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Former Broncos Sharpe, Davis among semifinalists for Hall of Fame

By Jeff Legwold, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)

Published November 25, 2008 at 3:34 p.m.

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Former Broncos Shannon Sharpe, left, and Terrell Davis are among the 25 semifinals for the Pro Football Hall of Fame's 2009 class.

Photo by Rocky Mountain News

Former Broncos Shannon Sharpe, left, and Terrell Davis are among the 25 semifinals for the Pro Football Hall of Fame's 2009 class.

Poll

Who more deserves to be in the Hall of Fame, Terrell Davis or Shannon Sharpe?


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Former Broncos tight end Shannon Sharpe and running back Terrell Davis are among 25 semifinalists to be considered for enshrinement in the Pro Football Hall of Fame's Class of 2009.

Sharpe is in his first year of eligibility since he retired in 2003.

Davis, a former Super Bowl and league MVP, has made the semifinalist list three times. He retired as the Broncos all-time leading rusher (7,607 yards).

Seven former Broncos were on the preliminary list of 133 players to be considered.

Cornerback Louis Wright, linebackers Karl Mecklenburg and Tom Jackson, safety Steve Atwater and former coach Dan Reeves also were on the preliminary list.

The semifinalists will be trimmed to 15 players, and those 15 will be considered for enshrinement Jan. 31 when the selectors meet in Tampa, Fla.

Sharpe retired in 2003 as the all-time leader at the position in touchdown catches (62), receiving yards (10,060) and receptions (815). All three tight end records since have been broken by Kansas City's Tony Gonzalez.

In the mid-1990s Sharpe re-defined the position with three 1,000-yard receiving seasons in a four-year span.

Earlier this year, Broncos coach Mike Shanahan said: "I'd be shocked if he's not a first-year-eligible pick. Look it up. Look at the Super Bowls. Look at the stats. Look at wins. Everything you want in a tight end, he's already accomplished."

Shanahan also consistently has said the Broncos would not have won back-to-back Super Bowls without Davis.

Former Bills defensive end Bruce Smith and former Steelers and Ravens defensive back Rod Woodson also are first-year-eligible players among the 25 semifinalists.

Quarterback John Elway and tackle Gary Zimmerman are the only players to have played at least five years with the Broncos to be enshrined in the Hall of Fame. Zimmerman was in the Class of 2008.

Comments

  • November 25, 2008

    4:02 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    arvada_mark writes:

    Do the right thing, enshrine TD! LT aside, he's the only great back since Barry Sanders. Remeber how 3rd & 3 was automatic with TD? Remember the spin move he put on that Dolphins corner in the playoffs? Remember when he went in for a play in the SB when he had no vision? Remember how he rushed for 2000+ when he played in maybe six 4th quarters all year? He won that SB against Green Bay for us. He wore them down. So much so, they knew they couldn't stop him, so they just let him score. He's even responsible for the SB win over Atlanta. Dan Reeves, of all people, said they were going to stop TD & make The Duke beat them. I still laugh at that.."We're going to make John Elway beat us with his arm." Too funny. The Japanese Air Force used to employ pilots with that mentality...they were called Kamikazees.

  • November 25, 2008

    5:15 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    Dynamicdave writes:

    arvada_mark, and also don't forget, Terrell didn't leave the Broncos to play for another team. Shannon may have come back but he "tainted" his reputation with a lot of Broncos fans. The Ravens, sheesh.

  • November 25, 2008

    6:25 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    incognitoboy writes:

    well, dd, he may have tainted his denver fans' perception of him, but he won another ring with the ravens, and that does nothing but enhance his chances with the hall voters.

    i don't see how they can keep him out on his first attempt. i think davis gets in this time too, if only so the east coast media hags can then reinstate their rich tradition of ignoring past broncos greats and saying, "we're not biased. look, we put in 4 guys in the last 10 yrs".

  • November 25, 2008

    6:30 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    MrWright writes:

    Right on, both are epic players deserving of such an honor!! I am befuddled by Atwater, Wright, and Gradishar though? what gives??? I am just glad the the Broncos are getting some recognition for their appearances in 6 Superbowls!!! Sheeeesh!! GO BRONCOS!!

  • November 25, 2008

    8:26 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    Dynamicdave writes:

    Mr.Wright, I agree, I think Shannon can wait. Terrell deserves it and Gradishar. Atwater didn't ask to leave, he was traded. As for Shannon, yes, he is HOF worthy, but I think he should be in line behing some other greats. I remember the days of the Orange Crush. I remember the greats of that time. Gradishar was one of the best at MLB and has been denied by spiteful Broncos bashing judges. Now he has to hope to be "grandfathered" in. Sad.

  • November 26, 2008

    6:56 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    themoops writes:

    Without Floyd Little in Canton, it's not really the Hall of Fame. He retired 7th all-time in NFL history in rushing, 8th all-time in yards from scrimmage. He was a 5-time Pro Bowler (2 AFL/3 NFL), not 3 like his bio on this site says. He led the AFC in rushing in 1970 and won the NFL rushing crown in 1971. During a 6-year period, 1968-73, Floyd led the NFL in yards rushing and yards from scrimmage (rushing & receiving). He led the NFL in punt returns in 1967 and combined yards in 67 & 68. Led the NFL in rushing TDs in 1973. And was the Broncos captain all 9 seasons. Oh, yes, without Floyd the Broncos would be in Birmingham or Chicago right now.

