Dave Robinson presents the Green Bay Packers second round selection to the world with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell looking on.

Dave Robinson, the former Green Bay Packers linebacker who will be formally inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame this summer, stood proudly at the podium Friday night and with booming voice represented us all during his 30-second presentation of the Packers second round selection in the NFL Draft.

But it wasn’t 30 seconds of empty air. One could feel his enthusiasm, his pride and excitement about the opportunity to be there talking to the football world and reminding everyone how he felt about the Packers.

He talked briefly, but with conviction, about the Packers having signed Aaron Rodgers on that very day, the fact that the Packers were the team with the most NFL championships and that his ties with the team meant a lifetime of memories for him.

Dave Robinson at Lambeau Field this past season.
Raymond T. Rivard photograph

It was a moment I soon won’t forget. It’s one of the times when you feel the hair on the back of your neck rise and the memories – many of them in black and white – stream through your mind.

For me, to watch this Packers and Pro Football Hall of Famer, at least for a few moments, take pride in announcing the next member to be added to this storied franchise – well, it was something special.

One could almost feel that Vince Lombardi himself was watching from above and smiling.

I know I was smiling and continued to do so long after Robinson had left the stage – for some reason, I don’t think Vince and I were alone.

Thanks, Dave.

The second day of the NFL Draft plays second fiddle to the first round and opening night of the event that is fast becoming one of the most watched and most anticipated happening in the NFL each year. This year will be no different as the full list former players who will announced second day picks has been released.

Representing the Green Bay Packers in announcing the team’s picks will be newly-elected Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee Dave Robinson.

A few of the notables presenting are Deion Sanders, Neal Anderson, Tim Krumrie, Wayne Chrebet, and Mark Brunnel.

Here is the full list of former players slated to announce second-day picks:

Arizona Cardinals: Fullback Larry Centers

Atlanta Falcons: Cornerback Deion Sanders

Baltimore Ravens: Offensive tackle Jonathan Ogden

Buffalo Bills: Defensive end Chris Kelsay

Carolina Panthers: Safety Mike Minter

Chicago Bears: Running back Neal Anderson

Cincinnati Bengals: Defensive tackle Tim Krumrie

Cleveland Browns: Offensive Dick Schafrath (no second-round pick; team does have a third-rounder)

Dallas Cowboys: Defensive tackle Tony Casillas

Denver Broncos: Linebacker Randy Gradishar

Detroit Lions: Wide receiver Herman Moore

Green Bay Packers: Linebacker Dave Robinson

Houston Texans: Center Steve McKinney

Indianapolis Colts: Offensive tackle Tarik Glenn (no second-round pick; team does have a third-rounder)

Jacksonville Jaguars: Quarterback Mark Brunell

Kansas City Chiefs: Defensive back Gary Barbaro (no second-round pick; team does have a third-rounder)

Miami Dolphins: Offensive guard Larry Little

Minnesota Vikings: Safety Joey Browner

New England Patriots: Running back Kevin Faulk

New Orleans Saints: Safety Steve Gleason (no second-round pick; team does have a third-rounder)

New York Giants: Offensive guard Rich Seubert

New York Jets: Wide receiver Wayne Chrebet

Oakland Raiders: Defensive back Willie Brown (no second-round pick; team does have a third-rounder)

Philadelphia Eagles: Linebacker Jeremiah Trotter

Pittsburgh Steelers: Running back Merril Hoge

St. Louis Rams: Offensive tackle Orlando Pace

San Diego Chargers: Defensive back Jim Hill

San Francisco 49ers: Offensive guard Guy McIntyre

Seattle Seahawks: Linebacker Isaiah Kacyvenski

Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Deefensive tackle Warren Sapp

Tennessee Titans: Linebacker Keith Bulluck

Washington Redskins: Linebacker LaVar Arrington

Dave Robinson has been inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. If planning to attend the induction ceremony, you will want to visit the handy website mentioned in this blog post.
Raymond T. Rivard photograph

Last month, former Green Bay Packers linebacker Dave Robinson was one of two senior candidates finally elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Robinson, like Vince Lombardi-era  guard Jerry Kramer, was one of those important cogs of those 1960s  championship teams not inducted in the HOF.

Until this summer.

Robinson and Curly Culp, a defensive tackle with those dominant Hank Stram-coached Kansas City Chiefs teams from the 1960s, were the two senior members nominated and chosen to be inducted this summer.

Curly Culp
Pro Football Hall of Fame photograph

So, if you are a Packers fan looking to make a trip to the HOF induction ceremonies this coming August, you will want to head on over to the Pro Football Hall of Fame website where you will find one of the coolest pages devoted to visitors.

Everything you will want to know about visiting the Hall in Canton, Ohio, is located here. To plan a visit, you will find travel information, a place to order tickets, preferred lodging, packages and special offers, a museum map and a listing of upcoming events, among many other options.

If you’re a Packers fan, you may have visited the Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame, the blue chip facilities of the NFL for honoring its own. You will find the same at the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Though there are so many players who have not been inducted – Jerry Kramer – and many who have been curiously inducted – Warren Sapp – it’s still a wonderful place to visit. In fact, it’s a destination at which you probably want to spend a couple of days exploring.

