Sharpe a Hall finalist his first year eligible
Ex-tight end, 16 others will know their fate Jan. 31
By Jeff Legwold, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)
Published January 6, 2009 at 3:24 p.m.
Photo by Brian Bahr © Getty/1998
Former Broncos tight end Shannon Sharpe was among 17 players and officials, including two senior nominees, to be named Tuesday afternoon as finalists for the Pro Football Hall of Fame. If Sharpe is elected, he would be the first tight end to be named on the first ballot.
How Shannon Sharpe's career totals compare to tight ends already in the Hall of Fame:
| Player | Catches | Yards | TDs |
| Dave Casper | 378 | 5,216 | 52 |
| Mike Ditka | 427 | 5,812 | 43 |
| John Mackey | 331 | 5,236 | 38 |
| Ozzie Newsome | 662 | 7,980 | 47 |
| Charlie Sanders | 336 | 4,817 | 31 |
| Jackie Smith | 480 | 7,918 | 40 |
| Kellen Winslow | 541 | 6,741 | 45 |
| Shannon Sharpe | 815 | 10,060 | 62 |
After what he called "a two- movie day," former Broncos tight end Shannon Sharpe got the news every player hopes to get.
He is one of 17 finalists for the Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2009. The list, announced Tuesday afternoon, will be trimmed to a minimum of four and a maximum of seven players or contributors at the Board of Selectors meeting Jan. 31 in Tampa, Fla. At most, five
modern-era players can be chosen to go with a maximum of two seniors nominees.
"I'll say it, I was very nervous," Sharpe said. "I'm excited, kind of like the lottery. You can't win the lottery if you don't buy a ticket, so this is the last step before the final step. At least I have a one in (17) chance to be one of the guys.
"It's a huge accomplishment just to be on the list, a lot of hard work, it's amazing to be at this point, something my family would be excited about if I were to get that call."
Former Broncos running back Terrell Davis had made the list of 25 semifinalists but did not receive enough votes to make the list of finalists. Davis has been a semifinalist three times.
Sharpe, in his first year of eligibility, joins a marquee list of finalists that includes two other first-time eligibles, cornerback Rod Woodson and defensive end Bruce Smith.
"Rod and I played two years together in Baltimore and when I told him I was thinking about hanging it up the same year he was, we were joking like, 'Wouldn't it be cool to go in the Hall of Fame together?' " Sharpe said. "But that was just joking, I really didn't think about it at all until this year. When I went to (Gary Zimmerman's induction ceremony in August), it hit me. When I went to John's it really didn't dawn on me; I was kind of like finishing up when John (Elway) was going in."
Sharpe, who joined the Broncos in 1990, retired in 2003 as the all-time leader at his position in touchdown catches (62), receiving yards (10,060) and receptions (815). All three records since have been broken by Kansas City tight end Tony Gonzalez.
But in the mid-1990s, Sharpe was considered to be the player who redefined the position with three 1,000-yard receiving seasons in a four-year span.
During the 2008 season, now-former Broncos coach Mike Shanahan said of Sharpe: "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."
Sharpe was part of two Super Bowl winners with the Broncos before playing on the Ravens team that won the Super Bowl to close the 2000 season. Sharpe also was an eight-time Pro Bowl selection and had 10 seasons with at least 60 receptions, 11 seasons with at least 50.
"Right now you really try not to think too much about it, but it can be hard not to think about it once you start," Sharpe said. "There's really nothing you can do, though, you just hope - it's kind of like finishing a class, you've taken the test you hope in the end you've got good enough grades."
Also among the finalists are receiver Cris Carter, center Dermontti Dawson, defensive end Richard Dent, guard Russ Grimm, defensive tackle Cortez Kennedy, guard Bob Kuechenberg, guard Randall McDaniel, defensive tackle John Randle, wide receiver Andre Reed, former commissioner Paul Tagliabue, linebacker Derrick Thomas and Buffalo Bills owner Ralph Wilson.
The two senior nominees are receiver Bob Hayes and defensive end Claude Humphrey.
Elway and Zimmerman are the only players to have played at least five years with the Broncos to be enshrined in the Hall.
