CANTON, Ohio — It’s been three years since John Madden was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. That’s when the former Raiders coach made his memorable comment that he was sure the busts inside the Hall talk to each other.

Back again for this year’s enshrinement weekend, Madden doesn’t back down from that belief.

“They don’t respond to each other until everyone leaves at night,” said the 73-year-old Madden, who counts this as perhaps his favorite weekend of the year. “But they have a lot to talk about.”

Madden spent some time Friday morning catching up with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, shortly before joining his fellow Hall of Famers at the exclusive Nitschke Luncheon.

Goodell’s schedule was slightly more hectic.

After meeting with Madden as well as executives from the Hall of Fame and the NFL Alumni Association, Goodell is on his way to Philadelphia for the Jim Johnson memorial. Then he heads back here for the Enshrinement Dinner tonight. Saturday morning, he’s expected at the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new Lamar Hunt Super Bowl Gallery at the Hall, followed by a quick trip to Detroit to visit the Detroit Lions training camp. Then it’s back to Canton for the enshrinement ceremony Saturday night.

– Craig Ellenport

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