NEW ORLEANS -- Former Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Cris Carter had to wait six years, but he's finally a Hall of Famer.
"Those years I didn't make it, I took two to three hours to cry and mourn. Then I went back to work. This year I believed I was going to get in the Hall. With these receivers, eventually one of us had to get in," Carter said on Saturday.
Carter couldn't hold back his emotions after learning the news, recognizing that "not one bad player" was selected while he waited to finally make it.
"I'm forever humbled," Carter said. "For me to end up right here ... I mean this is the happiest day of my life."
Carter's reaction is one of the reasons why the Hall of Fame announcements are the highlight of the week before the Super Bowl. After a bunch of off-field stories and silly questions, it's great to remember why we all love the game so much. Making the Pro Football Hall of Fame means so much to these players, and it's great to witness.
Follow Gregg Rosenthal on Twitter @greggrosenthal.