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January 6, 2009
3:44 p.m.
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bronco_fan_no_matter_how_painful writes:
wow, look at this list and tell me 5 guys AHEAD of Sharpe...can't see him not getting in...I would figure on the following
Rod Woodson
Shannon Sharpe
Bruce Smith
Paul Tagliabue
after that, all are bound for the Hall of Very, Very Good; although I would love to see Derrick Thomas get in (what a shame that was)
January 6, 2009
3:48 p.m.
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jlstaud writes:
Poor Gradishar. The most deserving and underestimated linebacker of his time. Go Sharpe!!! Finally if Gale Sayers is in TD should be in as well. League MVP. Super Bowl MVP. 2000 yard single season rusher. So what he didn't play ten, twelve or fifteen years. When he was playing he was the most feared and dominant runner in the game!
January 6, 2009
4:02 p.m.
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buffsblg writes:
Smith and Carter are shoe ins, Woodson and Sharpe are on the very likely but not certain list. Voters may make Tagliabue wait a year. Rest are likely just really really good players.
January 6, 2009
4:03 p.m.
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maverick7 writes:
Bronco #2 in HOF!
January 6, 2009
4:04 p.m.
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Ottis writes:
Gayle Sayers played in a different era, played fewer games and had a higher yards per carry than TD. The bar has been raised since Sayers' era, for all positions. It is why Art Mionk had such a tough time getting in and barely made it, and Monk is far more contemporary than Sayers. I don't think TD gets in. Sharpe should, though.
January 6, 2009
4:05 p.m.
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Classof65 writes:
Hurray Shannon Sharpe! Hope you make it!
January 6, 2009
4:20 p.m.
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fleetmack writes:
i'd put john randle and cortez kennedy in there for sure.
January 6, 2009
4:21 p.m.
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fleetmack writes:
sorry ..... along with carter, smith, and sharpe. man, they need 6 ... woodson should be there too.
January 6, 2009
4:23 p.m.
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jlsportsfreak writes:
Bronco number 3 that is.
January 6, 2009
4:49 p.m.
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maverick7 writes:
Jlsportsfreak: right, I forgot about Zim!
January 6, 2009
5 p.m.
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Vector049 writes:
For what? Mouth of the month club?
January 6, 2009
5:04 p.m.
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jbowen43 writes:
Randy Gradisahar was the equal of anyone on this list.
January 6, 2009
5:41 p.m.
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ORBroncoFan53 writes:
Sharpe will get in and should get in, but every year when the voting takes place I get sick to my stomach that Gradishar is not in the Hall of Fame. Not only did he play the game with class as well as passion, but I can't tell you how many interviews I've seen over the years with members of the Hall that say he should be in. One of the greatest goal line defenders this game has ever seen. 10 YEARS, 2,049 TACKLES, 7 PRO BOWLS,1978 DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR and those are just a few of the awards he won.
January 6, 2009
5:48 p.m.
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easy writes:
It's time to get Derrick Thomas into the Hall. He could've padded already phenomenal stats had he not been taken from us so young.
January 6, 2009
6:25 p.m.
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ORBroncoFan53 writes:
On my last post I started off on Sharpe and then got side tracked on the Tradgedy of Gradishar not getting in to the Hall, that one will never sit well with me.Sharpe will always be thought of as one of the greatest Broncos ever and he was.I will never forget the great catch he made against Pittsburgh on the last drive to keep the clock running and allowed us to get to the Super Bowl and beat the Packers.But of all the great catches and blocks he ever made for us I will always remember the game against the Pat's. It wasn't his play on the field it was when he picked up the phone and faked he was talking to the President and said that he needed him to send help because we are killing the Patriots. That was classic Shannon Sharpe and he was the best!!
January 6, 2009
6:59 p.m.
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RockyMts69 writes:
Derrick Thomas deserves to be in there. No if's, and's, or but's about it! His career ended too soon, and he should be recognized for sacrificing his life. Not only was he an amazing football player, but he was an amazing person!
I hope the HOF will give Pat Tillman the recognition he deserves as well.
And once again, thanks for the memories Shannon. You were awesome!
