CANTON FINALISTS NAMED

Posted by Mike Florio on January 6, 2009, 9:36 PM EST

The fifteen finalists for induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame have been named.
Four players in their first year of eligibility have made the cut — Bills defensive end Bruce Smith, Steelers cornerback Rod Woodson, Broncos/Ravens tight end Shannon Sharpe, and Vikings defensive John Randle.
The other finalists are Steelers center Dermontti Dawson, Seahawks defensive tackle Cortez Kennedy, Vikings receiver Cris Carter, Bills receiver Andre Reed, Bears defensive end Richard Dent, Redskins guard Russ Grimm, Dolphins guard Bob Kuechenberg, Vikings guard Randall McDaniel, Chiefs linebacker Derrick Thomas, former Commissioner Paul Tagliabue, and Bills owner Ralph Wilson.
Falcons defensive end Claude Humprhey and Cowboys receiver Bob Hayes are the Senior Committe finalists.
A minimum of four and a maximum of seven men will be voted into the Hall of Fame at a selection meeting to be held on January 31, one day before Super Bowl XLIII.

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86 responses to “CANTON FINALISTS NAMED”

  2. I don’t understand how Andre Reed is not in already.
    Top 10 in almost all career receiving stats. Was key part of 4 super bowl teams (albeit they lost them all, but they weren’t his fault)
    Should have been in first year he was eligible.

  4. Cortez Kennedy? It would be a crime for that JAG to get in while Charles Haley waits. It would be great to see the injustice that’s kept Bob Hayes out of the HoF corrected but I won’t hold my breath.

  6. Dawson has got to get in. He was one of the all time best centers ever in the league. Probably the best ever, yes, better than Webster. Name just a few guys that were better than him. I don’t have the knowledge, but I’ll bet it would be hard for anyone to find just a few guys…

  7. I’m sorry, I just can’t see how Roger Craig gets no love. He was Marshall Faulk before there was a Marshall Faulk. BASTARDS!
    I swear, if Tiki Barber makes the Hall before Roger Craig I will tell Shaun Rogers that Tiki said Twinkies are for bitches. That fat bastard will kill him!

  8. Why isn’t Derrick Thomas already in? After watching him set the single game sack record I was convinced.

  10. To not include Art Modell once again is not only petty, but bush league. The jerk in Cleveland should lose his voting privileges. Get over yourselves, Cleveland. You have your team back. Get over it!

  12. This class is really a special group… it is nice to see Dirt Dawson on the list – the best Steelers OL of my lifetime.

  13. Too bad Art Modell isn’t going in. I was hoping we could throw stones at him, then plant drugs on him when he flys back to hell.

  15. Dwight Stephenson is a guy many consider to be the best center ever. Career cut short by a knee injury, but he’s already in the Hall despite playing only 8 seasons. Could block the big NT’s alone, yet could pull outside the tackle to pass block.
    This could finally be Bob Kuechenburg’s year. Was an five-time All-Pro at tackle and guard. Broke his arm at the end of the Dolphins ’73 regular season. Had the bone marrow hollowed out and a 10-inch rod stuck in so he could in the playoffs, then dominated Alan Page in the Super Bowl despite it. Played in the 80’s with a broken back. Started all five of Miami’s Super Bowls.
    Chris Carter is the only sure fire elect I think.

  17. Dawson was just as good, if not better, at playing C as Rod Woodson was at playing CB. Woodson is obviously a first ballot, but Dawson…is just a center, so he probably won’t get in. What a sham. He’ll get in eventually, though.

  18. woodson and smith are sure fire first balloters
    randle and sharpe should be
    carter should have been last year
    which really doesn’t leave much room for surprises
    mcdaniel and dawson are for sure two of the best olinemen ever
    reed and thomas have had backers for a while
    should be interesting
    I’d be shocked if it doesn’t include all of woodson, smith, carter, randle, and sharpe, though.

