A panel of voters refused to induct Richard Seymour, now a poker player, into the Pro Football Hall of Fame this weekend. But the long-time New England Patriots defensive lineman was in attendance to witness his former team win its sixth Super Bowl since 2002.
The seven-time Pro Bowler was on the field for three of those championship games. On Saturday, he hoped to get the call from Canton letting him know he is part of the 2019 HOF class. Instead, he received a bit of “disappointment.”
Good News, Bad News
Saturday certainly wasn’t a satisfying day for Seymour. But the bitter taste quickly turned to jubilation a day later as he watched his former team again hoist the Lombardi Trophy.
A panel of voters met this weekend to select inductees for the HOF class of 2019. Chiefs tight end Tony Gonzalez and Ravens safety Ed Reed, in their first year of eligibility. were seemingly locks. And the experts were correct. Broncos cornerback Champ Bailey, also in his first year of eligibility, joined the club.
What started with an elite group of 15 potential inductees was down to 12. The list then shrunk even further when five players, including Seymour, were cut. The poker player, as always, handled it with class.
don't let today's disappointment cast a shadow on tomorrow's dreams…although my nomination bid into the HOF fell a bit short. I am forever grateful to have been nominated and a part of the process. congrats to well deserving and newly elected members.
— Richard Seymour (@BigSey93) February 2, 2019
Seymour’s former teammate, cornerback Ty Law, however, was selected. He joins the three aforementioned players, center Kevin Mawae, safety Johnny Robinson, former Broncos owner Pat Bowlen, and Dallas Cowboys executive Gil Brandt.
After receiving the bad news, Seymour turned his attention to Sunday’s big game in Atlanta. Prior to the game, he spoke with former teammate Tom Brady in the tunnel. And then he witnessed the team he battled for from 2001-2008 defeat the Los Angeles Rams 13-3 in the lowest scoring Super Bowl in history.
Brady has been under center for each of those six titles. He’s a sure-fire first-ballot Hall of Fame selection six years after he retires. Seymour hopes when that day comes he’ll be welcoming his former quarterback to the club instead of being stuck on the sidelines.
NFL Star No Slouch on the Felt
Seymour retired from the NFL in 2012 as a seven-time Pro Bowl selection – five with New England and two in Oakland. He recorded 57.5 sacks as a combo defensive tackle/end. His true strength was as a run-stuffer, using his 310-pound frame and athleticism to clog holes.
But he was sometimes forgotten on a team full of stars, especially next to fellow tackle Vince Wilfork, who will be up for HOF induction in a few years. That may have hurt his HOF prospects, although he still has a good chance of getting in within the next few years.
Now that his football career is long over, Seymour has moved on to poker. And he’s adapted quite well. The former NFL star has over $530,000 in career cashes. That includes a third place finish in a $25,000 high roller at the 2018 PCA ($376,360).
Seymour cashed twice at the 2017 WSOP and has two small cashes on the World Poker Tour. He certainly doesn’t need to make any money playing poker. He could afford to bankroll the people who bankroll poker players. But he enjoys the game and the poker community is better for having a celebrity passionate about poker.