January 6, 2009
7:16 p.m.
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RockyMts69 writes:
I don't know what I was thinking...but I confused myself with Joe Delaney. Thomas was killed in a car accident, and Delaney drowned trying to save a couple of kids. And I mean no disrespect to either person, sorry about that.
January 6, 2009
7:52 p.m.
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roundthebend writes:
RockyMts69...........I definitely agree with you views on Pat Tillman.
Reading through the Hall Of Fame website, I find no special catagories, apparently your in or not.
Excerpt from first line of "SELECTION PROCESS"
Charged with the vital task of continuing to be sure that new enshrinees are the finest the game has produced.
This man represents the "finest" as a human being, an American, a Pro Football Player and a role model that should make anyone in the sporting community proud.
I truly hope that they find a way to honor his memory.
Thank you Shannon for years of excitement.......Good Luck
January 6, 2009
9:57 p.m.
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Broncody writes:
If Sharpe doesn't get in I'm kicking somebody in the shin. He is the man who inspired me to play TE.
January 6, 2009
11:05 p.m.
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den2mke writes:
Clearly some good names on this list, the reason I suspect the disagreements on who is a 'shoe-in'.
But Sharpe is at the top of this list. Not only did he win 3 SB's at the end of his career and own all the major statistics for his position when he quit but he totally redefined the position. Before Sharpe the idea of a college basketball player turning into a game-breaking NFL TE would have seemed crazy. But with Sharpe's skills and Shanahan's vision the TE became an integral piece in the contemporary game. First ballot HOF all the way.
January 7, 2009
2:51 a.m.
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jugdish writes:
Sharpe is a slam dunk. He redefined his position. Set records. Won 3 SBs. 8 Pro Bowls. Make travel plans to Canton, Shannon.
January 7, 2009
3:10 a.m.
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jugdish writes:
The only thing that could stop Sharpe from the HOF this year are some East Coast tools who'd pick Reed and Bills owner Ralph Wilson. The 5 should be: Bruce Smith; Shannon Sharpe; Rod Woodson; Chris Carter and Tagliabue. Hopefully having Smith on the list will keep those hyenas at bay.
January 7, 2009
7:12 a.m.
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B300 writes:
Vector, so whats the problem? Did you want to kiss his mouth? Good luck Shannon I hope you get in! You deserve it! Thanks for the memories.
January 7, 2009
8:24 a.m.
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broncodude writes:
If Sharpe doesn't make it into the hall of fame they should just close the place down and tell the players to come and get their stuff.
January 7, 2009
8:28 a.m.
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jersey writes:
If that loud mouth overrated chump gets in they need to raze the Hall and turn it into a parking lot! Having been there twice I would definitely be sadden but definitely not madden!
January 7, 2009
8:56 a.m.
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warrengfunk7 writes:
uh,...
The Greatest TE to ever play the game; of course he is a finalist. He is a first year inductee if there ever was one. At age 34, he retires holding all the important career records for a TE and with three super bowl rings on his hand. Shoe in...
January 7, 2009
10:47 a.m.
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jersey writes:
Ottis: You are absolutely right in regards to Gayle Sayers aka the "Kansas Comet" in raising the bar. I am fortunate to be of that era and saw him at his finest along with the other great backs of that time. I know this is about Sharpe but whenever anyone brings up Gayle's name I'm proned to respond. In my opinion he was without a doubt the most electrifying runner to ever grace the field. And believe me, Including having seen Jim Thorpe on film, I've seen them all either in person or on TV. Most people naturaly relate to others playing the same position and identify with them. Having played RB in HS with minor success I've always focused on the position at all levels. Been to the HOF twice and out of all the players in there he had the shortest longivity being only 4 1/2 years. A true testament to his greatness. Still holds the record of 6 tds scored against SF in the mud. I was still in HS when he suffered what turned out to be his career ending injury. He tried coming back the next year and gained his 1000 Yds, which mean't more then in only playing a 14 game season, but was never the same and left the game shortly thereafter. Alex Karas had the great line when asked how he was able to tackle Sayers said, "Hell he came back to me"!