  19. The NFL Hall of Fame shouldn’t make Chris Carter wait any longer. He was a first ballot player, but as long as you’re in, then you’re in. He deserves to make it more than any other individual on the list. I hope, for my Bears’ sake, that Richard Dent gets in. 137.5 sacks and Super Bowl MVP are mighty impressive feats. People forget how amazing he was.
    Derrick Thomas must get in, and I think he’s actually underrated. That guy was an absolutely astounding football player. Nine Pro Bowls in 11 years, and he averaged 11.5 sacks per year for 11 years! That’s crazy. I expect Shannon Sharpe to get in on his first try, as well as Bruce Smith. Andre Reed might get the nod over John Randle this time, but both of those individuals belong — now or sometime in the near future, like next year.
    Because of the greatness of this class, a bolder prediction I have is that Paul Tagliabue will have to wait. And I think he should. He’ll get in eventually (who knows, maybe this time, though I hope not) and was a solid commissioner, but this year’s class, like last year’s, seems too strong.
    I hope the Hall of Fame voters get this right.

  20. Congrats to Randel McDaniel, John Randle, and Chris Carter. Out of all of them, I hope McDaniel gets in this year for sure. He was one of the best to ever play the position.

  21. “buckeye044 says:
    January 6th, 2009 at 10:10 pm
    Wonder when the seniors will get around to putting Dick LeBeau in there.”
    i second that motion.
    also, you’re right florio, woodson should be known first and foremost as a steeler.
    .

  22. all I gotta say Bruuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuce is a no brainer, he’s easily a first ballot Hall of Famer, Cris Carter should also be a first ballot, I think Andre Reed will finally make it, and Paul Tagliabue that’s a no brainer also, and Derrick Thomas, although I would have liked to see him alive to receive this great honor, Derrick Thomas was a great Linebacker. Shannon Sharpe doesn’t belong in the NFL Hall of Fame, He belongs in the Hall of Fame for talking the most amount of trash. It might take him, a long time. Rod Woodson, it might take him several times, John Randall same.

  23. This is why the media should not determine who is a finalist or even in the hall of fame because they snub and ignore great players outside of the main media markets. How is that the Broncos win back to back Super Bowls in the 1990s and have appeared in the 2nd most Super Bowls, yet they have 1.5 members (Zimmerman played with the Vikings before coming Denver). The whole process is a joke. I guess you have to be a loud mouth like Sharpe to really be considered. If Terrell Davis played for any major media market team he would be in the Hall of Fame.

  24. Last time I checked, Rod Woodson’s Superbowl ring had a Ravens Logo on it. Sure, he appeared in 3 SB’s but he only has one winner’s ring and he got it with the Ravens. I wonder what franchise he will go it with. He started with the Steelers but he was essentially kicked out of there by the Rooney’s. Rod is such a class act, however, he might decide to go in as a Steeler and let Jon Ogden and/or Art Modell go in as the first Raven.
    Leaving Modell out is another cheap shot. Art Modell deserves to be in the HOF. He is one of the architects of Prime Time NFL and helped make it the league it is today. The folks in Cleveland who don’t like Art Modell should reflect on what they have: An NFL franchise, a State of the Art Stadium and a Complete franchise history. Now think about Baltimore Colts fans who have to see their heroes in the HOF as member of the INDIANAPOLIS COLTS. All of what Cleveland has now they owe in part to Art Modell who practically gave all of that to Cleveland as he left. Baltimore appreciates what Art Modell has done for them to correct the wrong Pete Rozelle did by allowing the Colts to leave Baltimore and that Paul Tagliabue did by not allowing Baltimore to get an expansion franchise in 1995.
    If Cleveland wants to blame anyone for the Browns going to Baltimore, they should blame Paul Tagliabue who kept an expansion team out of Baltimore in 1995 with full knowledge that some NFL franchise would move to Baltimore with the incentives that Baltimore had to offer. I don’t think he imagined it would be the Cleveland Browns.
    Browns fans should grow up!

  25. Thank you Tony Grossi again for doing what you can to keep the demon, I mean Modell, out of the Hall. Let him burn in Hell before he gets to the Hall of Fame.

  27. even as a lifelong diehard packers fan, i believe that randall mcdaniel was one of the finest offensive linemen to play the game. he deserves the nod this year. i hate cris carter. he is the definition of a hypocrite. i believe he will eventually get in, but out of the vikings to be finalists this year, i think the randalls deserve to go. rod woodson was one of the best secondary players i have ever watched, albeit i am only 26. the two best secondary players my generation grew up watching were deion and woodson. i would take rod over deion because i am not a “flare” guy. i understand that deion was more dynamic but rod was just plain consistently top 1-3 every year of his career. bruce smith, there is no contest, he is second all time in sacks. that alone almost should give him a place in canton, but being the anchor of that 4time afc champ bills defense gives him another edge. i would have taken reggie over smith, but that is the only defensive end in the world that we would take over bruce smith. one of the best number 1 overall picks ever. d dawson is definately one of the best centers to have ever played the game. i honestly can’t think of a center that you would pick over him if you had to pick one. to the shannon sharpe haters out there, he had the best statistical career for a tight end…. EVER! touchdowns, yards, and completions.
    1. bruce smith
    2. rod woodson
    3. randall mcdaniel
    4. dawson
    5. horseface sharpe

