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Fundamental - n.
A basic rule or law that serves as the groundwork of a system; essential part.

Football is nothing without fundamentals. For that reason, we honor 26 NFL players for executing the fundamentals of their positions. They aren't chosen based on statistics and athleticism but because they embody the most essential part of the game ... fundamentals.

Team:

2011 Selection Committee

2011 Selection Committee

Merril Hoge

Merril Hoge

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Drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers in 1987, Hoge led the team in rushing and receiving in four of his first five seasons. Hoge and Pro Football Hall of Fame running back Franco Harris are the only two Steelers to rush for more than 100 yards in back-to-back playoff games. An All-Madden Team selection in 1989, Hoge retired in 1994 as a member of the Chicago Bears. At the time of his retirement, Hoge had the longest consecutive playing streak in the NFL.

Hoge is currently an NFL analyst for ESPN and is on the Board of Directors for USA Football.

2011 Selection Committee

Carl Peterson

Carl Peterson

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Carl Peterson, best known as one of the NFL's most successful team executives with the Kansas City Chiefs (1989-2008), cut his teeth in the game as a high school coach before advancing as a coach on the college Division II and Division I-A levels from 1966-75. After serving as receivers coach at his alma mater UCLA (1972-75), Peterson followed Bruins head coach Dick Vermeil to the Philadelphia Eagles in 1976 to become the team's director of player personnel. Peterson helped the Eagles earn their first Super Bowl berth in 1980. In 1982, Peterson was hired as the general manager and president of the United States Football League's Philadelphia Stars, where he led the team to a 7-1 postseason record and two league championships before joining the Chiefs in December 1988. The Chiefs had made just one playoff appearance in the 15 seasons prior to Peterson's arrival. Under his leadership, the team enjoyed 13 winning seasons, advanced to the postseason nine times and earned four AFC West divisional championships.

Peterson was named USA Football's Chairman on June 16, 2009 and now presides over USA Football's Board of Directors and offers insight toward USA Football initiatives.

2011 Selection Committee

Herm Edwards

Herm Edwards

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After playing football for the University of California, Monterey Peninsula Junior College and San Diego State (1972-1975), Herman Edwards played nine seasons in the NFL as a cornerback for the Philadelphia Eagles. Edwards never missed a game with the Eagles - 135 consecutive regular-season games - and his 33 career interceptions is just one short of the franchise record. He finished up his playing career in Atlanta and Los Angeles before entering the coaching ranks. After holding various assistant coaching positions, Edwards made his head coaching debut in 2001 with the New York Jets and led them to three playoff appearances in his 5 years with the team. He then led the Kansas City Chiefs to the playoffs in 2006 and spent a total of three years as head coach of the team.

Edwards has since been hired by ESPN as a football analyst on a variety of the network's programming.