January 7, 2009
10:56 a.m.
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Cwillyrun1 writes:
Sharpe IS a shoe-in. Seriously, the guy is the best tight end to ever play the game. Tony may have the better stats, but geez....... who else does KC pass the ball to? Their receivers have been among the worst in the time Tony's been there. Gonzalez is still not at Sharpe's level. When Elway needed a clutch catch, he went to Sharpe and Sharpe delivered.
It's disappointing TD didn't move on. He's done some things NO other back has done. He has the most total rushing yards (and total yards at that) in one season (regular and post-season combined). He's rushed for over 2,000 yards, a Super Bowl MVP and a regular season MVP. There isn't another back ever in the NFL that can claim all of that.
Gradishar not moving on is another disappointment. It disgusts me to see Harry Carson or Andre Tippett selected when neither of them could carry Gradishar's jockstrap! Not even Ray Lewis can claim the numbers that Gradishar put up. He averaged over 200 tackles a year, and to think people are impressed when Lewis has a season or two of over 200 tackles.
January 7, 2009
11:25 a.m.
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mountainman1 writes:
Shannon Sharpe is best TE of all time!!! Congrats, I will be in Canton for the induction in August!!!
Check out this Shannon Sharpe blog: http://alldenver.blogspot.com/2009/01...
January 7, 2009
3:22 p.m.
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jersey writes:
cwillyrun1: Harry Carson and Andre Tippett couldn't carry your boy's jockstrap? Yeah right, and the sun sets in the East! The reason your boy is not in is he was often the finisher of a tackle rather than the initiator in a lot of the sportswriters eyes. Sorry to burst your bubble but don't shoot the messenger!
January 7, 2009
5:12 p.m.
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Cwillyrun1 writes:
Sure jersey........ it's the ignorant and arrogant view that east coast sportswriters have. They think they know it all and they don't. One of the best......... Zimmerman of ESPN, has said over and over that Gradishar sould be in the HOF. Woody Hayes...... more knowledgeable about football and football talent than any sportswriter, said Gradishar was the best defensive player he ever coached.
Now to tell you why you're wrong on your assessment of Gradishar......... I saw every game he played in and most of the time, if he wasn't making a tackle, he was near where the tackle was made. Over 2,000 tackles in his career, and NO, Carson nor Tippett can even claim anything close. But the reason they're in is the arrogance of sportswriters in the east. It's apparent in the arrogance you have that you can't even admit Gradishar deserves to be in the Hall! I'm sure you probably think Phil Simms, Joe Namath and your boy Manning are better than Elway.
Sorry to burst YOUR bubble, but Gradishar was a stud and will always be more deserving than Lawrence Taylor's secondhand sidekick or some so-called linebacker whose claim to fame is having a nice amount of sacks....... but really not much more than Simon Fletcher had with the Broncos. Again, east coast arrogance.
January 7, 2009
5:58 p.m.
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pete10000ft writes:
I hope he gets in and promptly retires from broadcasting. Worst ever behind the desk..best ever on the field.
January 7, 2009
6:27 p.m.
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GJrodburner writes:
Jersey those ec-sports writers are the same blind eyes that didn't even take the time to view how really good Utah actually is! Randy was WAY, WAaaaaaaaaaaaay more than that of a mop up finisher, he punished far better than he ever finished. When Randy did finish, you didn't pop right back up off of the ground.
If ever in the "34" that he played here under Joe Collier, there had to be a change of game tackle or stop, Randy G was there, every time. In any meaningful goal line situation that the Broncos had to keep a lead, to hold off Mo, to win a game, Randy lead at the point of attack, or made the play himself, period. If you doubt what I'm saying, then get in contact with Tom Jackson, he's got an email address at ESPN...he'll tell you the same thing. Carson and Tippett better? Only in your eyes sir.
Lyle Alzado, Barney Chavous, Dave Costa, Rich "Tombstone" Jackson, and Rubin Carter were far superior to either Harry Carson or Andre Tippett. Yet we listen to what your saying but find no merit, not because you don't deserve the respect of not having your thoughts read and understood, but when it comes to ec-bias, and how life only lives in the NYC area, those of us from the west stop listening immediately. Randy Gradishar is no less deserving of the HOF than John Elway, Gary Zimmerman, or Shannon Sharpe. He is every bit the equal if not the outright better of Carson and Tippett.