  28. Polian refers to the “alleged shooting incident?” Sorry, someone was shot, there’s no “alleged” here. Who did it might be alleged, but not what happened.

  29. Some great players on the HoF ballot this year…Go to wikipedia and look at what Ralph Wilson has done for the AFL/NFL…guy loaned out his money in the early days of the AFL to keep other teams afloat and challenge the NFL.
    Congrats to all of the nominees…

  30. “PurpleRulz says:
    January 6th, 2009 at 10:15 pm
    To not include Art Modell once again is not only petty, but bush league. The jerk in Cleveland should lose his voting privileges. Get over yourselves, Cleveland. You have your team back. Get over it!”
    So what if we did. What has Art Modell done that has ever constituted Hall of Fame credentials?
    NOTHING.
    Ever.
    This is the same bum who fired Paul Brown.

  31. Amen that Art Modell is excluded. I don’t care what rationales the Ravens fans give ( since they are the only ones that want him in, wonder how they feel about Colts management), but he first drove the Browns into the ground, then moved the team because his incompetence wouldn’t allow him to continue owning the team without mucho dinero from public funds. Which the idiots in Maryland were more than willing to give him.

  32. no Ray Guy???? disgusting. he is only the undisputed best at his position… why does he need to be in the hall of fame. once again, a horrible injustice

  33. hey purplerulz get a clue or better yet read a book on the nfl, say the “pb story” , art moe-dell was an idiot owner. he took the most storied franchise at the time, and ran it into the ground. what did he do that was so “hof” worthy? lied to the city and everyone else and ran to baltimore? ok then bob irsay should also be in! idiots like you think the league started the day you got a team, i think it is called “stolen property” but i am sure you wished the colts well when they left baltimore too, right? art moe-dell doesn’t belong in the hof cause he did NOTHING to get in! and he was so gutless he wouldn’t dare move the team until paul brown died, art rooney sr. died and pete rozzelle had passed away. a freakin incompetent owner who also started to run the ravens into the ground that’s why he had to sale to biscotti or whatever his name is.

  34. Who will get in (not who deserves to get in):
    Bruce Smith
    Rod Woodson
    Shannon Sharpe
    Chris Carter
    Who Deserves to Get in:
    The four above plus…
    Kuechenberg, Dawson, Reed
    About Thomas: One game, or one statistic does not make a HoF career. Thomas was a great linebacker, and he got a lot of sacks, but he did not dominate opponents and did not regularly dominate the opposing team. He played on some excellent defenses, and got a lot of sacks, but was not special against the run or in pass coverage.

  35. To the guy who can’t figure out how Shannon Sharpe deserves to be on the list, I suggest you look at the record books – most yards and catches by a tight end, three Super Bowl rings. You’re going to have to call the army, the navy and the national guard to keep him out.

  38. A minimum of 4 get in – a maximum of 7 make the grade.
    No Brainers:
    Bruce Smith (show me someone who says Bruce doesn’t deserve the nod and I’ll show you a moron)
    John Randle (AWESOME AND SO DESERVING – one of my all-time favorites to watch)
    Rod Woodson (Woody brought the lumber and could play the shadow)
    Shannon Sharpe (absolutely, though certainly not for his blocking)
    Clearly Deserving:
    Cris Carter (no question – many dislike Carter, but he straightened his act out and could really ball. he was kind of like middleweight Bernard Hopkins in how he got his life right and became a true champion.)
    Dermontti Dawson (a center who pancaked defenders 40 yards downfield. unreal)
    Andre Reed (long overdue – seems like he gets overlooked unfairly)
    Seniors:
    Dick LeBeau (should’ve been in there long ago – but let’s get him in now. too many studs get their props only after they’ve passed.)

