Cunningham: "This is my Hall of Fame"
The Philadelphia Inquirer Blog - Eagles
Cunningham: "This is my Hall of Fame"
Jeff McLane, Inquirer Staff Writer
Randall Cunningham, the former quarterback that paved the way for the Donovan McNabbs and Michael Vicks of the NFL, and Al Wistert, who paved the way for tailback Steve Van Buren as the Eagles won their first two championships in 1948 and 1949, are being inducted into the team's Ring of Honor today.
The two inductees, along with owner Jeffrey Lurie, met with the media before the Eagles-Chiefs game. The 89-year-old Wistert had to be helped to the podium by Lurie and team spokesman Derek Boyko. Lurie and Cunningham embraced for an uncomfortable-looking hug. Nevertheless, Lurie gave his own personal pitch for both former Eagles to be inducted into the NFL Hall of Fame.
Cunningham "revolutionized the game," Lurie said of the explosive and acrobatic quarterback, who was drafted by the Eagles in the second round of the 1985 draft.
Said Cunningham, who was the NFL's player of the year in 1988 and 1990: "This is my Hall of Fame. I'm satisfied."
Coincidentally, Cunningham is being honored on the day of Vick's return to the NFL. McNabb is inactive for the game with a fractured rib. Both present-day quarterbacks have expressed gratitude to Cunningham in the past for his part in dispelling the idea that African Americans couldn't play the position.
"I think that myth is over now," said the 46-year-old Cunningham, who is currently the pastor of a church in Las Vegas. "African American quarterbacks can do it just as well as anybody else."
Cunningham said that he attended Eagles practice yesterday and that he sat down with both players. Vick is expected to be used in the Eagles' Wildcat formation -- or "Spread Eagle," as they've been calling it -- with Kevin Kolb starting. Cunningham was in many ways the original Wildcat.
"Buddy [Ryan] used to tell me to just go out and make 5-7 big plays," Cunningham said. "That was the Wildcat back then. We just didn't have a catchy name for it."
Cunningham looked slim and healthy -- maybe good enough to make a comeback? "I'm too old," he said. "I have gray in my eyebrows."
Wistert was an eight-time All-Pro tackle in nine seasons of play and was the first player to have his jersey retired by the Eagles. "A no-brainer," Lurie said of Wistert's credentials for the Hall of Fame.
"Naturally, when you get to be near 90 years of age, any fuss they make over you is easy to handle," said Wistert, who flew from his home in Oregon to Philadelphia.
Both players will be honored at halftime.
Classy comment, Randall. "This is my Hall of Fame." You deserve it, as well as a place in the HOF. Thanks for the memories, #12.— dlscholt
iro-ny (n) the use of words to express something other than and especially the opposite of the literal meaning. (This doesn't sound like coincidental to me)- damn wolf we are on the same page bruh, I made the same statement two weeks ago when they were bashing Mcnabb and I compared his plight to cunningham when he was here from 85-95, Randall made recievers look great ask Calvin Williams, fred Barnette, and Chris Carter before he became prolific. Buddy ryan always told Randall if you can put up 20pts my defense can do the rest.lol, Ray Rhodes was ignorant for letting this guy go when he had another 4-5 years left in him and he won another mvp that year in 1997 and it took us 6 seasons just to make it back to the play-offs after he left. Warren Moon had the run&shoot with haywood jefferies, ernest givens, and drew hill, all great recievers. Randall made his okay recievers good recievers and turned Keith Jackson into a all-pro tight end. he's one of the best quarterback's to ever play the game, ask Marino, Elway, Montana, Kelly, Jim Everette, who always won the quarterback challenges back then. Mr. Cunningham did. Our runningbacks during the cunningham era, Anthony Toney, Keith byars who was good but injury prone, an over the hill hershel walker, heath sherman, sheron stacey, james joesph, charlie gardner, and Ricky watter's after he was finish in San Fransico, and we never had anyone who could block for him, face it Norman Breman was the worst owner in Eagle's history and we let a man who should have easily one 2-3 superbowls with that defense work extremely hard just to carry us to the play-off's .— jarid29510
- damn wolf we are on the same page bruh, I made the same statement two weeks ago when they were bashing Mcnabb and I compared his plight to cunningham when he was here from 85-95, Randall made recievers look great ask Calvin Williams, fred Barnette, and Chris Carter before he became prolific. Buddy ryan always told Randall if you can put up 20pts my defense can do the rest.lol, Ray Rhodes was ignorant for letting this guy go when he had another 4-5 years left in him and he won another mvp that year in 1997 and it took us 6 seasons just to make it back to the play-offs after he left. Warren Moon had the run&shoot with haywood jefferies, ernest givens, and drew hill, all great recievers. Randall made his okay recievers good recievers and turned Keith Jackson into a all-pro tight end. he's one of the best quarterback's to ever play the game, ask Marino, Elway, Montana, Kelly, Jim Everette, who always won the quarterback challenges back then. Mr. Cunningham did. Our runningbacks during the cunningham era, Anthony Toney, Keith byars who was good but injury prone, an over the hill hershel walker, heath sherman, sheron stacey, james joesph, charlie gardner, and Ricky watter's after he was finish in San Fransico, and we never had anyone who could block for him, face it Norman Breman was the worst owner in Eagle's history and we let a man who should have easily one 2-3 superbowls with that defense work extremely hard just to carry us to the play-off's .— jarid29510
- Great football? Are you people just dumb? We couldnt crack 10 wins or an East Div Title? It was hit or miss week to week. Reids teams are light yrs better. Wake up morons.
