04/18/24
February 05, 2005
Pollard, Young, Marino, Friedman: Your NFL Hall of Fame Class of 2005. The stain that was the absence of Fritz Pollard, the NFL's first black player and head coach, is finally cleansed. He's joined by three QBs, my personal favorite Steve Young, Dan "No Ring" Marino and Bennie Friedman (the other Veteran's Committee selection). The one person left out who I'd put in, in an instant, is George Young while Harry Carson. one of Young's great players, was a rejected finalist for the sixth year despite requesting he not be considered.
posted by billsaysthis to football at 01:32 PM - 18 comments
I'm not surprised that Irvin didn't make it, given the historic difficulty that Dallas Cowboys players have had reaching the Hall. But how can there not be a single defensive player worthy of induction this year? The voting process is a joke.
posted by rcade at 04:16 PM on February 05, 2005
The biggest joke is that Art Monk is still not in the Hall, he should have been a first ballot inductee ... this post is from a Redskin hater (EAGLES fan anhd Penn Stater that had him break the Birds' hearts and nearly the Nittany Lions', but gained my respect). He is the 80's Lynn Swann.
posted by ackattack at 09:45 PM on February 05, 2005
I'm not surprised that Irvin didn't make it, given the historic difficulty that Dallas Cowboys players have had reaching the Hall. Ok...I think I'm walking into some sort of trap here rcade...here it goes anyway. Maybe Irvin didn't make it because he is borderline? Maybe he lost some votes because he is an arogant prick that was busted for cocaine more than once in his career? He was a great receiver, and I certainly wouldn't complain if he was inducted. But I can also see passing him over. As for there being a Cowboy bias...they have 13 HOFers, which seems to be about average from this list...who is missing?
posted by stofer71 at 01:44 AM on February 06, 2005
Hall of Fame voters are instructed to only consider what a player did on the field, according to a Houston Chronicle columnist. Lawrence Taylor is in the Hall. Ray Lewis will be too. Looking at Irvin's three rings, his numbers, and his place as a leader on the last dynasty in the NFL, I don't see how he doesn't rate Canton. But I expected him to be turned down for the same reason that Rayfield Wright, Cliff Harris, and Bob Hayes are not in the Hall: In spite of the Super Bowl wins, Dallas hasn't had good luck getting players voted in for 30 years. The Pittsburgh Steelers of the '70s have nine players in the Hall. The Cowboys of the era have four, five if you count Bob Lilly, which is a bit of a stretch since he's more of a '60s-era player. I'm being a total homer here, but the Cowboys were as close as one dropped Jackie Smith pass and one Fred Swearingen pass interference call to winning more rings in that era than the hated Steelers, and the Landry Cowboys were one of the league's most storied teams. There should be a few more Dallas players from that era in Canton.
posted by rcade at 07:06 AM on February 06, 2005
Irvin should be in the Hall and so should Munk. Carson was a member of maybe the best linebacker corps in history. Hall of fame voting has always had its quirks in every sports--especially in the NFL.
posted by daddisamm at 11:01 AM on February 06, 2005
rcade.... I'll agree that a compelling argument can be made to put Irvin in...but I also think there is an argument to keep him out. Voters aren't supposed to take off the field stuff into consideration but you know that personal opinion affects judgement. LT is one of those guys that won't get in trouble even when he is in trouble...if you get my meaning. Irvin doesn't seem to enjoy that same Teflon coating. In my opinion he will make it eventually. As for the Cowboys from those 70's teams I'll have to take your word on Wright, Harris or Hayes' credentials. My (albeit limited) impression of the Cowboys from that era is that they are similar to the Pats of today...great teams without a bunch of 'stars'.
posted by stofer71 at 11:05 AM on February 06, 2005
The biggest joke is that Art Monk is still not in the Hall... Didn't he retire as the all time leader in catches (or close to it)?
posted by stofer71 at 11:06 AM on February 06, 2005
Color me confused: Is the NFL Hall of Fame the same thing as the Pro Football Hall of Fame, which (I thought) inducts members in the late summer? Or are there two different halls of fame -- which one is *the* one in Canton, OH?
posted by alumshubby at 12:25 PM on February 06, 2005
Same; voting is conducted and results announced now for the induction ceremonies which take place in late summer.
posted by tieguy at 01:26 PM on February 06, 2005
Somebody pointed out to me what a shame it is that druggies like Irvin can get in while heroes like Pat Tillman don't because the focus is on what you did between the foul lines, not what kind of person you were off the field.
posted by alumshubby at 01:51 PM on February 06, 2005
Sure, but then you'd have to rename it the "Good Person Hall of Fame."
posted by dusted at 03:22 PM on February 06, 2005
what a shame it is that druggies like Irvin can get in while heroes like Pat Tillman don't What? Justify that comment in football terms, please. That's like complaining that Ty Cobb is in the Baseball Hall of Fame instead of me. I'm a much nicer guy. Sure I have about 4000 less career hits, but still.
posted by yerfatma at 04:36 PM on February 06, 2005
Without getting into specifics of who gets in (that is, the absence of Monk or Irvin, not the Tillman vs. LT debate) I do appreciate that the NFL is much more selective than other sports. Better to err on the side of too few, IMO, and let the fans argue.
posted by billsaysthis at 05:32 PM on February 06, 2005
Better to err on the side of too few, IMO I couldn't agree more. the HOF (in any league) should be a place for the very best of the very best....so to speak.
posted by stofer71 at 11:47 PM on February 06, 2005
I think six (or previously seven) inductees is too few -- the NFL has added a lot of teams since those rules were set, and it leads to absurdities like three quarterbacks and no defensive players being admitted this year. If the number was higher, the Hall wouldn't look bad for leaving out Richard Dent, Derrick Thomas and their 264 career sacks.
posted by rcade at 06:59 AM on February 07, 2005
I agree - the favoritism shown toward the marquee positions is too limiting. Too many really great, consistent players are being left out. I don't think it's as much of a problem in a sport like baseball or basketball - where your career doesn't require the same kind of physical sacrifice - but in football - man, these guys are being killed out there. Throw them a bone. Though, I wouldn't go the NHL route - where everyone and their brother is enshrined.
posted by WeedyMcSmokey at 02:58 PM on February 07, 2005
Another Redskin hater who thinks Art Monk has gotten the short end of the stick for too long.
posted by scully at 08:56 AM on February 08, 2005
Young is certainly overdue, as is Buffalo Bills owner Ralph Wilson: both class acts, in a league that is too often a cheap cigar in a gaudy wrapper.