  39. Derrick Thomas should have been in on his first ballot. Its unfortunate we have to wait to see him inducted till this year. It will be a travesty if he doesn’t get in again. Although his career was cut short, he had established Chiefs’ records in Pro Bowl appearances (9), sacks (126.5), safeties (3), forced fumbles (45), and fumble recoveries (18). Enough said

  40. The thing that’s really crazy is that “ocho cinco” actually means “EIGHT-FIVE” and NOT “eighty-five.” What a bunch of gonzos.

  41. Of the first timers I believe Woodson, Smith and Sharpe will get in. Of the old timers I think Kooch and Hayes will finally get in. Of the others I am going to say that Carter and Wilson (since he doesn’t have much time) get in.
    The football hall of fame isn’t like the baseball hall of fame where you pick a team or the hall picks a team to represent you. If you have seen the ceremony, they make a bust of their head with no helmet on. Woodson though is clearly more thought of as a Steeler than a Raven.
    I think that Thomas does belong in the Hall. He was such a disruptive force on D that opposing offenses always game planned for him. If they put A. Tippett in than Thomas definitely belongs in as well since Thomas was a better player. D. Dawson should get in as well. He was a 6-time first-team all-pro center. That means more to me than Pro Bowl berths.
    Reed will be a close call. He might be like A. Monk and stay out a while. I personally never thought he was a great receiver. A very good one and consistent one but not a great one. The guy was never first-team all-pro. It could be a long time before he gets in.
    Tez was one of the best Seahawks to play. He will eventually get in. There were some great DL to come out of Miami the last 2o years or so (Tez, J. Brown, Sapp). Brown would have been the best of the 3 if he lived.

  43. To all of those whiny, 2-faced baltimorons, who bitch about their team being stolen…and then turn right around and want to honor a damned thief:
    BROWNS FANS SHOULD GET OVER IT???
    Not in THIS lifetime.
    There’s a special place in hell for Art Modell. Better sooner than later.
    Keep rockin’, Toni. Screw Baltimore.

  44. Model not having a place in the HOF is a joke. I’m sure Grossi will get off the stump after he is dead – real nice.
    How is it the Shannon Sharpe is a Bronco/Raven, yet Rod Woodson is a Steeler and not also a Steeler/Raven? Both earned Super Bowl rings in Baltimore…..Woodsons only ring is in Baltimore. Odd.

  45. What do you mean the Rooneys ran Woodson out of town ? lol do you pay attention to football ? Woodson turned down a big contract extention the beginning of the year . He got hurt his last year and then the Steelers let him go . I think it worked out good for Woodson he got a ring . Rod will go in as a Steeler . And he is a first time Sure fire first ballot . I like to see Dawson get in . For all those who cry Reed isnt in . Dont feel bad it took Stallworth and Swann along time to make it . Lebeau is a shame that he isnt in . 52 years playing and coaching in football . Changed the way defense is played and he was one hell of a player as a Lion .

  46. StrangerDon says:
    “About Thomas: One game, or one statistic does not make a HoF career. Thomas was a great linebacker, and he got a lot of sacks, but he did not dominate opponents and did not regularly dominate the opposing team. He played on some excellent defenses, and got a lot of sacks, but was not special against the run or in pass coverage.”
    ************************************
    Wow,ONE GAME, or ONE STASTIC???
    Lets compare Derrick thomas stats against Andre tippet who was voted in last year.
    THOMAS played 11 seasons going to 9 Pro Bowls, Forced a current record 45 fumbles and recovering 19,with 126 sacks.
    TIPPET played longer forcing only 17 fumbles, much less Pro bowls, recovered 18 fumbles, with only 100 sacks.
    LAWRENCE Taylor played 2 years longer than DT, went to only 1 more Pro Bowl, recovered only 11 fumbles, forced only 33 fumbles, and had only 16 more sacks.
    Sorry but “One Game” and “One statistic” comment is ABSURD. Opponents had to gameplan and account for DT on every play. Ask any QB that played during Derrick Thomas years if he deserves to be in the HOF and I think you will know who’s each and every response will be. I also guarentee each will say your comment was ignorant also.

  47. I hate Shannon Sharpe as a player as a Steeler Fan . But he was the best tight end i ever seen play . Ravens or Broncos he always played hard and was a killer at times . He is a loud mouth but funny as hell . He deserves to be in . Better than Kellen Winslow .