Enough of the grammar lesson. Randall + Buddy + Reggie = a whole lot of fun for many years. We didn't win, but there were legendary games with names we all remember. "Body Bag" "Bounty Bowl". What does McNabb have? "Puke Game" "4th and 26" "Puke Game II, aka Super Bowl". Give me 12 with this team and I bet he would do beter than McPuke. And I actually like 5!— Justicek- Enough of the grammar lesson. Randall + Buddy + Reggie = a whole lot of fun for many years. We didn't win, but there were legendary games with names we all remember. "Body Bag" "Bounty Bowl". What does McNabb have? "Puke Game" "4th and 26" "Puke Game II, aka Super Bowl". Give me #12 with this team and I bet he would do beter than McPuke. And I actually like #5!— Justicek
- Enough of the grammar lesson. Randall + Buddy + Reggie = a whole lot of fun for many years. We didn't win, but there were legendary games with names we all remember. "Body Bag" "Bounty Bowl". What does McNabb have? "Puke Game" "4th and 26" "Puke Game II, aka Super Bowl". Give me #12 with this team and I bet he would do beter than McPuke. And I actually like #5!— Justicek
- #12 is the reason im a philly fan to this day,kuggs77 is right "91"is the ultimate lost season for him ......bryce paup tore his knee up but the same injury happens to tom brady and they make a rule to ban it.......4 qb injuries and we miss the playoff with a 10-6 record. go figure if we never win the big one thats the season i will always wonder about— positive eagle
- Can we have those uniforms back? Please?— al personal foul
- I really miss those years, even though we didn't win it all it was great football.— rayzoe
- I really miss those years, even though we didn't win it all it was great football.— rayzoe
- I really miss those years, even though we didn't win it all it was great football.— rayzoe
- WTF? What about Warren Moon? What about Steven Mcnair?— madabkr4tx
This is how I interpret these comments-It is a coincidence, not ironic; they would either have to have something in common or a directly polar situation for it too be ironic... as far as I can tell, the only relation is that they are black QBs...Jason Campbell and JaMarcus Russell are playing today too..how ironic...lol... Congrats to Randall!— kjuggs77- "explosive and acrobatic" have been added to "athletic" on the list of adjectives you can't use when describing an African American QB. Please limit yourself to: "poised" "couragous" "indefatigable" and "steely." Expect a fine from the league office. (#12 Rules!!!!)— dragoon6
- Cunningham is similar to McNabb also in that both players are such big play guys, they are and were expected to come up with "5-7" plays" a game despite usually mediocre offensive talent around them. On both teams most of the talent was on the defensive side of the ball and the QB's just had to carry huge loads. Don't forget, the Eagles could NOT run the ball in the SB. Westbrook had 27 yards and 18 came on one run running out the clock in the first half.— Jim C.
He was fun to watch and could punt well to. Too bad he couldn't read a defense very well.— a2000xl- They didn't win a Super Bowl with him, but everyone has to admit he was real fun to watch.— phillyjeffsr
- Congrats number 12.— bjack85
- "The following is a paid presentation of Nutrisystem"...What?!?! Oh, I forgot...the Eagles are on CBS. Almost had a heart attack...— MFPhils
- ironic means coincidental...2 points for using dolt though. I love that word.— MFPhils
lonewolf, how many playoff games did Randall win? One? Under Rich Kotite? How many NFC championships did he win? Zero? I'll take McNabb, thank you (although I wish Randall had this O-line - he could have won a lot more with some blocking.)
Comment removed.- I am really happy for Randall...I was wondering when they were going to induct him! Such an exciting player to watch, regardless of the Philly playoff failures of the late 80s/early 90's... 1991- the ultimate lost season for the Eagles...— kjuggs77
- Comment removed.
- He's right, he's the original wildcat b/c they never gave Randall an O-line of offensive weapons. He was always running for his life. With that defense, they could've won 1-2 SBs with some half-decent players around him.— eaglesindallas
