The Pro Football Hall of Fame has announced that its two senior finalists for the Class of 2013 are former Chiefs, Oilers and Lions defensive tackle Curley Culp, and former Packers and Redskins linebacker Dave Robinson.
The two senior candidates are nominated separately from the rest of the Hall of Fame finalists, but will be voted on at the same time, on the day before the Super Bowl.
After a college career at Arizona State in which he was both a dominating defensive lineman and an NCAA champion wrestler, Culp played from 1968 to 1973 with the Chiefs and was chosen to one AFL All-Star Game and one Pro Bowl. He left Kansas City for Houston in 1974 and was one of the best defensive players in the league with the Oilers, being chosen to four more Pro Bowls and winning the 1975 George Halas Trophy, which was given to the NFL’s best defensive player. He concluded his career with the Lions in 1980 and 1981.
Robinson played for Penn State from 1960 to 1962 and was a first-round draft pick of Vince Lombardi’s Packers in 1963. Robinson played on Lombardi’s NFL championship team in 1965 and then for the Super Bowl I and Super Bowl II-winning teams the next two years. He finished his career with two years on the Redskins, in 1973 and 1974.
Former Packers guard Jerry Kramer had been discussed as a potential senior nominee this year, and a Milwaukee radio station erroneously reported today that Kramer had, in fact, been nominated. But Kramer will have to wait until at least 2014 for enshrinement in Canton. Culp and Robinson will find out in less than six months whether the Hall of Fame Selection Committee thinks they’re worthy.
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So you got two guys I know, but most don’t, and Ken Stabler sits at home without a gold jacket and my 15 year old nephew knows who he is.
how is jerry kramer not in the hof? just goes to show the voters are a sham
As a Packer fan I am thrilled that Dave Robinson was choosen as a candidate for Canton. However, this kind of throws sand in the face of Jerry Kramer as well. This totally blows the theory that the reason Kramer was being ignored is that there were too many Packers from the 60′s that were already enshrined.
I don’t think it matters whether or not you know someone’s name, but I agree that Stabler should be in. And I’m a Chiefs fan who hates the Raiders.
It is amazing how one of the best players from the Lombardi era Jerry Kramer is not in the HOF
Robinson, Tim Brown, Cris Carter, Jonathan Ogden, and Larry Allen are the 2013 class
Nothing against either Culp or Robinson, who were both fine players. But they both should go into Canton after Jerry Kramer and Ken Stabler do.
Jim Marshall?
chesslungo says:
Aug 22, 2012 3:40 PM
Robinson, Tim Brown, Cris Carter, Jonathan Ogden, and Larry Allen are the 2013 class
Michael Strahan would like a word with you.
I thought Culp was in years ago.
About Kramer – he’s famous for writing a book. Not every player on Lombardi’s team deserved to be in the HOF. Kramer deserved to be in the discussion, but he’s not an obvious pick.
Ken Anderson.
No offense to the Ken Stabler supporters, but take a look at his numbers. Like Namath, he simply is not a HOF QB.
His completion % was decent for the era (59.8), but his TD/INT ratio was awful in any era (194/222).
Curly Culp was a dominate game changer. He anchored both the Chiefs and Oilers D lines and constantly drew double teams. His nomination to the HOF is long overdue.
Robinson was a good player but HOF caliber? His nomination may be a stretch.
Man, that late 60′s-early 70s KC defense is probably the most underrated D in history.
Buck Buchanan
Willie Lanier
Bobby Bell
Emmitt Thomas
all HOFers…and now possible Culp.
Jerry Mays went to 7 Pro Bowls and was selected to AFL all-time team, as was Johnny Robinson who was a 6-time All-Pro.
Crazy how good they were!
hokiegajanisgod says:Aug 22, 2012 4:59 PM
No offense to the Ken Stabler supporters, but take a look at his numbers. Like Namath, he simply is not a HOF QB.
His completion % was decent for the era (59.8), but his TD/INT ratio was awful in any era (194/222).
Curly Culp was a dominate game changer. He anchored both the Chiefs and Oilers D lines and constantly drew double teams. His nomination to the HOF is long overdue.
Robinson was a good player but HOF caliber? His nomination may be a stretch.
Stabler was joe Montana clutch before Joe. Numbers don’t say it all. The incredible highlight real of comebacks and NFL classics says it all. Leading the league in passing and being MVP when Bradshaw, Tarkenton, Staubach, Griese and others dominated the game, along with Stabler.
Stabler is by far the biggest oversight in NFL HOF selection.
Boycot the HOF until they let Ray Guy in! Field position is an intergeral part of the game and nobody was better. Players don’t even respect punters or kickers…such a shame. What is also a shame is that players like Swan are in but Andre Reed is not….what a joke
Can we please get Chris Carter in the H.O.F this season ?I am tired of hearing his name.
Culp was a fantastic player.
And yes, just put Cris Carter in. We’ll be able to forget about him sooner that way.