HOF Candidates

[1st & 10]

The hall candidates
This year's 17 Pro Football Hall of Fame finalists:

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


Missing from the list is Dermontti Dawson and LC Greenwood.
Both guys belong in the Hall.

Dawson played in 7 straight Pro Bowls and played in 171 consecutive games.
He was widely accepted as the best Center in football during those years.
Dermontti was on the Hall list in 05, 06 and 07 but not voted into the Hall.
Dawson sponsors a charity (PRO Foundation) to help children.

LC Greenwood was a 6 time Pro Bowl player and was a big part of the
Steel Curtain. He lead the Steelers 4 times in sacks and had 14 fumble recoveries.
He played well in 4 Super Bowls, gaining 5 Sacks in 4 games.

Here is a list of Steelers currently in the HOF.


Bert Bell (1963) - 1941-1946
MEL BLOUNT (1989) - 1970-1983
TERRY BRADSHAW (1989) - 1970-1983
BILL DUDLEY (1966) - 1942, 1945-1946
JOE GREENE (1987) - 1969-1981
JACK HAM (1988) - 1971-1982
FRANCO HARRIS (1990) - 1972-1983
JOHN HENRY JOHNSON (1987) - 1960-1965
WALT KIESLING (1966) - 1940-1942, 1954-1956, 1937-1939
JACK LAMBERT (1990) - 1974-1984
CHUCK NOLL (1993) - 1969-1991
ART ROONEY (1964) - 1933-1988
DAN ROONEY (2000) - 1955-Present
JOHN STALLWORTH (2002) - 1974-1987
ERNIE STAUTNER (1969) - 1950-1963
LYNN SWANN (2001) - 1974-1982
MIKE WEBSTER (1997) - 1974-1988

[Chicoman]

Not only do LC Greenwood & Dermonti Dawson belong in the HoF.

There are 2 other players who without question belong in the HoF.

Dick LeBeau - 62 career INT's when NFL teams didn't pass nearly as much as they do now. Never has been a finalist for the HoF Balloting. INSANE! Ronnie Lott a HoF'er had 63 career INT's.

Donnie Shell - Still holds the NFL record for career INT's by a Strong Safety with 51. His name appeared on the ballot in 2002 but hasn't since. He definately belongs.

You could also make a care for Andy Russell, Dwight White & Ernie Holmes too.

[Hollywood Bags]

L.C. Greenwood not being in the Hall is a travesty. He personally won Super Bowl IV and was the most underrated of all the Steeler greats of the 70;s,

[Ghost of Frenchy Fuqua]

As much as I hated the Raiders, I'd like to see Guy get in.

And also Derrick Thomas, who was in that very funny TV commercial (for some phone service) with Neil Smith: "They did it to you again Neil!"...

[Coryea]

There's a biased against Steeler players now, since so many of them are in there. Dawson was considered by alot to be better than Webster and maybe the best to every play the position.

[Idioteque]

Green, Dent and Zimmerman should already be in.

Carter of course belongs ASAP. And there;s no excuse for L.C. and Dirt to not be in.

[Sluzilla]

* Cris Carter, Wide Receiver -- 1987-89 Eagles, 1990-2001 Vikings, 2002 Dolphins
* Darrell Green, Cornerback -- 1983-2002 Redskins
* Russ Grimm, Guard -- 1981-1991 Redskins
* Derrick Thomas, Linebacker -- 1989-1999 Chiefs
* Andre Tippett, Linebacker -- 1982-1993 Patriots
* Gary Zimmerman, Tackle -- 1986-1992 Vikings, 1993-97 Broncos

[sb26554]

I'll go along with Carter, Green and Zimmerman. How about Randy Gradishar? Usually overshadowed because he played during the same era as some guy named Lambert, but he was an excellent inside lb in his own right. I also think this is the year Art Monk makes it in. Finally, it's a safe bet that at least one of the senior nominees will make it, so I'll go with Emmitt Thomas.

I think Dirt's chances will get better once some of the O-linemen who've been waiting longer either make it in or run out of modern-era eligibility.