January 8, 2009
9:13 a.m.
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Cwillyrun1 writes:
Ooops, meant Zimmerman of Sport Illustrated. Good post GJ, I certainly don't take east coast writers as the end all be all of sports information, especially when most of them don't watch much sports outside of the east.
It's probably why Floyd Little isn't in either. When he retired he was near the top in all time rushing yards, yet lesser backs have made it in.
January 8, 2009
12:02 p.m.
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jersey writes:
Cwillyrun1: Opinions are just like earholes, we all have them. Never could figure out why westerners like yourself feel there is a conspiracy by the East Coast sports writers to belittle the achievements of your Broncos. Borderline inferiority complex! As for the voting, the last time that I checked it was collective and not just demographic as you claim. And please don't even get me started on Elway. 5 SB's with one MVP? Head to head, yes it was my boy Phil who walked with the MVP. Am I right or am I wrong. That's rhetorical! Good day to you sir.
January 8, 2009
12:18 p.m.
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CSU5280 writes:
correction people...Sharpe would be the 3rd Bronco in the Hall...remember Gary Zimmerman got in last year...
January 8, 2009
1:50 p.m.
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Cwillyrun1 writes:
No, not borderline inferiority complex, I just don't believe sportswriters could watch each and every game back then and since they couldn't, it left it regional with what has always been a well known east coast bias. Outside of the voters each football city had, most of the voters were located in the east. It's not hard to find that out, you know. Even your post was brimming with arrogance....... I mean, to even say Phil Simms and John Elway in the same sentence like you did is an insult to Elway. The only reason the Giants won that day was the defense stopping the Broncos in the second half.
Anyway, consider what you said......... 5 Super Bowls. No QB has ever started in 5 Super Bowls except Elway. Simms is a hack compared to Elway. He couldn't even keep his job over Dave Hostetler......... the man of considerable accomplishments, huh?
So, who's in the Hall of Fame? Elway! That's a rhetorical question. Have a good day, sir.
January 8, 2009
1:52 p.m.
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Cwillyrun1 writes:
CSU........ Sharpe would be the fifth, that I know of, that played for Denver where he ended up in the HOF. Willie Brown played here before going to Oakland. Then Tony Dorsett after the Cowboys. Not that they went in for what they did here, but they played here at some point.
January 8, 2009
3:28 p.m.
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jersey writes:
Cwillyrun1: I stand by what I said about opinions! "The only reason the Giants won that day was due to their stopping your offense"? Really. And just who the hey was at the controls of your offense, Craig Morton? As for Simms losing his job to Hostetler that was the result of injury and not non performance as you so ineptly insinuated. Look it up! Never did I state your boy did not belong in the HOF. Hell if it hadn't been for the so called arrogant biased East Coast voters he would not be. I merely stated what is a fact and that is the MVP's went to opposing QB's, my guy Phil, Doug Williams, Joe Montana and his RB Terrell Davis and one to him. History is what it is. It's his Bio and not mine! Am I missing something here? Talk about being touchy over nothing? It begs that inferiority complex question once again. Don't let our disagreement ruin your day. It sure as hell won't ruin mine!
January 8, 2009
4:55 p.m.
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Cwillyrun1 writes:
No jersey, I'm just laughing at ya'. I always have great days, so don't worry about me.
So what if Phil won an MVP, even Larry Brown won MVP for the Cowboys before he failed badly for the Raiders. The reason the Broncos offense was stopped that day in January of 1987 was it was Elway and some decent players on offense, but when he had actual quality support..... like Montana or Doug Williams did in SB 22, the Broncos of that time (97 and 98) were among the best ever teams, even better than that Giants team you glow over.
Injury or not, there was a long time where the Giants couldn't figure out who should start at QB, even when Phil was healthy.
So back to the original thought, Randy Gradishar was, plain and simple, a better linebacker than Carson or Tippett. Facts bear it out.
