House Concurrent Resolution 71

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION CONGRATULATING FORMER NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE PLAYER ROBERT BRAZILE FOR HIS MONUMENTAL FOOTBALL CAREER AND FOR HIS IMPRESSIVE 2018 INDUCTION INTO THE NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE HALL OF FAME.

WHEREAS, Robert Brazile was inducted into the 2018 Hall of Fame Class of the National Football League (NFL), which placed him as the fourth Jackson State University Tiger to earn such an honor with former teammates Walter Payton, Lem Barney and Jackie Slater; and

WHEREAS, Brazile, who was nicknamed "Dr. Doom" during his pro playing days, was a senior nominee who was elected by the 48-member Selection Committee, and on the eve of Super Bowl LII, the NFL's Hall of Fame Committee selected Brazile as one of eight new honorees who were inducted into the Class of 2018 in Canton, Ohio, which was held on August 4, 2018; and

WHEREAS, Brazile, a gridiron phenom who possesses an unofficial career sack total of 48 and 1,281 tackles, played his 10-year professional career with the Houston Oilers from 1975 to 1984, winning the NFL Rookie of the Year Award in 1975, in addition to earning seven consecutive Pro Bowl selections, six first- and second-team All-Pro Team selections and a member of the league's 1970s All-Decade Team; and

WHEREAS, widely credited with revolutionizing the outside linebacker position in a 3-4 formation defense, the Mobile, Alabama, native was referred to as being the "Lawrence Taylor before Lawrence Taylor," by his late coach, Bum Phillips, who emphasized Brazile's combination of speed, strength and tackling that allowed him to be one of the most fearsome of his time; and WHEREAS, before embarking upon a stellar professional career in the National Football League, Brazile was recruited to Jackson State as a tight end, and dominated the SWAC as a linebacker before going on to redefine the position with the Houston Oilers; and

WHEREAS, receiving 80% of the vote for induction from the 48-member Selection Committee, Brazile and Jerry Kramer, both named by the Senior Selection Committee, will be enshrined along with First-Ballot Standouts Ray Lewis, Randy Moss and Brian Urlacher, as well as Terrell Owens, Brian Dawkins and Bobby Beathard; and

WHEREAS, the 65-year-old Brazile was the sixth pick in the 1975 NFL Draft by the Houston Oilers, where he would spend his entire career through 1984, never missing a game, and garnering the nickname "Energizer Bunny" by his fellow teammates; and

WHEREAS, it is the policy of this Legislature to pay tribute to Robert Brazile, a preeminent Mississippi football legend who has brought honor to Jackson State University and to the State of Mississippi:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, THE SENATE CONCURRING THEREIN, That we do hereby congratulate former National Football League Player Robert Brazile for his monumental football career and his impressive 2018 induction into the National Football League's Hall of Fame.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be furnished to Robert Brazile and to the members of the Capitol Press Corps.