And what better reason to make this summer you time. Not only can you revel in the history of the National Football League, but this summer you would be able to see one of our own – Dave Robinson – inducted.

Herb Adderley, Green Bay Packers Hall of Famer

Green Bay Packers Hall of Famers Herb Adderley and Willie Davis, in addition to President Mark Murphy had some good things to say about Dave Robinson’s selection to the Pro Football Hall of Fame announced earlier today.

-CB Herb Adderley, 1961-69 (inducted into Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1980):

“The things that made him a great linebacker were his size, speed and intelligence. Of course everyone makes mistakes, but Dave never made the same mistake twice. He was a great team player. He helped Tom Brown, our strong safety, to cover a tight end. He was one of the few linebackers in the league that could hold up the tight ends at the line of scrimmage, great tight ends like Mike Ditka and John Mackey. What people don’t realize is that Dave holding up the tight end gave Tom Brown more time to diagnose the play and to cover the tight end. It helped the defensive linemen to get in and rush the quarterback because it would throw the timing off and the quarterback would have to hold the ball longer. It also helped me when I was covering the split end.

“I have never really felt the full satisfaction for me being in the Hall of Fame without Dave being in there, and I would have felt the same way if Willie Davis wasn’t in there. With Dave making it, it solidifies my feelings about the three of us and how we played together, shutting down the run and the pass. Whenever I talk to Willie or Dave, it always comes up, how we shut down the left side of the field. It gives me tremendous satisfaction because Dave is a very dear friend of mine.”

Packers Hall of Famer Willie Davis

-DE Willie Davis, 1960-69 (inducted into Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1981):

“With him as the left outside linebacker and me as the left defensive end, we lined up next to each other for a lot of years, and I never played with someone that was more knowledgeable. In many ways, he kind of set the pattern for a linebacker in Green Bay for a while. I would say that the greatest thing about him was how physical he was. I can tell you right now, there wasn’t a tight end that didn’t have great respect for Dave. They gave him that respect because of how he played. No one was better at holding up a tight end. I used to tell Dave all of the time, ‘Keep him off, keep him off.’

“He is very deserving and should have been in a long time ago. There is no doubt in my mind that he will be as appreciative as anyone who has ever been elected. It is a great moment for me to have Dave chosen. It is a fulfillment of something almost as important as if it was me personally. I think Dave was so overdue and it is so right for him to enjoy that hallowed ground called the Hall of Fame.”

Packers President Mark Murphy
Raymond T. Rivard photograph

Packers President Mark Murphy

“On behalf of the Green Bay Packers, I want to congratulate Dave on his well-deserved election to the Pro Football Hall of Fame. He was such a vital part of those great defenses in the 1960s that helped the team win NFL championships and Super Bowl titles under Vince Lombardi. Dave’s contributions to the Packers have not been limited to the field, as he has also been a great ambassador for the organization over the years. We are thrilled that he received this honor.”

Dave Robinson was selected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame 50 years after being selected as a rookie out of Penn State in 1963.
Raymond T. Rivard photograph

Dave Robinson, a linebacker who played for Vince Lombardi in the 1960s, and finished his career, along with Lombardi, as a Washington Redskin, was selected this afternoon as one of two senior nominees after more than 30 years of eligibility. Robinson and Curly Culp were both selected today as senior members to the Hall.

Robinson was selected out of Penn State by Lombardi in the first round as the 14th overall pick in the 1963 Draft.He was also drafted by the San Diego Chargers in the third round of the American Football League draft, but ended up signing with the Packers.

He was a three-time Pro Bowler and 1-time First-Team All-Pro. He played 12 years, 10 with Green Bay. He started at left outside linebacker in three consecutive NFL championship wins, 1965-67 … He was the starting outside linebacker in the Packers’ victories in Super Bowls I and II.

The athletic Robinson intercepted 27 passes during his career and is best known for pressuring Dallas Cowboys quarterback Don Meredith into an interception in the end zone on the final play of the 1966 championship game to seal the win for the Packers.

Another interesting statistic of Robinson’s was that he returned seven kickoffs for 80 yards … ah yes, those were the days.

In addition to Robinson and Culp, others selected to the Hall today are Coach Bill Parcells, Minnesota Vikings WR Cris Carter, Tampa Bay defensive tackle Warren Sapp, Dallas Cowboys OL Larry Allen, and OL Jonathan Ogden.

They know what it was like to play for the greatest coach the NFL has seen. And because they have insight into what it was like playing in Green Bay during that time and what it was like to play in the National Football League they have joined forces with co-author Royce Boyles in putting out the newest Packers book: “Lombardi’s Left Side.”

The authors will be attending several book signings to promote the release of the book starting Nov. 1.