January 9, 2009
8:14 a.m.
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jersey writes:
cw1: Not to be redundant but once again opinions! Before my latest retort I'de like to ask you if you actually mean't laughing at me or rather laughing with me? A big difference and I pride myself of formulating my thoughts before expressing them from an informative aspect rather than a assumptive one. I'll grant you one thing. As far as my glowing over my boys I'm no different than you are in the same regards towards yours. The only difference is we have been around a lot longer, close to 40 years, than your boys of 1960. A mere babe in the woods!
January 9, 2009
10:06 a.m.
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Cwillyrun1 writes:
jersey........ probably more laughing with you than at you. We do have our pride of our teams and former players in mind and I can only respect that. I don't respect the fan that doesn't stick with his or her team through whatever....... the bandwagon fan.
No doubt your team's been around longer. The history that goes with that is pretty cool. The Cowboys are pups in your division, but the Skins and the Eggles (as Janet Papale says in "Invincible", lol) have a long history too. The rivalry...... wow, it's huge, and the Broncos/Raiders/Chiefs rivalry is a "Lite" version of that kind of beer. HAHAHA...... see ya' dude.
January 9, 2009
11:43 a.m.
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jersey writes:
Cw1: The inteaction has been appreciated and more importantly respected. If everyone agreed on everything constantly it would be a blah world. Some posters become down right infantile and belligerent as you well know when their ideas are not shared. Never been one to subscribe to that and I'm too old to start now. As for this weekend and my boys, I'm as nervous as a long tailed cat in a room full of rocking chairs! The Eagles eerily reminds me of my boys last year in peaking at the right time and playing with nothing to lose in being the underdog rather than with the added pressure of being the favorite. The old Bard "Shakes-Baby" himself said it best. "Uneasy is the head that wears the crown"! Later!
January 9, 2009
9:58 p.m.
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bachslunch writes:
There’s actually a reasonably good chance Shannon Sharpe won’t get elected this year, but not because he’s not HoF deserving. He certainly is. But be aware that no TE has ever been elected to the HoF in their first eligible year.
Here’s the breakdown on all TEs in the HoF, which may be surprising — Mike Ditka (2nd try, 12th year eligible), John Mackey (5th try, 15th year eligible), Dave Casper (3rd try, 13th year eligible), Ozzie Newsome (3rd try, 4th year eligible), Jackie Smith (2nd try, 12th year eligible), Kellen Winslow (3rd try, 3rd year eligible), Charlie Sanders (Senior, 1st try, 25th year eligible).
I’m pretty sure he’ll get in, but he may wait a year or more.
January 9, 2009
10:10 p.m.
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bachslunch writes:
Whatever merit Randy Gradishar may have for the HoF (and I see no reason why he's not deserving, though he has plenty of Seniors LB competition in Chuck Howley, Chris Hanburger, Robert Brazile, and Maxie Baughan), citing numbers of tackles for him is not the best argument to offer. Check out this article by Dallas based HoF voter Rich Gosselin to see why:
http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedconte...
January 10, 2009
8:54 a.m.
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bachslunch writes:
More things:
1. comparing Terrell Davis to Gale Sayers does Davis no favors. Both played seven years and had their careers curtailed by injury, but Sayers had 5 great years and 2 useless ones, while Davis had 4 great years, 1 OK year, and 2 useless ones, plus Sayers was among the greats at kick returning while Davis didn't return kicks. Given that short career players are borderline for the HoF as it is, that difference is significant. Davis might make it in someday despite this, and he wouldn't be the worst HoF selection if he did, but short career players get little love from HoF voters.
2. the intimation that Andre Tippett is a "so-called linebacker" is grossly unfair, as his LB skills were well balanced and at a high level. He's no Fred Dean, who is indeed a puzzling HoF selection. Tippett was in fact a terrific pass rusher, but he also was excellent against the run and very good in pass coverage. And he did all this as a strong side LB with a TE in his face most of the time, as opposed to guys like Lawrence Taylor, who were weak-side LBs. His "AP 1st team all pro/pro bowl" numbers (2/5) are comparable to the best of the logjam of LBs still not in, plus he was on an all decade team, which only Kevin Greene and Cornelius Bennett can say from that logjam group.
