Allgemeines » ATLANTA (AP) — For towering tight end Tony Gonzalez

Max Garcia Jersey , this was a slam dunk.The 6-foot-5 Gonzalez, who turned the celebratory post-TD dunk over the crossbar into an art form, was voted into the Hall of Fame on Saturday.Joining him will be two more first-time nominees, Champ Bailey and Ed Reed, along with another defensive back, Ty Law, and center Kevin Mawae; Law and Mawae were both in their third year as finalists.The contributor nominees, Broncos owner Pat Bowlen and Cowboys and NFL executive Gil Brandt , each made it, as did senior Johnny Robinson, the defensive back who helped the Chiefs win Super Bowl 4.Gonzalez started in Kansas City and finished in Atlanta, where voters met on the eve of the Super Bowl to select the Class of 2019; they didn’t need much time to debate his worthiness.In short, Gonzalez had more than his fair share of chances to jam. (Maybe not by accident, the NFL banned the practice in 2014, the year after he retired.)The most prolific pass catcher at his position over a 17-year career, Gonzalez caught 1,325 passes (second in NFL history) for 15,127 yards (sixth) and 111 touchdowns. He was a six-time All-Pro, made 14 Pro Bowls, and his 916 catches with the Chiefs set one of 22 franchise records he held upon his retirement.“I knew I had a good chance, I’m not going to lie about that,” he said. “Still, when you hear the knock, your heart drops.”As it turns out, Gonzalez isn’t the only one who can get good air.“Threw my phone across the room,” Mawae said, of his reaction upon learning he was in. “I had a higher vertical than at the combine.”He’ll be donning the yellow jacket this summer alongside Gonzalez, and three players who spent part of their careers trying to stop the groundbreaking tight end.This marks the first time more than two defensive backs have made it in the same class.Bailey played 15 years — five with Washington, then 10 more with Denver after the Redskins swapped him for Clinton Portis. Like so many great cornerbacks, Bailey did not rewrite the record book, in part because he was, for a huge chunk of his career, considered the best cover guy in the league. So most quarterbacks simply avoided him.Still, he made three All-Pro teams, 12 Pro Bowls and a none-too-shabby 52 interceptions. His best-remembered pick was a 103-yard return against Tom Brady in the 2006 playoffs that did not go for a touchdown. Denver did score shortly afterward, though, on the way to the win. Eight years later, Bailey made his only Super Bowl.“This is home and timing was just right for it,” said Bailey, who grew up in Folkston and played college ball at Georgia. “Having Pat Bowlen go in, I never expected it to be like this.”Reed won his only title in the 2012 season, his last with the Ravens. Running the defense from his safety position, he was a standout playmaker on a roster full of them — including Ray Lewis, Terrell Suggs and Peter Boulware. Reed finished his career with 64 interceptions, and led the league in picks three times.“Smartest player I ever coached,” said Reed’s former coach, Brian Billick.Law was a lot like Bailey — a rock at the corner who quarterbacks avoided. He finished with 53 interceptions and three Super Bowl rings, all with the Patriots. When New England beat the Rams for its first title in 2002, Law returned a pick 47 yards for a score that gave the Patriots the lead in the second quarter; they didn’t trail after that.Law was one of the many high-profile players Bill Belichick was willing to cycle out, and his final five years were spent with Kansas City, Denver and two stints with the Jets, including 2005, when he made a career-high 10 interceptions.“It’s surreal to get this honor while my former team is playing,” said Law, who will be on hand when the Patriots play the Rams for the title Sunday.Mawae, a second-round draft pick in 1994, played 16 seasons for the Seahawks, Jets and Titans. He made three All-Pro teams and joins Mike Webster Cheap Dalton Risner Jersey , Dwight Stevenson and Jim Otto among the few true centers in Canton.He earned a spot some thought might go instead to Jaguars left tackle Tony Boselli. But for Boselli, Edgerrin James, John Lynch, Richard Seymour and six others, it’s wait ’til next year.Bowlen goes in after what some believe was a longer-than-necessary wait. He is suffering from Alzheimer’s disease, which has put the future of the Broncos’ franchise on uncertain ground.His youngest daughter, Annabel, said they face-timed their dad when the family received the news.