[Ghost of Frenchy Fuqua]

If any of these offensive linemen get in, then Guy - the best punter ever - deserves to get in...

[Idioteque]

Actually the best punter ever is the Raiders' current punter, Lechler.

[Steeler B]

How is Art Monk not in? He deserves it...

[LuaW]

How not one of the HOGS is in is just crazy. So that just proves that OL gets shafted typically. LC would be in if they kept sack records I'd think.

Still, Darrell better get there this year or next. I've about given up on Monk. Gibbs only have 1 HOF'er coached (Riggins) is insane. 3 SB wins only 1 HOF'er? Riggins wasn't even on 2 of the SB teams.

[LetMePlay]

Shell, Greenwood, Dawson should be in.

Its just weird that Guy and Monk are not in.

[sb26554]

From Dr. Z's weekly NFL mailbag:

"Toot-toot, here comes the Hall of Fame Express, and with it, the usual round of preguntas as the enshrinement meeting draws near. Craig of Pittsburgh -- "Can you please give me some sort of an explanation as to why Dermontti Dawson is not even on the final HoF list this year?" Sure, the explanation is that most selectors don't have a clue as to what a center does out there."

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/writers/dr_z/01/17/dungy/1.html

[CAH]

If you'd ask Fran Tarkington, who should be inducted and the first name he'd say is L.C.Greenwood.

As far as Ray Guy is concerned, I've never seen a better punter in my life.

[sb26554]

Guy was good, but there's quite a few people who will tell you he wasn't the best punter ever. In fact, there's some that think the best punter is already in the HOF (Sammy Baugh). Guy's rep. has been somewhat overinflated over the years by a certain ex-Raider Head Coach turned commentator.

[CAH]

Guy was good, but there's quite a few people who will tell you he wasn't the best punter ever. In fact, there's some that think the best punter is already in the HOF (Sammy Baugh). Guy's rep. has been somewhat overinflated over the years by a certain ex-Raider Head Coach turned commentator.

Can't agree with you about Baugh or anyone else. You could set Guy's punts to music they were so good which is why I was looking for someone to kidnap him. ;)

[Ghost of Frenchy Fuqua]

Actually the best punter ever is the Raiders' current punter, Lechler.

Let's see if he keeps it up (so to speak) for, oh, another 10 seasons...

[Ghost of Frenchy Fuqua]

Guy was good, but there's quite a few people who will tell you he wasn't the best punter ever...

But there are a lot more who will tell you he was.

Just think: They used to check his balls for helium.

(How many punters - - or males in general - can you say that about?)

[sb26554]

Again, he was good, but it's far from indisputable that he was the best of all time, as so many seem to think.

His per punt avg. was 42.4, that's currently tied for 62nd place on the all-time list (plenty of other punters from his era alone had better or very close averages). His net yards average, which the NFL starting tracking in his fourth season, was 33.8 (again, a lot of other punters were better in this category) The NFL also starting tracking touchbacks in 1976. Guy had 128 over his last eleven seasons, an average of twelve of a season, which isn't very good. Compare those numbers to other great punters from the 70's/80's, like Reggie Roby. I'm not saying that Roby belongs either. I'm just saying that, for a pure punter to get inducted into the HOF, it's gotta be for something more than just stories about his balls being checked for helium or how he once hit the roof of the Superdome with a practice punt, interesting as those stories may be.

[Ole Steeler Fan]

I looked over the list of Steelers HOF'rs and the only player I never saw play was Bert Bell. John Henry Johnson and Ernie Stautner were my heroes when I was a kid, along with Johnny Mize and Ralph Kiner.

[Ghost of Frenchy Fuqua]

What made Guy great, more than anything, was his hang time.

You could cook - and eat - a pizza while the ball was in the air...

[Steelerman58]

Randall McDaniel
Emmitt Thomas
Darrell Green
Bob Kuechenberg

Sorry Ray Guy fans. Still don't thing a punter should be in the HOF. As soon as a DH goes into the baseball HOF, a punter goes into the football HOF.