3. saying Harry Carson was LT's "second hand sidekick" is equally unfair. While Carson's LB skill set was a complete one, he was considered especially strong against the run, an ideal foil to Taylor's pass rush strengths. AP never named him a 1st team all pro (he did make such teams once each courtesy of The Sporting News in 1984 and Pro Football Weekly in 1981 and was AP 2nd team all pro 4 times) but he did go to 9 pro bowls.
4. Please note that I think Randy Gradishar should also be in the HoF, but I'm not buying the East Coast bias argument -- both Carson and Tippett belong in as well. If Carl Banks and Steve Nelson had gotten elected, I might agree with that idea. There are unfortunately a welter of deserving LBs, of which Gradishar is certainly one of them. His postseason honors are at 2/7 with no all decade team memberships, certainly very good, and his skill sets were complete, but he's got plenty of company here.
5. No question Pat Tillman made the ultimate sacrifice in service to our country and deserves our greatest respect. But arguments pushing for Pat Tillman's election to the HoF (including from Chris Collinsworth) are ridiculous, and frankly an insult to the memory of every ex-pro football player who was killed in WW2 (21 of them!) and Vietnam (2 of these). Why Tillman and not Al Blozis or Jim Mooney? Or Bob Kalsu or Don Steinbrunner? If memory serves, there's a section of the HoF that memorializes such folks, and that's where Tillman should deservedly be honored. In fact, the election guidelines for the PFHoF specifically state that regular HoF induction is for accomplishments on the playing field.
January 10, 2009
1:29 p.m.
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jersey writes:
Backslunch: Had it not been for John Mackey being "Blackballed" for his becoming the head of the then fledgeling Players Union he would have been the first TE in and rightfully so. It was a grave injustice. His outstanding play while with the then Baltimore Colts raised the bar for all who followed at that position. Not making this up...I lived it!
January 10, 2009
2:08 p.m.
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bachslunch writes:
Re John Mackey: my understanding is that his HoF election was delayed by a clutch of voters who thought he dropped too many passes and were only swayed to vote for him in his final year of eligibility. And actually, the bar was already set hugely high for TEs by Mike Ditka, who in his rookie year of 1961 had 56 catches for 1076 yards and 12 TDs. For what it's worth, Wikipedia says Ditka introduced "a new dimension to a tight end position that had previously been dedicated to blocking." Mackey didn't start playing until 1963 and never had a year as good.
But we're splitting hairs here -- no question both were great players well deserving of the HoF. Ditka just got a two year head start on Mackey.
January 10, 2009
3 p.m.
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jersey writes:
Bach: If memory servers me correctly, and I could be wrong and it would not be the first time, Mackey did retire before Ditka and the 5 year clock would have started earlier. I standby what I said about the "Blackballing" being the overwhelming factor. That or your surmizing being the reason can never be substanciated and is just a matter of conjecture in seeing how neither one of us were privy to the voting. Either way I agree with you that they both most definitely are deserving.
January 10, 2009
8:40 p.m.
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bachslunch writes:
Jersey: I can indeed provide proof for my assertion about the dropped pass concern for John Mackey causing his delay in HoF election. This circumstance involves John Steadman, who was Baltimore's HoF area voting rep for several years and further was Mackey's presenter several times. Here's the article on his Raven's Insider Blog at the "Baltimore Sun" website:
http://weblogs.baltimoresun.com/sport...
If what the blog author Mike Preston (a longtime "Baltimore Sun" sportwriter who later replaced Steadman as Baltimore's HoF committee area voter) asserts is true, Steadman likely was sabotaging Mackey with his weak presentations -- until he was exposed in an article of Preston's for the "Baltimore Sun" before the vote took place in Mackey's last eligible year. Steadman gave as his explanation in the article that Mackey dropped a lot of passes and didn't have good hands. Steadman apparently took a lot of heat in local talk radio for this, and reversed his vote at election time -- and Mackey got in.
Also, Mackey and Ditka both retired in the same year, 1972. The clock started the same year for both in HoF eligibility.