  48. Bruce Smith the only shoo-in.
    Guaranteed that these 2 will be inducted by the powers that be:
    Former Commissioner Paul Tagliabue and Bills owner Ralph Wilson.

  49. kokoksmr–
    Perfect.
    I understand the hatred for modell in cleveland. we hate the irsay family in Baltimore. That said, the move of the real browns to Baltimore saved football in cleveland. There was no money left to build a stadium. the NFL had so much egg on it’s face after they passed the best expansion candidate, Baltimore, over and the browns went there, that they hand delivered a new stadium to the city of cleveland.

  51. “I hate Shannon Sharpe as a player as a Steeler Fan . But he was the best tight end i ever seen play . Ravens or Broncos he always played hard and was a killer at times . He is a loud mouth but funny as hell . He deserves to be in . Better than Kellen Winslow” .
    ***************************
    Have you not seen Tony Gonzalez play?

  52. Its no wonder why Browns fans are so bitter. Why the hell would anyone want to live in a POS city like Cleveland?

  53. John Randle needs to be a first ballot guy. He may not have been the best DT to ever play the game, but without a doubt he was the funniest and most entertaining person to ever play. That and the fact that he was an undrafted, undersized guy who no one thought had a chance and he ended up as one of the most feared DT’s says something too. I biased because I’m a Vikings fan but “Big Dog” was/is my favorite Viking. Monster on the field, stand up guy off it.

  54. Rod Woodson already has answered the question before….he will go in as a Steeler.
    It wont be a sexy pick, but Dermonti Dawson deserves the Hall of Fame but he’s not the kind of guy that will complain if he does not.

  55. Russ Grimm needs to be in. He was a great player in his own right, but someone needs to be in from the greatest offensive line ever, the HOGS. The Redskins won three Superbowls from the early 80s to the early 90s with three different quarterbacks, and running backs. The only two HOFs from these teams are Riggins, who played in just the first and Darrel Green who was around for the second two. They need to honor the line that was the real reason for those three rings, and if they can’t put them in as a unit, GET A REPRESENTATIVE IN THERE! GO GRIMM HOF CLASS OF 09!

  57. Career stats of two Hall Of Fame linebackers and another not in the Hall Of Fame:
    Lawrence Taylor – 13 seasons – 142 career sacks
    Andre Tippett – 12 seasons – 100 career sacks
    Derrick Thomas – 11 seasons (tragic death) – 126.5 career sacks
    Lawerence Taylor – 10 Pro Bowls
    Andre Tippett – 5 Pro Bowls
    Derrick Thomas – 9 Pro Bowls
    Lawerence Taylor – 2 defensive touchdowns – 0 safeties – 33 forced fumbles – 11 recoveries
    Andre Tippett – 0 defensive touchdowns – 0 safeties – 17 forced fumbles – 18 recoveries
    Derrick Thomas – 4 defensive touchdowns – 3 safeties – 45 forced fumbles(current NFL record) – 19 recoveries
    With 2 less seasons, Derrick Thomas’ numbers are better than Lawerence Taylor in 4 defensive categories and averaged more sacks per season than Taylor.
    With 1 less season, Derrick Thomas’ career numbers are better than Andre Tippett in EVERY defensive category.
    So please HOF committee , tell me why Thomas is not inducted yet?
    If Tayor is in, Thomas should be in…. If Tippett is in, Thomas C E R T A I N L Y should be in!

  58. Bob Hayes necessitated the invention of zone pass coverage. How he’s not in yet is a mystery.

  59. @kokoskmr
    Enshrinees do not go into the Pro Football Hall of Fame as a member of a certain team. Rather, all of an inductee’s affiliations are listed equally.
    So if Woodson gets in, the Steelers, 49ers, Ravens, and Raiders can claim another HoFer. This isn’t baseball where the bust of the player shows a particular hat with a particular team logo.
    Don’t believe me? Look it up.