“A lot of tears in the room,” she said.Bowlen was key in securing the NFL’s future via a number of multibillion-dollar TV contracts. The Broncos have largely prospered during his tenure, winning more than 60 percent of their games. That included the 1998 Super Bowl, when the owner famously shouted “This one’s for John” — a tribute to John Elway winning his first title.Brandt spent 29 years with the Cowboys, where his keen eye for talent helped turn Dallas into “America’s Team.” He chose eight future Hall of Famers, including Troy Aikman, Roger Staubach, Bob Lilly and Bob Hayes. He employed computers for evaluating talent and came up with psychological tests for draft prospects, two tools no NFL team could do without in the modern game.Brandt also was elected for his role as the NFL’s resident draft guru.Robinson was chosen by the Dallas Texans in the first AFL draft. The Texans became the Chiefs, and the Chiefs became Super Bowl champions. A teammate of his, Hall of Fame linebacker Willie Lanier, said Robinson was the key to a defense that helped Kansas City to two AFL titles, each of which landed the Chiefs in the Super Bowl.FOX Fantasy AutoForm a Racing Team, Compete for PrizesPlay Now! LANDOVER, Md. (AP)The Denver Broncos’ quarterback carousel continues to spin, and no one’s quite sure when or where it’ll stop. After Brock Osweiler was 22 of 38 for 193 yards with an interception and a fumble in a loss to Kirk Cousins and the Washington Redskins, coach Vance Joseph hopes to get Paxton Lynch some snaps in the season finale next week against the AFC West-champion Kansas City Chiefs (9-6). ”Our goal is to see him play,” Joseph said. ”So absolutely, if he’s ready to go next week, he’ll probably play for us. Absolutely.” The Broncos (5-10) didn’t choose a starter during the week as Lynch was listed as questionable with an ankle injury. Osweiler finished with a 60.7 rating, and Denver’s only touchdown came with 78 seconds left. Osweiler in the first half could be seen yelling on the sideline and afterward expressed frustration over not capitalizing on good field position. ”There was no finger pointing,” Osweiler said. ”The words that I used weren’t directed at anybody specifically, just trying to ignite the offense. I felt like we were leaving too much out there.” Cousins didn’t leave much out there, throwing for 299 yards and three touchdowns against Denver’s defense that came in ranked first in the NFL. Some Broncos fans on their way into FedEx Field discussed the possibility of Cousins being their quarterback next year. His performance with general manager John Elway in attendance didn’t do anything to douse that speculation. ”I don’t want to say anything right now, but he’s a ballplayer,” Broncos cornerback Chris Harris Jr. said. ”He definitely can make some plays and he can make all the throws, but I can’t say anything about next year.” The Broncos have started three QBs this season – Osweiler, Lynch and Trevor Siemian, who’s on injured reserve with a shoulder injury. Cousins is playing a second consecutive year on the franchise tag and is facing another offseason of uncertainty. ”You have to focus on the present, and certainly your mind does like to wander,” Cousins said. ”There will be plenty of time to discern all those questions and think about the options come the offseason, but right now I’ve got to focus on winning football games.” Some other things we learned in the Redskins’ 27-11 victory over the Broncos: REDSKINS’ D UPGRADE: Washington allowed a combined 68 points in losses at the Dallas Cowboys and Los Angeles Chargers before giving up one touchdown combined in beating the Arizona Cardinals and Broncos. Bad QB play by Blaine Gabbert and Osweiler factors into that, but the Redskins have also gotten better at forcing turnovers and improved their practice habits. ”I feel like guys are paying more attention to details in practice and getting more out of practice and it’s showing up on Sundays,” said safety D.J. Swearinger, who intercepted Osweiler. ”For the performance that we had it’s incredible. From the D-line to the linebackers to the secondary, we played a full team game, and that’s all you can ask for.” WHAT TO PLAY FOR: The Broncos and Redskins (7-8) have each long been eliminated from playoff contention but seem intent not to fold the tent before the season is over. While Denver faces Kansas City, Washington visits the NFC East-rival New York Giants (2-12) on New Year’s Eve. ”It’s time to get to K.C., man, and try to prepare as well as we can for them,” Broncos safety Darian Stewart said. ”It’s still a division game, man. And It will feel better getting a win going into the offseason.” It matters to the Redskins to put together their first three consecutive seasons at .500 or better since 1999-2001. ”That’s really where our focus is: get to 8-8,” Cousins said. ”It’s not 13-3, but it’s not a losing season. I want this brand, this organization, to be associated with winning.” ANDERSON FOR 1,000: Broncos running back rushed for 88 yards and a touchdown against the Redskins and now needs 54 to hit 1,000 in a season for the first time in his career. ”It would mean a lot,” Anderson said. ”We’ve got one game to do it. There’s nothing better than having the pressure of one game.” —