In examining an 11-year career that saw three Super Bowl titles and never missing the playoffs, Roger Craig is a Hall of Famer in every way except the bust in Canton.

"It’s kind of sad to be the only guy from 1980’s All-Decade Team not in the Hall, but I’m ecstatic to be sitting in my company’s skybox at Candlestick for the NFC title game," Craig said last week from his Bay Area home in nearby Palo Alto, Calif. "It’s great to have our fans back."

Craig will join Joe Montana and Dwight Clark in Las Vegas this week as part of a Super Bowl promotion at Memorabilia International, located inside the Miracle Mile Shops at Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino. Interestingly, Craig was not part of "The Catch" – the most famous play in San Francisco 49ers history.

"I came along shortly after," Craig said. "But, I did get to spend a number of years with Joe and Jerry (Rice)."

The media acclaim mostly went to Montana and Rice, but Craig has been a winner all his life as these statistics suggest.

• On a state high school champion team in Iowa.

• In two Orange Bowl games for Nebraska.

• Part of the famed 1983 draft that included with John Elway, Dan Marino, Jim Kelly, Eric Dickerson, Anthony Carter, Bruce Matthews and Darrell Green.

• First player to score three touchdowns in a Super Bowl (1986, SB 19)

• First player to eclipse 1,000 yards rushing and 1,000 yards receiving in a single season (1985).

• First running back to go over 100 yards receiving in a Super Bowl (1990, SB 23).

• First running back to lead the NFL in receptions (92 in 1985).

• Only player to make Pro Bowl as both a fullback and tailback.

• On three Super Bowl champion teams (SB 19, 23, 24).

• On 11 consecutive playoff teams (1983-1990 with 49ers; 1991 with Raiders, 1992-93 with Vikings).

That said, Craig is the proudest of being a team player, both on and off the football field.

"When with the 49ers, I didn’t realize we were making history," he said. "Our responsibility was to win every Sunday and I was just having fun. Now I am working for a software company (Tipco) that is making deals left and right. That’s how I wound up in the skybox and being able to act like a snob. Except that it’s not my style."

Craig’s style is to deflect his many career highlights and concentrate on incidents that shaped his life.

"The year of my first Super Bowl, Hacksaw (Jack) Reynolds told me to play every game like it would be my last," Craig said. "It was most important to lay it all on the line for the team. I never cared about the hype, just about winning. And, I played my butt off."

Craig is quick to point out he has three Super Bowl rings, while many who broke his records or set their own have none. And, he is caught up with the frenzy in the Bay Area from the new-look Niners under coach Jim Harbaugh, despite a heartbreaking loss to the Giants.

"It’s really neat to be living in the Bay Area and seeing the fans back," he said. "I am close with Frank Gore. We have a good quality coach with the opportunity to take this team far. And it will help get us out of Candlestick. What an awful place to play."

Twenty years ago, Craig stood alone as a runner and receiver. Today, he sees the game as evolving around tight ends.

"Our 49ers teams were a lot like the ones that play today," Craig said. "We threw the ball a lot, especially to the backs. Now the tight ends are a focal point. (Tom) Brady has two of them and even uses one as a fullback. That’s scary."

Craig also emphasized that in his day players understood their responsibilities and never went beyond their roles.

"I look at running backs such as Arian Foster, Matt Forte, Ray Rice and Darren Sproles who remind me of how I played the game," he said. "Marshall Faulk played like I did and he made the Hall the first time."

But Faulk didn’t have Montana and Rice.

"Yeah," Craig said. "But I have more rings."