  • November 26, 2008

    9:09 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    pete10000ft writes:

    Shannon was the best TE ever to play for the Ravens.

    TD should not get in: short career. But he's the Broncos all time leading rusher, you say? Great: put him on the ring and retire his #

  • November 26, 2008

    9:44 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    Soonerhorse writes:

    Its not a Hall of Fame, but a Hall of Favorites. The absence of Gradishar is good evidence. The fact that Atwater isn't in is damning. I love the argument that Atwater was ineffective as a pass defender. I can't count the times I sat in Mile High and watched a visiting team have early success in the air and then seem incompetent by the fourth quarter. Remember Drive II? Houston scored two touchdowns in maybe 8 or 9 plays. They couldn't buy a first down by the 4th quarter, because there was a epidemic of Alligator Arms throughout their storied receiving corps. Same thing happened to Cleveland in the '89 AFC Championship game. In fact, the same thing happened consistently through Atwater's career. There was a sequence against the Colts when Atwater knocked out their RB and best receiver on one drive, with completely clean hits. The Colts essentially gave up after that. The fact that his performance against the Packers in XXXII does not have legendary status, is evidence that the voters have no interest in being bogged down by reality. Atwater was the epitomy of a game plan changer/wrecker. The saddest thing is that Atwater is held back more by his humility and his avoidance of self promotion than anything.

    That said, don't get your hopes up for T.D. They'll enshrine Curtis Martin on the first ballot without the slighlest shame and continue to say Davis didn't play long enough. They wont explain why Gail Sayers didn't face the same hurdle. The reason is obvious, though. Sayers hit one of the two primary qualifiers for induction: Though he didn't play on a coast, he played for a 'storied' franchise. The proper thing to do would be to start calling Canton the home of a 'good NFL museum'. That's all it is.

  • November 26, 2008

    10:30 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    jersey writes:

    Is it just me or is everybody who ever put on a pair cleats deserving? I've followed this game for eons and have been to the HOF 3 different times during that time and these two fall short in their accomplishments compared to the others at their respective positions. Ring of fame? Sure. HOF? No way.

  • November 26, 2008

    10:50 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    RockLobster writes:

    Of course Terrell didn't leave the Bronc's for another team, DD. His career was ended before that was even an option. Along with that, in my opinion, his legitimate shot at a HOF enshrinement. Don't know how a six year career garners even a consideration.

    Shannon's a shoe-in!

  • November 26, 2008

    12:07 p.m.

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    davistothehall writes:

    some people annoy me we all know zim played in Minnesota longer but we are so harsh on shannon for three years in Baltimore. shannon will always be a bronco he took a huge loss in money to be a bronco one last time i will always love him he will always love Denver. he picks us to win no matter what every sunday on cbs. oh and davis to the hall.

  • November 26, 2008

    12:48 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    DocBronco98 writes:

    Time for the Hall of Fame to do the Right thing and put TD in Shannon is a no Brainer and will be a lock but TD look at his numbers look at Gayle Sayers(spelling?) #'s look at number of NFL titles who hasn't made the Hall after 2,000 yard seasons rushing. Like someone else said he was resting nearly every 4th quarter that year! TD THIS MILE HIGH SALUTE IS FOR YOU!!!! It would be a crime to not include him too!

  • November 26, 2008

    1:18 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    Cwillyrun1 writes:

    Shannon Sharpe should be a first time eligible shoe-in. TD should be in too. Gale Sayers is in and his numbers across the board are lesser than those of Davis. I also don't think there's a single running back in NFL history to have a 2,000+ yard season, a regular season MVP and a Super Bowl MVP. TD actually set the rushing record for an entire season....... regular season and post season combined. NO other back has done those things. The third player I consider a no brainer is Gradishar. He averaged over 200 tackles a year, and for several seasons early in his career, there was a 14 game schedule, not 16. Not even Ray Lewis can't claim the tackling numbers Gradishar had. Those three are HOF quality, and then some.

  • November 26, 2008

    1:38 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    jersey writes:

    Rocklobster: FYI. Of all the players enshrined no one had a shorter career than the "Kansas Comet" the great Gayle Sayers of the Bears. He played but 4 1/2 years and still holds the record for most TD's scored in a game which is 6 against the 49'ers. Not only did he run the ball he also ran back punts, kickoffs and threw option passes as well for TDs. Also he never had the benefit of a 16 game season like TD and the rest of the RBs of TDs era in amassing those numbers. So the answer is yes as to your questioning if a player should be considered with such a short career. Once again Ring of Fame I buy... HOF?...no sale.

  • November 26, 2008

    1:49 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    DocBronco98 writes:

    Great analysis Cwillyrun1, Randy Gradishar was and still is the most exciting linebacker ever to play the 34 defense which as you know has a second Middle linebacker who will get many of those tackles that the other one doesn't so his numbers could have and would have been even greater in my humble opinion in a 43.