New England Patriots Announce Newest Hall Of Fame Member

The New England Patriots have added a new member to the Hall of Fame.

Richard Seymour was a brilliant defensive lineman. He was a key player for the team, and helped his teammates win three Super Bowls. Bill Parcells and Mike Vrabel didn’t have the same luck in the fan vote.

Seymour was a first-round draft pick (sixth overall) for the Patriots in the 2001 NFL Draft. He was part of the Patriots for eight NFL seasons. The defensive lineman earned five consecutive Pro Bowl selections (2002 to 2006) and three straight first-team All-Pro nods (2003 to 2005).

Seymour finished his professional career with the Oakland Raiders. He mad the Pro Bowl in two of his final three years.

The Patriots Hall of Fame

The defensive lineman had made the final ballot for the Patriots Hall of Fame in each of the previous three seasons. However, he lost out to Raymond Clayborn, Matt Light and Rodney Harrison. He is a member of the NFL’s 2000s All-Decade Team. Seymour was a finalist for the Pro Football Hall of Fame in the final two cycles, but he didn’t have much success.

“Richard Seymour laid the foundation for a defense that helped propel the Patriots to three Super Bowl championships in his first four seasons in the NFL,” Patriots owner Robert Kraft said in a team statement. “Richard was the consummate professional and leader, always accepting the roles he was assigned, putting team goals ahead of personal ones, and in turn, raising the game of everyone around him. Yet as great as he was as a player, he is a Hall of Fame-caliber person, as well. I couldn’t be happier for Richard and the Seymour family, and I am looking forward to celebrating with them as Richard takes his rightful place in the Patriots Hall of Fame and very soon the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton.”

New England is off to another brilliant season, and this one will start without star quarterback Tom Brady. TB12 signed his contract with Tampa Bay, and Bill Belichick is building his roster around a new signal-caller. Who will replace Brady?