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By Jan Hubbard
jhubbard@star-telegram.com
Charles Haley did not get five Super Bowl rings by being patient. Nor did he get them by being an understanding, nice guy. Playing defensive end in the National Football League is a violent way of life, and Haley, who also played linebacker, excelled at it.
After a career that was brilliant on the field but marred by confrontations with teammates, family and media off it, Haley has found peace and calm. Part of it is medicinal; he has been open about getting treatment for being bipolar.
Part of it is religious; a discussion with him seldom goes longer than 20 seconds without a reference to God or the Bible.
But whatever the reason, Haley is at peace, which he says will serve him well as he awaits word on whether he earns a place in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Haley, who played 12 full seasons for the San Francisco 49ers and Dallas Cowboys, was a finalist for the Hall of Fame for the first time last year and again is in the final field of 15 as part of the 2011 class. His credentials are impressive:
He was named All-Pro twice and made five Pro Bowls.
His teams had a combined 153-66 record, including 19-6 in the postseason. He played for a team with a losing record only once in his career.
He played on 10 division champions and went to the NFC Championship Game seven times.
He won two Super Bowls with the San Francisco 49ers and three with the Cowboys, who already have three offensive players from those teams in the Hall -- Emmitt Smith, Troy Aikman and Michael Irvin. Haley, however, is the only player in history with five Super Bowl rings.
Last year, however, he did not earn enshrinement, and it will be tough this year in a class that includes Deion Sanders, Jerome Bettis, Marshall Faulk, Willie Roaf, Cris Carter and Tim Brown. A maximum of five modern-era players can make the Hall.
The Class of 2011 will be announced in Dallas on Feb. 5, the day before Super Bowl XLV.
Haley, who lives in Dallas, is OK with whatever happens.
"Last year, it took a lot out of me," he said in a phone conversation. "I worried about it and was trying to show why I'm worthy. But this year is a whole different thing and I'll leave it up to God. If people look at what I've done on the field and sacrifices I made to the teams I played for and they find me not worthy, then I don't worry about it. I just know the people I played against and played with respect my game, and that's a lot."
Haley's opinions are as strong as his pass rush was, and he had a humorous memory of new Cowboys coach Jason Garrett, who was his teammate for three years in Dallas.
How have you changed since your playing days? I made quick decisions and reacted. I think I reacted a lot. At this point in my life, I've learned how to take a deep breath and enjoy life.
Can you talk about your pride in what you achieved? My goal in life was to be great. I didn't want to be good and I didn't want people around me that took their own job lightly. I wanted people around me who had the same aspirations I had -- to be the best and go out and work at it every day and perfect it.
What would it be like to go into the Hall of Fame with your old teammate, Deion Sanders? Prime Time, man. I love the man. Prime is something just like steel -- a tree that's rooted. I know when I call him that he's there for me. I know the type of man he is. He's a true champion and I expect nothing but the best for him.
What are your thoughts on the Cowboys' current sack leader, DeMarcus Ware? I think DeMarcus is a great athlete and he has a lot of gifts. He's a great guy. I love the man. He does a lot of great stuff. He's an excellent pass rusher. He's going to be one of the best before it's all over. He's going to break all the records for the Cowboys.
Do you have plans to go to the Super Bowl in Arlington? Yes I do. I want my kids to go -- my two in college and two here.
What are you memories about Jason Garrett being a teammate? When I got to Dallas, Jason was backing up Troy and in those days you could hit the backups. We were getting ready to play Philly or somebody and I remember [assistant coach] Butch Davis saying it was like open season on Garrett. So I came across and hit him a couple of times and Leon [Lett] hit him and he slammed the ball down and said, 'Hey, I've had about enough of this.' That was the first time I'd seen that red-headed guy get excited. And from that day on, he had my respect because he made a stand. He was not a cardboard cutout. He was not put here to be somebody's dummy.
How do you think Garrett will do as head coach? I expect him to have success because he's not going to sit back. He's been around guys like me and Michael Irvin, He understands all different types of people. He has his own style. If he stays true to who Garrett is, he'll have success. But if he tries to comfort guys and all that stuff, then he's not going to have success.
If you don't make the Hall of Fame, will you be upset? I'm not into a sprint. I've watched a lot of great guys -- Art Monk -- a lot of guys take that time to get in. It's all good. It's not about when you get there; it's getting there. A lot of guys got egos and want to go in on the first ballot. Hey, there are a lot of people sitting there that are deserving and haven't got in yet. I'm not going to let it bother me one way or another. I've put it in someone else's hands.
jhubbard@star-telegram.com
Charles Haley did not get five Super Bowl rings by being patient. Nor did he get them by being an understanding, nice guy. Playing defensive end in the National Football League is a violent way of life, and Haley, who also played linebacker, excelled at it.
