FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. -- For 10 years defensive end Claude Humphrey terrorized opposing offensive linemen and led the Falcons to some of the greatest moments in the franchise's young history.
From 1968 to 1974 and again from 1976 to 1978 Humphrey totaled 94.5 quarterback sacks (a franchise record). He led the Birds in sacks in eight of 10 seasons he played in Atlanta and was named NFL Rookie of the Year in 1968. The third-overall pick in the the 1968 NFL Draft appeared in six Pro Bowls and his five-straight selections to the NFL all-star game is tied with current Falcons linebacker Keith Brooking and fellow Ring of Honor member Mike Kenn for the most in team history. Humphrey ranks tied for sixth in team history with 11 fumble recoveries. On December 21, 1969 he returned a fumble for the only touchdown in his career against the Minnesota Vikings. His 127 career starts as a Falcon rank sixth in franchise history.
But memories of his career aren't confined to Atlanta.
Others took notice and now he's up for the greatest honor among professional athletes.
Humphrey is one of 17 finalists for induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Four to seven candidates will be selected for enshrinement by a vote of sportswriters Saturday during Super Bowl festivities in Tampa, Fla. The announcement will be made at 2:30 p.m. Saturday and can be viewed live on NFL Network.
AF.com Managing Editor J. Michael Moore spoke with Humphrey earlier this week and asked him about the continued honors from his playing days and his thoughts on the current crop of Falcons players.
JMM: How does it feel to be a finalists for the Hall of Fame? Has the feeling sunk in?
CH: “It has sunk in. As a matter of fact, it’s embedded in my brain right now. Pretty much consuming me. It’s all I can think about. I would like to be a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Everyone I played against is in there and everyone that went in that I played against spoke highly of me so I feel like I have good shot at getting in there.”
JMM: Will you be making the trip to Tampa?
CH: "I talked to the people from the Hall of Fame (Monday). They wanted to know where I would be and I told them I would be in Nashville and they can get in touch with me there... I've been a finalist before and I've been in this position before. I kind of have an idea of how it goes and the way they work. I gave them my cell number and told them, if I make it, call me in Nashville and I'll give them an interview and all that. If you make it, they call you. If you don't, you don't get a call. It's pretty simple."
JMM: You kind of know what to expect, then?
CH: "The last three times I was a finalist I sat by the phone and waited. It did get nerve-racking that morning when I woke up. This time I'm just going to try to take it slower... A little bit easier. It's really hard to just sit back and have to wait like that but I've known about being a finalist (for a couple months). It's been a long time."
JMM: What did induction into the Falcons Ring of Honor mean to you?
CH: "It means a lot. I was wondering why I hadn't been selected to the Ring of Honor in Atlanta but, hey, it came at a good time in my life. I might not have been as appreciative had it come earlier while I was still in and out of football. It came at a time where there's not a lot going on in my life and it gave me an opportunity to bring my grandson down and let him hear people talk about how I played so I don't have to tell him myself. If somebody else tells him it might mean a little bit more to him than if I sat down and tried to explain to him what went on and how it was and how much I enjoyed playing. I really enjoyed playing for the Atlanta Falcons and I appreciate all the new Falcons have done. I'm still a Falcons fan. Back in those days, if the Atlanta Falcons hadn't paid me to play, I would have paid them to let me play. That's how much I really appreciate being a part of a team. That honor, that Ring of Honor thing, is fantastic. I appreciate it now probably more than I would have a lot earlier in my life."
JMM: When you look back on your career, can you pick out your "Hall of Fame moment?"
CH: "That's really hard because I kind of didn't get stuck on myself. To me, it was always working to get better. The people who knew me knew how I worked during the offseason to get better. I never really had, as a player, that Hall of Fame moment because I always had a goal or reason for doing the things that I did. It's hard for me to pick out one moment and say that's my Hall of Fame moment or my Ring of Honor moment. It's really hard because I enjoyed football. I enjoyed playing and I always got mad at my opponent before the game. But after the game, everything was fine. The biggest highlight, probably, was first coming to the Atlanta Falcons and getting to meet people like Ken Reeves and Errol Linden and Tommy Nobis... Those people who were already there and how they accepted me as a team member. That may be my greatest moment because my idea of what pro football was like was a lot different than what it was when I got there and started to play. I was a little at odds with pro football. When I got to Atlanta, those guys opened their arms up and accepted me. I think that was the greatest thrill I had was just being accepted by those pro football players."
JMM: What are your thoughts on some of the other finalists? Did you follow some of them more closely than others?
CH: "I guess I would have more of a kinship with Bruce Smith because he played defensive end and, of course, Richard Dent, because he was from Tennessee State where I attended college. He kind of followed in my footsteps. I kept up with those guys because they were defensive linemen and I just enjoyed watching them play."
JMM: You talked about the "New Falcons." What have you seen out of the organization recently?
CH: "They are the new Falcons. The best thing they've done is disassociate themselves with the way it used to be. They have their own way of doing things. It's just exciting to see that because that's something I thought I'd never see. It's like I never thought I'd see a black president. I got a chance to see it and I'm getting a chance to see the Atlanta Falcons, the new Falcons, have a different approach and a different attitude. We kind of got stagnated there for a while and, truthfully, I think a lot of people thought we couldn't win. But these people can win and they know they can win. They're a different group of people and it's just so exciting. I really appreciate all the things Mr. Blank has done for the team and what a nice man he is. Everybody in that organization just seems like top-notch people. You get a different opinion when you're on the outside looking in. They seem so genuine and that's the good thing about it. That kind of attitude streams down from the front office to the players and gets all the way down to the equipment man (and) the water boy. Everybody gets a chance to be part of a real organization. That's where I see the Atlanta Falcons headed and I think it's very good."
JMM: It's Saturday. The phone rings and you've made it in the Hall of Fame. Who do you call?
CH: "I don't know who I'm going to call. I really don't. It's a hard decision. I know a long time ago in Atlanta stadium coach Marion Campbell and I were talking and he told me: "Claude, one day you're going to be in the Hall of Fame and I'm going to be there with you." I think that's the first person I'm going to call, Coach Campbell and tell him: "Hey, I made it. Now what are you going to do?" Coach Campbell is a shy person and I'm wondering if he's going to be able to step up there for me and be there with me when all this goes down. I'm looking forward to it."
MORE ON THE FALCONS AND THE HALL OF FAME:
- ENSHRINMENT: Click here for the 17, Class of 2009 finalists
- RING OF HONOR: Humphrey, Kenn join Falcons legends
- HALL OF FAME: Visit the Hall of Fame's official webiste
- THOMAS: News from Emmitt Thomas' induction into the Hall of Fame
- HISTORY: Visit the Falcons history section on AtlantaFalcons.com
