View Full Version : HOF Finalists
http://www.profootballhof.com/enshrinement/story.jsp?story_id=2640
I think Carter and Green will both get in. At least one Seniors candidate, probably Goldberg, will get in, although it would not surprise me if both get in. With Carter getting in, Monk and Reed will continue to wait, Monk won't get in as long as there is a superior wideout on the ballot.
For the rest of the candidates, I'm looking at Derrick Thomas, Richard Dent and Bob Kuechenberg. But I would not be disappointed if another finalist gets in over them.
Brooklyn
01-21-2008, 02:33 PM
Monk won't get in as long as there is a superior wideout on the ballot.
What is the general consensus on Monk? I've been pretty torn on him.
On one hand, he is 7th in all-time receptions and 12th in all time receiving yards. But on the other, other then a couple of years, it didn't feel like he was in the same class as the top wideouts in the game.
He only made three pro-bowls, which is low for a NFL HOFer. He led the league in receptions once, and other then 1984 / 1985 he was really never in the top 10 in any stat. In MLB terms, he'd have a very low gray / black ink score.
He played in three superbowls, having 1 reception in 1984 and 1 in 1988 before breaking out with 7 in 1992.
I see him as having two great years, 2 or 3 good to very good years, and a whole bunch of mediocre years. Is he truly an all time great, or was he just durable enough to accumulate good numbers?
KHenry14
01-21-2008, 10:25 PM
Green, Carter and Tagliabue are locks IMO. Of the rest, Fred Dean had a huge role on two SB champ teams, plus a great career overall despite being undersized. Derrick Thomas was the best in the game for a long period of time. And finally, it's not the HOF without the games greatest punter, so
ir's time to honor Ray Guy.
Monk just may have to wait for a while, because Reed and Carter are both better candidates, and Rice is coming up soon and NOBODY was better than him.
And no more '72 Dolphins. Just because you played on that team doesn't get you into the HOF. Sorry Bob.
I'm not sure if Reed is a better candidate. Carter is, no doubt.
Monk's lack of pro bowls can be attributed to strong competition. Rice, Carter, Irvin, Henry Ellard, Anthony Carter, Roy Green, James Lofton in Green Bay, Sterling Sharpe, his own teammates in Gary Clark and Rickey Sanders, etc. Same with the lack of top-10 appearances. Having receivers of that caliber around him hurt him via the numbers. Both Clark and Sanders have over 600 catches, I believe.
Monk was excellent. He'd have to be to set the records he set. But he is really hurt by the glut at the position, when newly innovative offenses really started putting up big receiving numbers. Air Coryell, West Coast, Run and Shoot, the game was greatly changed when Monk was doing his thing. I think he does deserve it, he was top level for a very long time, but it doesn't bother me so much he's had to wait this long.
I don't think Ray Guy, as deserved as he is, will get in, He's been a finalist for years. Sammy Baugh is in, and being the QB that he was, punting and punting alone really does hurt Guy. It's very muhc a credit that he's been a finalist so many times. That might be the best they're willing to do for him.
I am torn between Dean and Dent, personally. Both were monsters.
efin98
01-22-2008, 09:28 AM
To me as much as Monk is respected his stats are just not as good as the other two receivers on the list and frankly his worth to his teams isn't as much as what Carter meant to the Vikings nor what Reed meant to the Bills- neither were good without them in their time with those teams.
Monk won't get in as long as there are better wide receivers on the ballot that year, he has to hope that both Carter and Reed are selected otherwise he might have a four or even five year wait with Jerry Rice and Tim Brown coming up soon...
To me as much as Monk is respected his stats are just not as good as the other two receivers on the list and frankly his worth to his teams isn't as much as what Carter meant to the Vikings nor what Reed meant to the Bills- neither were good without them in their time with those teams.
Monk won't get in as long as there are better wide receivers on the ballot that year, he has to hope that both Carter and Reed are selected otherwise he might have a four or even five year wait with Jerry Rice and Tim Brown coming up soon...
Therein lies the rub. Carter and Reed appear as more valuable because they didn't have to split duties with the likes of Clark and Sanders. The three receiver set really hurts Monk.
Monk did make the very last cut last year, the only one who was not elected in that last group of 7, I believe, so that tells me he is a shade ahead of Reed in the eyes of the voters. But he certainly won't get in ahead of Carter, he won't get in ahead of Rice (honestly) and he won't get in ahead of Brown.
football junkie
01-23-2008, 07:14 AM
I would put in Derrick Thomas, Darrell Green, Richard Dent, Randall McDaniel, Gary Zimmerman and Cris Carter.
You can select seven, right? Or is it five? If it is five I'd make Zimmerman wait another year.
I would put in Derrick Thomas, Darrell Green, Richard Dent, Randall McDaniel, Gary Zimmerman and Cris Carter.
You can select seven, right? Or is it five? If it is five I'd make Zimmerman wait another year.
The Seniors don't impress you? At least one will make it. And, yes, they're back to seven again.
football junkie
01-23-2008, 05:58 PM
The Seniors don't impress you? At least one will make it. And, yes, they're back to seven again.
Not what I meant, I only picked five players so both the seniors would get in -- making it seven in total.
Not what I meant, I only picked five players so both the seniors would get in -- making it seven in total.
I thought you might be doing that, but just wanted to verify. No one seems to be talking about them here.
I certainly can sign on to the picks you've made. I'd like Kuechenberg to get in, because I think he was ignored for so long, but he should take a back seat to Zimmerman and McDaniel.
efin98
02-02-2008, 03:01 PM
And the few (http://www.nfl.com/halloffame/story?id=09000d5d80672d4e&template=with-video&confirm=true) who were selected this year are...
Darrell Green
Fred Dean
Art Monk
Emmitt Thomas
Gary Zimmerman
Andre Tippett
KHenry14
02-02-2008, 11:46 PM
Monk getting in before Carter is a disgrace. But I heard Peter King talking the other day about a groundswell amongst the voters to correct the wrong of Monk not being in, and he was correct I guess.
efin98
02-03-2008, 02:22 PM
Monk getting in before Carter is a disgrace. But I heard Peter King talking the other day about a groundswell amongst the voters to correct the wrong of Monk not being in, and he was correct I guess.
Tippett got in too, with King being his biggest cheerleader in the room King must have made a deal with Monk voters to get both Monk and Tippett in this year...classic "you scratch my back, I'll scratch yours"
Tippett got in too, with King being his biggest cheerleader in the room King must have made a deal with Monk voters to get both Monk and Tippett in this year...classic "you scratch my back, I'll scratch yours"
I hope that's not true, although I have no problem with Tippett getting in, he was more than deserving. I'd take him over HOf'er Harry Carson and longtime candidate Randy Gradishar. Monk was deserving, too, just not as good as Carter.
A good class, overall, without any names that will draw legions of fans to Canton on induction day like with Aikman and Reggie White in 2006 or Dan Marino and Steve Young (those hats!) in 2005.
Heck, I'll predict right now the names football junkie missed on get in next year.