After a career that was brilliant on the field but marred by confrontations with teammates, family and media off it, Haley has found peace and calm. Part of it is medicinal; he has been open about getting treatment for being bipolar.
Part of it is religious; a discussion with him seldom goes longer than 20 seconds without a reference to God or the Bible.
But whatever the reason, Haley is at peace, which he says will serve him well as he awaits word on whether he earns a place in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Haley, who played 12 full seasons for the San Francisco 49ers and Dallas Cowboys, was a finalist for the Hall of Fame for the first time last year and again is in the final field of 15 as part of the 2011 class. His credentials are impressive:
He was named All-Pro twice and made five Pro Bowls.
His teams had a combined 153-66 record, including 19-6 in the postseason. He played for a team with a losing record only once in his career.
He played on 10 division champions and went to the NFC Championship Game seven times.
He won two Super Bowls with the San Francisco 49ers and three with the Cowboys, who already have three offensive players from those teams in the Hall -- Emmitt Smith, Troy Aikman and Michael Irvin. Haley, however, is the only player in history with five Super Bowl rings.
Last year, however, he did not earn enshrinement, and it will be tough this year in a class that includes Deion Sanders, Jerome Bettis, Marshall Faulk, Willie Roaf, Cris Carter and Tim Brown. A maximum of five modern-era players can make the Hall.
The Class of 2011 will be announced in Dallas on Feb. 5, the day before Super Bowl XLV.
Haley, who lives in Dallas, is OK with whatever happens.
"Last year, it took a lot out of me," he said in a phone conversation. "I worried about it and was trying to show why I'm worthy. But this year is a whole different thing and I'll leave it up to God. If people look at what I've done on the field and sacrifices I made to the teams I played for and they find me not worthy, then I don't worry about it. I just know the people I played against and played with respect my game, and that's a lot."
Haley's opinions are as strong as his pass rush was, and he had a humorous memory of new Cowboys coach Jason Garrett, who was his teammate for three years in Dallas.
How have you changed since your playing days? I made quick decisions and reacted. I think I reacted a lot. At this point in my life, I've learned how to take a deep breath and enjoy life.
Can you talk about your pride in what you achieved? My goal in life was to be great. I didn't want to be good and I didn't want people around me that took their own job lightly. I wanted people around me who had the same aspirations I had -- to be the best and go out and work at it every day and perfect it.
What would it be like to go into the Hall of Fame with your old teammate, Deion Sanders? Prime Time, man. I love the man. Prime is something just like steel -- a tree that's rooted. I know when I call him that he's there for me. I know the type of man he is. He's a true champion and I expect nothing but the best for him.
What are your thoughts on the Cowboys' current sack leader, DeMarcus Ware? I think DeMarcus is a great athlete and he has a lot of gifts. He's a great guy. I love the man. He does a lot of great stuff. He's an excellent pass rusher. He's going to be one of the best before it's all over. He's going to break all the records for the Cowboys.
Do you have plans to go to the Super Bowl in Arlington? Yes I do. I want my kids to go -- my two in college and two here.
What are you memories about Jason Garrett being a teammate? When I got to Dallas, Jason was backing up Troy and in those days you could hit the backups. We were getting ready to play Philly or somebody and I remember [assistant coach] Butch Davis saying it was like open season on Garrett. So I came across and hit him a couple of times and Leon [Lett] hit him and he slammed the ball down and said, 'Hey, I've had about enough of this.' That was the first time I'd seen that red-headed guy get excited. And from that day on, he had my respect because he made a stand. He was not a cardboard cutout. He was not put here to be somebody's dummy.
How do you think Garrett will do as head coach? I expect him to have success because he's not going to sit back. He's been around guys like me and Michael Irvin, He understands all different types of people. He has his own style. If he stays true to who Garrett is, he'll have success. But if he tries to comfort guys and all that stuff, then he's not going to have success.
If you don't make the Hall of Fame, will you be upset? I'm not into a sprint. I've watched a lot of great guys -- Art Monk -- a lot of guys take that time to get in. It's all good. It's not about when you get there; it's getting there. A lot of guys got egos and want to go in on the first ballot. Hey, there are a lot of people sitting there that are deserving and haven't got in yet. I'm not going to let it bother me one way or another. I've put it in someone else's hands.