updated 2:19 p.m. ET Feb. 4, 2007

MIAMI - Michael Irvin wrapped his arms around Thurman Thomas in the kind of hug that new Hall of Famers share. Somewhere, Paul Tagliabue could only envy their emotional display.

“That embrace Thurman and I had, we talked earlier, we were falling apart on the phone,” Irvin said. “We don’t sound like cool people that played a tough game right now.”

The former Dallas Cowboys receiver with the off-field woes and three Super Bowl rings, was among six former players voted into the Canton shrine Saturday. But the commissioner who guided the NFL for 18 years before retiring last summer didn’t even make the first cut.

Irvin and Thomas were joined by Bruce Matthews, Roger Wehrli, Charlie Sanders and Gene Hickerson.

“This was worth the wait,” Irvin said. “I know my alphabet. When I heard ’H’ I was like, ’OK, I (is) next.’ So, whew! I was so afraid we were going to skip over the I’s.”

Not this year, his third try.

Irvin didn’t mention his troubled past — pleading no contest in 1996 to felony cocaine possession; getting arrested in 2000 on drug possession charges that were later dropped — but former teammate Troy Aikman did.

“I think that maybe some of that is why he hasn’t gotten in until now,” said Aikman, who was inducted last year. “And I know that’s not part of the criteria, and I think all of the voters would tell you that’s not part of the criteria. But we are all human and I think you maybe take what you think of a person as an individual and have that cloud what you think of his athletic abilities. That happens.”

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Although his legacy was strong, Tagliabue didn’t get past the first round of voting by the panel of 40 media members. The former NFL chief oversaw labor peace throughout his tenure; helped enhance diversity in coaching and front-office hirings; negotiated television deals that bring in more than $25 billion; led expansion from 28 to 32 teams; established the NFL Network; and guided a rising global presence.

Even Irvin said he “didn’t understand” why Tagliabue wasn’t voted in.

Also failing to get enough votes were Art Monk, Derrick Thomas, Andre Reed, Richard Dent, Bob Kuechenberg, Fred Dean, Ray Guy, Russ Grimm, Andre Tippett and Gary Zimmerman.

Inductions will be Aug. 4-5 in Canton, Ohio. The Steelers and Saints will play in the annual Hall of Fame game.

Irvin finished his career with 750 receptions for 11,904 yards and 65 touchdowns. He was selected to five straight Pro Bowls and picked for the NFL’s all-decade team of the 1990s.

“I played with a lot of great guys and played under some great guys,” he said, specifically mentioning the Triplets — himself, Emmitt Smith and Aikman. “Jimmy Johnson was a great head football coach. And Norv Turner, we always got on him every week: ‘Get me the ball.’

“He’d say, ‘Stop bothering me. Do you think I’m stupid? We are throwing you the ball.’ “

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