Capsule looks at the six players who were enshrined yesterday in Canton:

Gene Hickerson

Pos: Guard

Team: 1958-1973 Cleveland Browns.

History: Was lead blocker for three Hall of Famers: Jim Brown, Bobby Mitchell and Leroy Kelly. ... First-team All-Pro five consecutive seasons (1966-1970). ... Voted to Pro Bowl six times in a row (1966-1971). ... During Hickerson's tenure, Browns never had a losing season. ... Chosen for NFL's all-decade team of the 1960s.

Michael Irvin

Pos: Wide Receiver

Team: 1988-1999 Dallas Cowboys.

History: In 1995, Irvin played his finest season: 111 catches for 1,603 yards. ... Cowboys made four straight appearances in NFC championship game (1992-1995) and won three Super Bowls.

... Finished career with 750 receptions for 11,904 yards and 65 touchdowns. ... Picked for NFL's all-decade team of the 1990s.

Bruce Matthews

Pos: Guard, Tackle, Center

Team: 1983-2001 Houston Oilers/Tennessee Oilers/Titans.

History: Regarded as one of game's finest offensive linemen for nearly two decades. ... Played in more games than any positional player in NFL history. ... Started 292 of 296 games he played and 15 playoff games. ... Earned 14 consecutive Pro Bowl berths after 1988 season. ... Was All-Pro nine times.

Charlie Sanders

Pos: Tight End

Team: 1968-1977 Detroit Lions.

History: In an era of blocking tight ends, he became team's secret weapon as a receiver. ... Was voted to seven Pro Bowls. ... Made 30 or more receptions in a season seven times and had more than 500 yards receiving in six seasons. ... At time of retirement was Lions' career receptions leader (336).

Thurman Thomas

Pos: Running Back

Teams: 1988-1999 Buffalo Bills, 2000 Miami Dolphins.

History: A key part of Bills' unprecedented run of four consecutive Super Bowl appearances. ... At time of retirement, ranked sixth all-time in career yards from scrimmage (16,532). ... Only Emmitt Smith and Barry Sanders ran for more yards in the 1990s. ... Set playoff records for career points (126).

Roger Wehrli

Pos: Cornerback

Team: 1969-1982 St. Louis Cardinals.

History: In 1970 picked off career-high six passes (a feat he matched in 1975) to earn first All-Pro and Pro Bowl honors. ... Had 40 career interceptions, two for touchdowns. ... Voted to NFL's all-decade team of 1970s, was first-team All-Pro five times (1970, 1974-1977) and made Pro Bowl seven times.

Source: Pro Football Hall of Fame.