  60. IMHO how it should go:
    Gets in the HOF this year without breaking a sweat:
    Paul Tagliabue
    Bruce Smith
    Cris Carter
    Rod Woodson
    On the bubble for the last 1 or 2 spots:
    Andre Reed
    Dermotti Dawson
    Derrick Thomas
    Richard Dent
    Deserves to get in, but will miss because Cris Carter is on the ballot:
    Andre Reed
    Will get in next year when Tags is not on the ballot:
    Ralph Wilson
    Will have to wait until a slower year:
    Shannon Sharpe
    John Randle
    Richard Dent
    Russ Grimm
    Will probably never make it because there are so many Phin linemen already in the hall and it has been 35+ years since greatness:
    Bob Keuchenberg
    Just another guy who has no business being on the HOF list with the other great players:
    Cortez Kennedy

  61. Modell deserves recognition for his dedication to the sport. We have so much today in the NFL because of his vision. Cleveland, it is time to let it go…

  62. I hate seeing older players on the ballot… people who played in the 60’s or so. If they weren’t good enough to make it for the past 30 years, are they somehow better this year? Bruce Smith and Cris Carter should be locks this year.

  63. Some good names on that list, but for some reason I’m finding it hard to get excited about any of them. Seriously, if any of the first timers didn’t get in, would it be a travesty? Same with any of the carry overs. When I think HoF, I think Reggie White or Joe Montana. I don’t see anybody on this list in that caliber.

  64. Ravens’ fans,
    Enough with the Modell crap. He was a bad owner. He moved to Baltimore because he was broke. He had to take out a loan in his wifes name to sign Andre Rison. All this with a sold out stadium for years. The stadium was one of the largest in the NFL.
    Even after Baltimore gave him millions of dollars, the NFL still almost took his team because of the amount of debt he had accumulated. The only way to temporarily save his ownership was to sell a minority interest of the Ravens to a new owner who would eventually buy the team outright.
    Modell is a liar and a crook. He took our franchise and then we got to watch it win a freaking super bowl after we sold that stadium out for years and put up with his bad decisions.
    We then got screwed by the NFL in the way they awarded a new franchise. The new Browns had about 4 months to put everything together before the draft, not two years like Jacksonville and Carolina. We also did not get near the amount of draft choices they recieved. Now we are stuck with Randy Lerner who just doesn’t get what Clevelander’s want in a football team.
    Quit telling us to get over what Modell did, and I hope the only way he ever gets into the HOF is with a ticket.

  65. Yeah, that Art Modell was a real bastard – protecting his investment when Cleveland fans abandoned his team; bringing Monday Night Football to all of us; leaving the colors and the name in the city, along with their history (ask a Baltimorean about the pain of having our records taken over by the Indianapolis Irsays.)
    That pole smoker sports writer in Cleveland is a pants wetting bitch who needs to have his vote taken away from him.
    It’s cool to gang up on an old man who is slowly dying. But then again, Cleveland has always been about class and winning, as evidenced by their stellar season and 5 appearances on national tv.
    How you guys enjoying these playoff games?

  66. Art Modell should not be in the Hall of Fame because he was a terrible owner. If he was good at his job, he wouldn’t have gone broke when the Indians moved to Jacob’s Field and he wouldn’t have had to take out personal bank loans to pay Andre Rison’s signing bonus. The only reason Modell brought football back to Baltimore, is because he dug himself into a financial hole in Cleveland and the city of Baltimore gave him money to bail him out.

  67. BawlmerJoe, you have no clue what you’re talking about. How did Cleveland fans abandon him? He was losing money because the Indians built a new stadium. He was offered the chance to get a new stadium when the Indians and Cavs did, but didn’t want to shell out the cash.
    The only reason he left the Browns colors and history behind was because he was forced to to get out of his lease with the city of Cleveland, as part of an out of court settlement for a lawsuit that he knew he would lose. If Modell had his way, you’d be a Baltimore Browns fan.
    Baltimore and the state of Maryland forced Irsay to make a decision by threatening to take control of the Colts. Modell left because of his own bad financial decisions. By the way, Irsay’s not in the Hall of Fame either, although I’m sure some folks in Indianapolis thinks he should be there.

  68. There is an ample number or deserving canidates this year. However, I think the guys that deserve to be the HOF class of ’09 is a no-brainer…
    Bruce Smith
    Rod Woodson
    Dermontti Dawson
    Bob Kuechenberg
    Derrick Thomas
    Ralph Wilson

  69. hey bawlmer joe, moe-dell didn’t leave the colors and history out of the kindess of his heart, you jackass, he was forced to , to avoid litigation, dumbass. get your facts straight.

