL game. Munro was sad to miss the playoffs but he had a two year record of 20-8 and never had a losing record. His overall record of 22-9 ranks him 3rd ever in the league with a great percentage of .709. C Joe Panos, Scottish Claymores (Season 1) Regarded as the best centre ever to play in the FWL. Panos was voted first team All-FWL as he started in the All-Star game for the Claymores. Panos played all 14 regular season and also started in the playoffs but he broke his leg very badly in the European Conference against Frankfurt and never played again. Panos missed the FWL Bowl and many say he could have had a big difference in the game as Moore fumbled several times due to his new C Steve Wallace. Panos only played a year in the FWL but helped the Claymores protect Shawn Moore by allowing the 4th fewest sacks in the league and his team were the top rushing team with an amazing 1,687 yards. Without Panos this year the Scotland rushing attack has been erractic. DT Rollin Putzier, Montreal Machine (Season 1) Started all 14 games for Montreal in Season 1 and played well in the playoff loss to San Antonio. Finished 2nd in the league in sacks (19) and made 48 tackles. Started on the All-FWL team and made 6 tackles and 5 sacks in one game in Season 1 against New York which is the second best game in sacks in league history. Not bad for a 13 year veteran ! Still is ranked 7th in the league ever in sacks despite playing only one season. Dominating force. LB Bubba Toon, Austria DarkKnights - London Monarchs (Season 1-2) LB Bubba Toon is one of the only players to play for both teams in the most fierce rivalry in the FWL. Toon started his career in the FWL with the expansion Austria DarkKnights but was later traded to the London Monarchs where he had a superb career, so good that GM Mario Kreiner must regret the day he traded Toon. In return the DarkKnights did pick up DT Pete Proby who had two solid years with Austria picking up 14 sacks but Toon on the other hand had a great career. After being traded to London, Toon started every game he played for in London and he finished his first season in the FWL with 67 tackles (4th on the team), 6 sacks and an interception. The Monarchs made the playoffs and narrowly lost in the divisional games to the Claymores in overtime. His next season was just as busy as he finished with 76 tackles (2nd on the team), 6 sacks and an interception which he returned 3 yards for his first touchdown in the FWL. With a full season in London under his belt the Monarchs rush defense shot up from 14th to 5th with Toon starting the whole year. Toon did suffer some niggling injuries but had a solid career in the FWL which saw his team make the playoffs every year he played.
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