Hog Heaven at the Hall of Fame

Believe it or not, this past weekend more than just Jerry Rice and Emmitt Smith were inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio.

One of those "other" men who was inducted was none other than Russ Grimm.

A man whose induction was a long time coming, many would say some of his fellow Hogs should be up there with him.

Semantics aside, he was a part of one of the most dominant offensive lines in the history of the game, and it is a bit shocking that in 2010, nearly 20 years after he retired, he is the first Hog to be honored by the Hall.

Grimm was humble in his speech, he didn't talk about himself, but more so about the people who got him to where he was: his parents, high school, and college coaches, Joe Gibbs, Joe Bugle, but also his fellow Hogs.

"Next I want to mention a few guys that made it possible for me to be here today, a group of guys that grew together, worked together, played together, raised families together, celebrated together, guys that I consider family, a group known as the Hogs. Joe Jacoby, Jeff Bostic, Mark May, Fred Dean, Donnie Warren, George Starke, and Rick Walker. Your names are going to be embroidered on the inside of this jacket so I always remember the things we went through, the tough times we had, and the good times we celebrated."

Sports pundits love to say there is a fraternity in football, and that's true. But within that fraternity is an even tighter knit group: the offensive linemen.

Back before the days of free agency (and to some extent in today's game) these guys would practically spend their entire careers together with their hands in the dirt and, to once again quote Grimm's speech, "to move a man from Point A to Point B against his will."

The Hogs might have been the tightest group of offensive linemen in the game.  They had their fabled Five o'clock Club, a simple shack where the Hogs (and honorary Hog John Riggins) would get together and pop a "few" cans of beer after practice.

Hearing all the stories from various written and video sources almost makes one jealous that they were a part of this group...this group of men who might have the most thankless jobs in the NFL.

At least thankless to those who aren't fans of the Burgundy and Gold.  Because of Grimm and the other Hogs, we here in Washington D.C. (and anywhere else Redskins fans may roam) know how special an offensive lineman is.

We have always celebrated our blue collar boys who don't make the SportsCenter highlights.  We know their names and buy their jerseys—something you're not likely to see in any other stadium—and we hold their memory true.

In other NFL cities you'll hear talk of this player being the next big thing—insert quarterback, running back, or receiver name here. But in the District you will hear folks say, in any given season, "Oh these guys might be the second coming of the Hogs."

That is just how we are, and we might not have owned Canton this year (sadly it was mostly Dallas fans there), but we were all celebrating in our own way, raising a can of beer to one of our favorite sons, Russ Grimm.  Congratulations sir, you and your fellow Hogs deserve this.

Until next time loyal reader, be safe...for more on Russ Grimm's induction check out Dan Steinberg's Sports Bog at Washingtonpost.com; he's got a great post on the after party.