Former Patriot Tippett Going In Hall Aug. 2

By DAVID HEUSCHKEL

Hartford Courant

July 16, 2008

Andre Tippett's wife, Rhonda, couldn't contain her laughter at the distinctive gold jacket that her husband will wear when he is inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame next month. Upon laying his eyes on the sports jacket, the former Patriots linebacker couldn't help but bring up one of golf's greatest honors. 'This looks like a Masters jacket,' Tippett said to his wife, referring to the green sportscoat donned by the winner each year at Augusta National Golf Club. 'It doesn't cost a lot of money to get it, but this thing is really priceless.' Tippett first visited Canton as a player in 1986. That year, the Patriots played the preseason Hall of Fame game against the Cardinals. He made his second trip May 31, accompanying the Patriots rookies as part of an orientation program to educate them about the NFL and instill in them an appreciation for those who helped make pro football the most popular sport today.

'From '86 to now, the place is amazing,' Tippett said on a conference call Tuesday. 'If you know your history and respect the history of the people who have come before you, you have nothing but respect when you walk through there. It really, truly is a great place.' Tippett will be enshrined Aug. 2 along with defensive end Fred Dean, cornerbacks Darrell Green and Emmitt Thomas, wide receiver Art Monk and offensive tackle Gary Zimmerman. Tippett will join John Hannah (Class of '91), Mike Haynes ('97) and Nick Buoniconti (2001) as Hall of Famers who played for the Patriots. Tippett and Hannah spent their entire career in New England. As the 17th linebacker to be inducted, Tippett will be alongside names such as Nitschke, Butkus, Lambert and Taylor.

'You see the list and you pretty much have grown up watching a lot of those guys that are on that list play. Some that I considered my contemporaries,' Tippett said. 'It is awesome.' Tippett, who played 12 seasons and retired in 1993 at age 34, was in his 10th year of eligibility. He came up short last year, his first as a finalist. Among 17 finalists in 2008, Tippett received the minimum 80 percent approval by the 44-person board of selectors in February. He was in Phoenix for Super Bowl XLII when the announcement was made Feb. 2, the day before the Patriots lost to the Giants, 17-14. As a player, Tippett's only Super Bowl appearance was in one of the most lopsided when the Patriots were beaten 46-10 by the Bears in Super Bowl XX in January 1986. Tippett was a member of the NFL's 1980s All-Decade team, which included five straight trips to the Pro Bowl ('84-88) and two First Team All-Pro selections ('85, '87). Playing strong side linebacker, he had a career high 18 1/2 sacks in '85 and 16 1/2 the next season, the most by a linebacker in a two-year period. He finished with a franchise-record 100. Still, he didn't receive nearly the notoriety as Giants linebacker Lawrence Taylor, who generated headlines on and off the field. The contrast in their personalities was striking. Whereas Taylor seemingly fed off playing in the New York spotlight, Tippett was quiet and unassuming. 'It's a known fact that I've been referred to as LT of the AFC,' Tippett said. 'Had I been in the NFC and LT been in the AFC, there would have been an AT instead of an LT. To me, it's all the same. 'I have nothing but respect for Lawrence Taylor, and I think that when it's all said and done, I think it just goes down as Lawrence Taylor was one of the greatest and Andre Tippett was one of the greats, one of the greatest.'

dheuschkel@courant.com PRO FOOTBALL HALL Of FAME INDUCTION CEREMONY, Aug. 2, CANTON, OHIO

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