Linky Here

McDaniel Finally on the list...he may not make it this year, but that looks good for him getting in some time.

I think Monk will get snubbed again because Carter is an easy first ballot choice. Green should also get in easy. After that it seems like a toss up between a lot of good choices. I think Zimmerman should get in though.

I'll help your thread by posting necessary information... you're welcome.


Listed alphabetically, the 17 finalists with their positions, teams, and years active follow:

Cris Carter – Wide Receiver – 1987-89 Philadelphia Eagles, 1990-2001 Minnesota Vikings, 2002 Miami Dolphins
Fred Dean – Defensive End – 1975-1981 San Diego Chargers, 1981-85 San Francisco 49ers
Richard Dent – Defensive End – 1983-1993, 1995 Chicago Bears, 1994 San Francisco 49ers, 1996 Indianapolis Colts, 1997 Philadelphia Eagles
Marshall Goldberg – Back – 1939-1943, 1946-48 Chicago Cardinals
Randy Gradishar – Linebacker – 1974-1983 Denver Broncos
Darrell Green – Cornerback – 1983-2002 Washington Redskins
Russ Grimm – Guard – 1981-1991 Washington Redskins
Ray Guy – Punter – 1973-1986 Oakland/Los Angeles Raiders
Bob Kuechenberg – Guard – 1970-1984 Miami Dolphins
Randall McDaniel – Guard – 1988-1999 Minnesota Vikings, 2000-2001 Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Art Monk – Wide Receiver – 1980-1993 Washington Redskins, 1994 New York Jets, 1995 Philadelphia Eagles
Andre Reed – Wide Receiver – 1985-1999 Buffalo Bills, 2000 Washington Redskins
Paul Tagliabue – Commissioner – 1989-2006 National Football League
Derrick Thomas – Linebacker – 1989-1999 Kansas City Chiefs
Emmitt Thomas – Cornerback – 1966-1978 Kansas City Chiefs
Andre Tippett – Linebacker – 1982-1993 New England Patriots
Gary Zimmerman – Tackle – 1986-1992 Minnesota Vikings, 1993-97 Denver Broncos


I'll highlight the guys I think should make it this year....

No way a punter should be in the hall of fame.

You are not correct. Every position should be represented.

Bob Kuechenberg should have been in the HOF a long time ago. Every crusty, old Dolphins fan thinks he was the best lineman on those 70s Fins teams and since those teams were the best running teams of all time he deserves to get in. Monk should wait a year.

Why?

I disagree!


Because he's a punter. He kicks the ball and that's it. Every position on offense and defense has more than one responsibility. Whether it's blocking, passing, coverage, route running, etc. Ever seen a punter try to make a tackle?

If your team has ever had a really bad punter or a really good punter, you know what having a good one can mean.

Being the greatest all time at your position and having ginormous effects on field position for teams that won Super Bowls = Hall of Fame.

Not really. In any given year in the NFL the difference between first and worst in punting avg. is usually less than 10 yds. The Raiders and 49ers were the two best punting team in the NFL this year. Seahawks and the Giants were the worst.

A punter can have a huge effect on a game... did you see the Chargers / Colts game Sunday? The Chargers punter punted a 60 some yard punt at the end of the game, and could easily be credited with the victory. You're just wrong, and that's ok.




Do you realize how much more a 10 yd AVERAGE is?

hint: It's a big deal.

You're right..a 50 yard field goal attempt to win the game is really no different than a 40 yard attempt.

You Sir, Are an idiot.

I sure did. I also saw Manning throw 2 interceptions and Rivers throw 3 TD. Ya know, the key positions.

And no, I don't think 10 yds is a big deal. Try telling that to the Niners and Raiders. They had that ten extra yards this year and were two of the worst teams in the league. Great teams overcome that 10yds, and don't have to punt as much. See New England.


See above. Agree to disagree.



May as well go for the gold.

Ray Guy should have been in long ago. The guy (pun intended) has a collegiate best at respective position trophy named after him. Kickers are in, so should punters.

So a punter isn't important?

Here's what I want you to do.

Save up some money, like a lot. At least 1 billion dollars, that should be more than enough.

Then I want you to purchase any NFL team of your choice. Once the deal goes through, I want you do fire the punter.

That's right, just fire him. Now you have no punter, but that's okay.

So now it's 4th and 15, and you're pinned on your own 2 yard line. Well you fired your meaningless punter, so I guess you have to go for it. Uh oh, turnover on downs. Looks like the other team is going to get an easy score.

TMQ

Maybe I will!

Actually, I never said I didn't want a punter. My point is, it doesn't matter who the punter is. It really doesn't. The Raiders of the late 70s/early 80s won 3 Super Bowls by 18, 17, and 29 points. Those 3 Super Bowls produced 12 hall of famers. That's right. 12. Pretty fuckin awesome. Look it up. There is no way that Ray Guy, a punter, should be included amongst those names.


Well then, maybe I don't want a punter. That'll save me 600k a year.

punt average is a terrible way to measure who had the best punting unit.

NET punting avg is a great way to measure it. There were two punters who had net avg's of over 40 yards this year.....something no one had ever done before.

Ray Guy changed the way the game was played by having a huge impact on field position. He should be in.

I agree with brvheart's picks but would add Darrell Green. He was a lockdown corner before the term was in vogue. The fastest player in the NFL for a good portion of his career, he also was a fearsome punt returner.

Players who made it:

Darrell Green
Art Monk
Gary Zimmerman
Andre Tippett
Fred Dean
Emmitt Thomas

It's great that Monk finally got in, but I thought he would get snubbed again this year since Carter was there. I find it a little weird that the guy who was the commissioner during the best growth of the NFL didn't make it for the 2nd straight year, but there's no way he's not getting in at some point. Also interesting that they are finally voting a lot of defensive players in...there' weren't any big QBs or RBs this year, so that's to be expected, but offensive players were going in 2:1 over defensive players over the last bunch of years.