Here is the schedule:

Thursday, Nov. 1
1-2:30 p.m. — Festival Foods, W3195 Van Roy Road, Appleton
6-8 p.m. — Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame, 1265 Lombardi Ave., Green Bay (tickets required for this event)

Friday, Nov. 2
4-5:30 p.m. — Festival Foods, 2250 W Mason St., Green Bay

Saturday, Nov. 3
2:30-4 p.m. — Packers Pro Shop, 1265 Lombardi Ave., Green Bay

Sunday, Nov. 4
10-11 a.m. — Lambeau Field, Club Level (game tickets required)

The book is currently available at book stores across the state, as well as the Packers Pro Shop and on Amazon.

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Adderley, a Hall of Famer, and Robinson, a senior finalist for the Pro Football Hall of Fame, had joined together with Boyles in previously publishing “The Lombardi Legacy.”

Now they join forces again in their most recent effort, “Lombardi’s Left Side,” that is supposed to be published late this month or next.

Though it includes football-related themes, this new book is supposed to also include much more … including what players endured when it came to race relations.

The Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame posted a notice about the new book, which you can see here or by scrolling below.

Herb Adderley, Dave Robinson Prepare New Book

Former Green Bay Packers linebacker and current Hall of Fame finalist Dave Robinson is no stranger to the publishing world, having co-authored The Lombardi Legacy with Royce Boyles.

Now, Robinson and Boyles are back with a new book and a new co-author, former Packers cornerback Herb Adderley, whose voice is prominently featured in Lombardi’s Left Side.

The book is so titled because Adderley and Robinson both played on the left side of Vince Lombardi’s great defenses. Even though the title suggests football, the book is about a lot more than that.

Lombardi’s Left Side not only touches on the coach, but teamwork and, perhaps most interestingly, the barriers that race presented in the 1960s and how those were overcome.

“There’s a lot of interest in Dave Robinson and the Packers of the ’60s because of his nomination for the Hall of Fame. Lombardi’s Left Side will certainly give readers a glimpse inside the Packers dynasty, but there’s more to the story than that,” Boyles said. “Herb Adderley has been under the radar for years and he has some very controversial things to say.”

Lombardi’s Left Side is expected to hit shelves in late September/early October.

Oct 2, 2011; Green Bay, WI, USA; Green Bay Packer former player Jerry Kramer on the field during halftime against the Denver Broncos at Lambeau Field. The Packers defeated the Broncos 49-23. Mandatory Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-US PRESSWIRE

Jerry Kramer was not nominated as a senior candidate to the Pro Football Hall of Fame? Are you kidding me?

While the announcement broke this afternoon about the selection of Packers linebacker Dave Robinson’s selection as a senior finalist – which is absolutely incredible news – it was offset by the mind-numbing news that nowhere on the list was Jerry Kramer.

It’s not a shame – it’s an embarrassment for those who nominate. They are not thinking clearly … leaving Kramer off the list is nothing short of criminal.

While one cannot discount the two selected as senior finalists this year, Robinson and Curly Culp, the defensive tackle who wore down offenses as a member of the Kansas City Chiefs, Houston Oilers and Detroit Lions.

Robinson, now 71 years old, was the Packers’ first-round pick in the 1963 NFL draft. The 6-foot-3, 245-pounder out of Penn State took immediately to his new position as a linebacker for Coach Vince Lombardi. 

He took over as a starter for the Packers in 1965 and went on to play 127 regular-season games, interception 21 passes in 10 seasons.

Elected to the Packers Hall of Fame in 1982, Robinson didn’t finish his career with the Packers.

Packers coach and general manager Dan Devine traded Robinson to Washington in 1973 for a 1975 second-round draft pick. It was there that he finished his career, playing in 28 more games and intercepting six passes for the Redskins.

Kramer, despite a strong public push for his inclusion as a finalist, was snubbed once again. The aggressive campaign headed up by Kramer’s daughter Alicia, wasn’t enough to convince those who nominate to place Kramer on the list.

The Hall of Fame’s Class of 2013 will be announced on Super Bowl weekend in February 2013.

Robinson is the fourth Packers player to be chosen as a senior finalist for the Hall of Fame. Two others, running back Tony Canadeo in 1974 and defensive tackle Henry Jordan in 1995, were elected to the hall.

Click here for the site explaining how the selection process takes place.

Packers head coach Vince Lombardi was known for many things ... but is forgotten for some of the momentous trades he pulled off. Malcolm Emmons-US PRESSWIRE

Today in Packers history (brought to you by the Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame), head coach Vince Lombardi pulled a trade that would make room for two rookies who would go on to productive careers with the team – Dave Robinson and Lionel Aldridge. You may remember them.

Here’s the posting from the Hall of Fame:

Defensive End Bill Quinlan and Safety  John Symank Traded to New York  April 26, 1963 - Packers coach Vince Lombardi sends defensive end Bill Quinlan and safety John Symank to the New York Giants for a third-round selection in the 1964 draft. The loss of Quinlan, a starter in 1962, creates a big hole on the right side of the Packers defensive line. “You can’t stand pat in this business,” Lombardi says. “We thought we drafted real well and if these boys are to do us any good we have to make room for them.” In the mix to replace Quinlan are the team’s No. 1 draft choice, Dave Robinson, and two other rookies: Tony Liscio of Tulsa and Lionel Aldridge of Utah State. Photo of Dave Robinson