  70. BawlmerJoe,
    You’re an idiot. Cleveland fans never abandoned Modell. They continued to sell out the stadium despite his terrible management decisions. There was an issue on the November ballot to pass a levy for major renovations to the stadium. Modell couldn’t wait because he was in a huge financial hole of his own doing. He took Baltimore’s blood money to keep his team.
    We all know that it was not a similar situation with Irsay. The fianl Colts game in Baltimore had less than 28,000 fans. The fact that the city was trying to take the team away by eminent domain forced Irsay’s hand.
    Either propose that Bob Irsay goes in the HOF or shut the hell up about that crook Modell.

  71. First year qualifiers often have a harder time getting in, although Smith and Woodson could do it. Randle wasn’t too good against the run, and they’ll make Sharper wait.
    As to second or later year guys, the collective bargaining agreement mess is going to hurt Tags, and Wilson has a fairly negative image. McDaniel is the best lineman of the finalists, and you gotta wonder if the number of Steelers and Dolphins in the Hall will hurt Kooch and Dawson. Thomas and Dent were pretty one-dimensional. Nonetheless, it would be nice to see most of those O-linemen in along with Thomas and Carter (even if he is an arrogant ass). Hayes was just a big name — there are other older dudes more deserving — where’s Dr. Z when you need him?

  72. Wick,
    The Browns had a wildcard berth in 2002. If the new Browns were great and the Ravens were horrible, Clevelanders would still hate Art Modell for what he did. Most football fans will never be able to comprehend what it’s like to have your team stolen from you like that.

  73. Cleveland = Bitterville, USA
    It may have happened, but I don’t recall the “new” Browns even making the playoffs.
    I would venture to guess that if the fortunes of their current Browns and those of the Ravens were reversed —> Bitterville Nation would be singing a very different tune right now.
    P.S. Signed, not a Ravens’ fan – just an objective bystander

  74. Is VOX really gonna keep posting like the Eagles/Dallas game never happened and he has been missing for 2 weeks? He’s gotta address it at some point … Doesn’t he?… I mean, its too soon to just play it off and start talking about next year. What a worthless existence it must be to be a Cowboys fan. Especially one who isn’t from Texas. I wonder if Vox Veritas’ favorite baseball team is the Yankees.

  75. How and why Ricky Jackson (Saints) is never nominated is just mind boggling. The guy has more sacks than virtually any LB in the Hall (I believe only LT has more – and Ricky played one season before they started tracking sacks), has the NFL record for fumble recoveries and was a stud on one of the best Ds in the league – for many years. Os had to gameplan around him so much that Pat Swilling got D Player of the Year as a result. He also earned a SB ring with the 49ers.
    It is a travisty that this guy is continually excluded.

  76. “Hayes was just a big name — there are other older dudes more deserving — where’s Dr. Z when you need him?”
    Probably still arguing on behalf of Bob Hayes.
    http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=1726974
    Upset and frustrated with the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s selection process and a failure to get former Cowboys star Bob Hayes inducted, veteran writer Paul Zimmerman has resigned from the Hall’s Senior Selection Committee.
    Just a big name? Sure, a “big name” that forced the NFL to come up with an entirely new defensive strategy to defend him. Nobody could run with Bob Hayes. NOBODY. Darrell Green? Deion Sanders? He’d have smoked them both so bad we’d all still be laughing at them. Hayes’ Olympic gold medals won on borrowed spikes poop on the “world class speed” that those guys and anybody else thought they had.

