been considered one of the best in league history. Hayes and Haynes gave the Raiders the luxury of having two shutdown corners. They are widely reckoned as being the prototypes for a generation of speedy and physical cornerbacks. He retired after the 1986 season with a total of 39 interceptions (including 4 defensive touchdowns), a Raider record shared with Hall of Famer Willie Brown. In 2012, the Professional Football Researchers Association named Hayes to the PFRA Hall of Very Good Class of 2012. Stickum usage Hayes was introduced to Stickum, an adhesive substance used by players to improve their grip, in his 1977 rookie season by Hall of Fame wide receiver and fellow teammate Fred Biletnikoff. However, instead of just applying a small amount to his hands, he began to slather it all over his arms and even his uniform, drawing more and more attention to it. Hayes would later describe the influence the adhesive had on his career, saying that before being introduced to it in his rookie year, he "couldn't catch a cold in Antarctica". The use of Stickum was banned by the NFL after the 1980 season. In the six seasons that Hayes played following the banning of Stickum, he had 14 total interceptions, compared to his 25 that he had in his first four seasons. However, he was named to the Pro Bowl and selected as a second-team All-Pro four times after 1980. Hayes would later state that alongside lingering thumb injuries, the Stickum ban contributed to a decline in his later career. Fred Biletnikoff and Jerry Rice each stated their usage of Stickum and made it to the Pro Football Hall of Fame while Hayes has not. He was a finalist four times (2001-2004) and a semi-finalist six times (2005-2010). References 1955 births Living people African-American players of American football American Conference Pro Bowl players American football cornerbacks American football safeties Los Angeles Raiders players Oakland Raiders players Players of American football from Houston Sportspeople from Modesto, California Texas A&M Aggies football players 21st-century African-American people 20th-century African-American sportspeople National Football League Defensive Player of the Year Award winners