2012 Hall of Fame Inductees: Kansas City Chiefs Add Willie Roaf to Canton

The Pro Football Hall of Fame announced their selections for the class of 2012, adding six players' names to the annals of the greatest in pro football history.

Kansas City Chiefs fans should feel somewhat bittersweet with this year's inductions. Canton will welcome offensive tackle Willie Roaf, along with Curtis Martin, Chris Doleman, Cortez Kennedy and Dermontti Dawson. The selection panel selected Jack Butler as their senior inductee.

Roaf had already established himself as a premier lineman with the New Orleans Saints prior to arriving in Kansas City. The Chiefs landed Roaf for a song, relinquishing only a third-round pick in 2003 in exchange for his services.

Those services protected Trent Green and opened holes for Priest Holmes, as the Chiefs fielded the most prolific offense during those years.

Most fans likely considered Roaf's induction a foregone conclusion. In 13 years, Roaf received All-Pro honors nine times, was selected to the Pro Bowl 11 times and is a member of two NFL All-Decade teams.

The bitter part comes with the decision not to induct offensive guard Will Shields. Shields spent all 14 years of his career in Kansas City, playing alongside two iterations of stellar Chiefs offensive lines.

Shields stepped in as a rookie in 1993, playing with Chiefs stalwarts Dave Szott, John Alt and Tim Grunhard. Shields then became the veteran presence on the line with Roaf, Casey Wiegmann and Brian Waters.

During their time, both line rosters were considered the best in the NFL. Together they paved the way for a number of accomplished running backs, including Holmes and Marcus Allen.

Chiefs fans can take comfort, though. Just as Roaf's selection was a matter of when and not if, Shields will not wait much longer before he dons a yellow jacket of his own.

In the meantime, Kansas City can feel proud seeing the anchor of their "Greatest Show on Turf" receive the accolades he deserves.