  77. gameday says:
    January 7th, 2009 at 8:45 am
    (I added information on another player who should be in the HOF. Saints linebacker and later 49’ers defensive end Rickey Jackson)
    Career stats of two Hall Of Fame linebackers and another (two) not in the Hall Of Fame:
    Lawrence Taylor – 13 seasons – 142 career sacks
    Andre Tippett – 12 seasons – 100 career sacks
    Derrick Thomas – 11 seasons (tragic death) – 126.5 career sacks
    Rickey Jackson – 15 seasons – 128 career sacks
    (Jackson played his final two seasons with the 49’ers (If you can’t beat them, join them.) and registered an astounding 9.5 sacks in his final season at the age of 37. In his first season with the 49’ers he started at Right Defensive End and earned a Super Bowl Champions ring in Super Bowl XXIX.)
    Lawerence Taylor – 10 Pro Bowls
    Andre Tippett – 5 Pro Bowls
    Derrick Thomas – 9 Pro Bowls
    Rickey Jackson – 6 Pro Bowls (While playing the same position and in the same conference as Taylor for most of his career. In the very small media market of New Orleans. One year the Saints had four linebackers in the Pro Bowl at the same time.)
    Lawrence Taylor – 2 defensive touchdowns – 0 safeties – 33 forced fumbles – 11 recoveries
    Andre Tippett – 0 defensive touchdowns – 0 safeties – 17 forced fumbles – 18 recoveries
    Derrick Thomas – 4 defensive touchdowns – 3 safeties – 45 forced fumbles(current NFL record) – 19 recoveries
    Rickey Jackson – 0 defensive touchdowns – 1 safety – 40 forced fumbles – 29 recoveries
    With 2 less seasons, Derrick Thomas’ numbers are better than Lawrence Taylor in 4 defensive categories and averaged more sacks per season than Taylor. (While playing three more seasons, Jackson had 28 more sacks than Tippett.)
    With 1 less season, Derrick Thomas’ career numbers are better than Andre Tippett in EVERY defensive category. (While Taylor and Tippett played a combined 25 seasons, Jackson had as many fumble recoveries in his 15 seasons as both HOF’s COMBINED. Jackson also has a Super Bowl champions ring, something Tippett does not have.)
    So please HOF committee , tell me why Thomas is not inducted yet?
    If Tayor is in, Thomas should be in…. If Tippett is in, Thomas C E R T A I N L Y should be in! (If Taylor and Tippett are in, Thomas should also be in along with Rickey Jackson.)

  78. hey dimwick, yeah they made the playoffs but that’s not the point. don’t post if you don’t know the argument, moe-dell was a freakin idiotic owner that ran both the old browns into the ground and the ravens into the ground, that’s why he is no longer in the league. don’t post on a subject when you are clueless to the facts.

  80. Can they put Russ Grimm in already? Anchor of one of the greatest O-lines of all time, On the All Decade team for the 1980’s, thress Superbowl rings. What more does an O-lineman have to do? Maybe he doesn’t write enough “Please let me in” letters to the election committee to get their votes. . . .

  81. How did Art run the Ravens into the ground? Art was the owner when the Ravens won the Super Bowl.

  83. This is who should get in:
    DE Bruce Smith — No brainer
    TE Shannon Sharpe — No brainer
    CB Rod Woodson — No brainer
    LB Derrick Thomas — SHOULD be a no brainer
    WR Cris Carter — Not sure if he makes it this time, but should
    WR Bob Hayes — SHOULD be a no brainer for revolutionizing the position with speed and causing defenses to get creative
    Owner & Founder of Bills: Ralph Wilson (also original AFL guy) — Should get in

  84. Anybody who doesn’t think Woodson should get in this year doesn’t know crap about the history of the NFL. The guy is a legend. 3rd in INTs, first in non-offensive TDs, first in INT return yards and TDs. All 90s team, 75th NFL anniversary team.
    And yes, somebody said it earlier. The NFL doesn’t associate teams with HOF inductions like the baseball HOF does.

  85. How did Art run the Ravens into the ground? Only because he couldn’t financially hold on to them, the same way he needed the tax money of suckers in Maryland in order to keep the team in the first place.

  86. Not being from Buffalo but from Detroit(the football wasteland of the north) I follow the curious indifference shown to one of the pioneers of pro football whom had he not been involved, the face of football as we hardcore fans know it , would be dramatically different than it is today. It is always satisfying and entertaining for us fans to debate and banter the attributes of our favorites and heroes. Deservedly so, as these are the men who have thrilled and amazed us for a generation. However, what of the men who made it possible for the game to have endured and prospered to the point that we can be thrilled and amazed year after year by those extraordinary men ? What of the men who gambled in the early days of what is now the modern NFL? The men who put their money , reputations, and futures on the line to give us what we so delight in today. By any standards Ralph Wilson is the most deserving candidate for induction into footballs hall of fame. Without men like Ralph Wilson many of the candidates this year may not have gotten the opportunity they did, to be the stars that thrilled and amazed us. For most, a distinguished career in the NFL might be 10 or 12 years of excellence. Ralph wilson, a founder of the AFL and Owner of the Buffalo Bills has been and is still Delivering distinguished service 50 years later. Sometimes its easy to overlook a person who doesn’t throw the touchdown or gain a thousand yards. However, this is a person who should be overlooked no longer. Ralph Wilson should have all of our support for the hall of fame and all of our thanks for a job well done. I only wish I had someone from my own home team that I could say these things about .

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