THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
TAMPA &ndash Lee Roy Selmon stands alone in personal accomplishments with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
First draft pick in team history. First to earn NFL defensive player of the year honors. First (and only) player to have his jersey retired. All-time franchise sack leader. First to be elected to the Hall of Fame.
Twenty-five years after playing his last game, the soft-spoken Selmon is adding another "first" to his list of achievements as the initial inductee into the Ring of Honor that will be established at Raymond James Stadium this season.
Selmon, who retired in 1985 after deciding against having back surgery that might have extended his career, will be honored at haftime of the Nov. 8 home game against the Green Bay Packers.
The Bucs will wear throwback jerseys from the 1976 season &ndash the franchise and Selmon's first &ndash and also recognize the 1979 Bucs, whose Selmon led to Tampa Bay's first-ever playoff berth and an appearance in the NFC championship game.
"It's hard to believe it's been 33 years. … I'm so humbled that of all the players who are so deserving that they could have selected, they selected me to be their first inductee," Selmon said Monday.
"I just want to say, it's not about me. It just makes me think about all our players and coaches throughout the years that I had a great opportunity to play for and with, and our fans who came out and supported this franchise from day one."
Clad in ghastly creamsicle-colored uniforms and helmets bearing a winking pirate logo, the Bucs went 0-14 in their inaugural season and lost the first 12 games of 1977. The 26-game losing streak still stands as an NFL record.
The dubious start to the franchise, as well as Tampa Bay's stretch of 12 consecutive seasons with double-digit losses from 1983 to 1994, was one of the reasons that current owners of the club resisted the idea of instituting a Ring of Honor.
When Malcolm Glazer purchased the club in 1995, he and his sons made a concerted effort to distance themselves from the past, including adopting new team colors and uniforms in 1997.
Seven playoff appearances, four division titles and one Super Bowl championship later, the Glazers are ready to reconnect with the franchise's early days.
"It's been a long time coming," team co-chairman Bryan Glazer said. "Part of the reason we waited this long to do a Ring of Honor is now we have a number of players who can join (Selmon)."
Several players who've worn both the hideous Orange and today's red and pewter, including former Bucs linebacker Derrick Brooks, pushed without success for the club to pay tribute to the franchise's best from the 70's and 80's.
"I'm just excited about the team honoring the past and reaching back and bringing that part of the history back up front again," said Selmon, whose 78.5 career sacks are still a franchise best.
"As far as the timing, I never really think those types of things. Again, it doesn't even have to happen today. There's no commitment, no obligation, no anything that says you have to do this as owners. I just appreciate the kindness of the organization that now is the time."
