D.T. Makes Hall Cut To 25
The potential class for the Pro Football Hall of Fame class of 2009 has been sliced to 25 players and part of that group is Chiefs LB Derrick Thomas.
The Hall of Fame in Canton announced the results of balloting by the board of selectors that was conducted earlier this month from an initial group of 133 names. Voters were asked to select 25 players, coaches or contributors.
The 25 modern-era semi-finalists list will be reduced by a mail ballot to 15 finalists. Along with two senior nominees, the Class of 2009 will be selected from that list of 17 men on Saturday, January 31, 2009, in Tampa, Florida the day before Super Bowl XLIII. Rules provide that between four and seven new members will be selected.
WR Bob Hayes and DE Claude Humphrey are the senior nominees for this class.
Thomas is part of the 25 semi-finalists for the fifth consecutive year.
Joining him are first-year nominees DE Bruce Smith, CB Rod Woodson, TE Shannon Sharpe and DT John Randle.
There are three non-players on the list: former Commissioner Paul Tagliabue, former Browns-Ravens owner Art Modell and Buffalo Bills owner Ralph Wilson.
Other players among the 25: WR Cris Carter, RB Roger Craig, RB Terrell Davis, C Dermontti Dawson, DE Richard Dent, DE/LB Chris Doleman, DE/LB Kevin Greene, G Russ Grimm, P Ray Guy, DE/LB Charles Haley, CB Lester Hayes, DT Cortez Kennedy, G Bob Kuchenberg, G Randall McDaniel, WR Andre Reed, QB Ken Stabler and WR/Special Teamer Steve Tasker.
Four other members of the Chiefs did not make the cut to 25 players: DE Art Still, CB Albert Lewis, S Deron Cherry and K Nick Lowery.
The list of 15 finalists will be announced in early January.
Rin was never a huge fan of PK Nick Lowery, but, the distinction between the kicker in the HOF – lone as in singular, pure – is of interest.
Seeing how far kicking has come since former KC Chief Jan Stenerud became the second soccer-style kicker & first truly successful one of note, thru days a Lowery and to date the modern age wherein games are so close the matter field goal or less -e’en a successful PAT – can/has determined margin of victory or same defeat…the NFL must enshrine more kickers than just Stenerud, and multi-threat types like Blanda and SammyGeorge Baugh.
Kicking conditions are better today & kickers too arguably, yet only Jan has a bust (of HOF measure that is.) Though some later kickers have a better success rate than Jan regards field goal % (just as Stenerud bettered those afore him), appears as if the NFL considers kickers, any – placement or punter- nigh on afterthought in the grand scheme of things.
Former KC Chiefs P Jerrel Wilson belongs as does Ray Guy & Yale Lary (Wilson was better than Guy at both gross and net average…hard to believe when the pundits can’t even come up for air aft visiting the ‘legend’ of Guy, ad nauseam.)
Derrick Thomas will get into the HOF, eventually, but guys like OT Jim Tyrer and S Johnny Robinson deserve inclusion first, though that won’t likely happen any sooner than a Thomas enshrinement has occurred to date.
Rin hates politics…and Herm haters…and liver, spinach too…but he LOVES his Chiefs & his- er, WHOOPS! Bob’s website blog!
Keep up the great work Bob – you “are” one of the best (Rin should know.)
Alright George, get off of Sammy…back in line/place!
At sundays game I noticed a good number of 58 THOMAS jerseys at Arrowhead. Almost 10 years since he was last on the grass at Arrowhead and he still getting this much attention from the fans must say something. He was a game changer, he had an impact on how the game was played, he has the stats, and his stature is as great as any pass rusher in the history of the NFL. As the fans at Arrowhead WE NEED HIM THE HALL OF FAME, and untill he is I don’t feel there will be closer on his great career.
Although one of my favorites, DT was a hybird player. They are harder to get in the HOF because of the age of the voters.
I want DT in the Hall badly. He deserves to go. However, as much as it pains me to say it, Kevin Greene and Richard Dent deserve it more….in my own opinion. I’d be happy if DT got in first, but I can’t honestly say that I think he’s more deserving than Dent or Greene.
Hall inductees (and snubs) are all just the opinion of the sports writers who get a vote (like Gretz) anyway. Best of luck to DT, and yes Rin, I am in agreement that Robinson and Tyrer are more deserving than him as well. Tyrer especially.
If any Chief gets in the Hall in any year, no matter what order, it’s a great day in my book.
“and yes Rin, I am in agreement”
- would you like me to help you carry that heavy burden ‘accord’ with Rin Tin Tin?
Johnny Robinson was Larry Wilson minus the safety blitz- but with more INTS (57-52) & Championships (3 to 0 for Wilson) and ‘all’ in less opportunity than Wilson (Wilson played 13 years to but 12 for Robinson, Johnny in fact played for only 10 years as a defensive back…the failure to include him in the HOF is a T-R-A-V-E-S-T-Y…and Rin hasn’t even noted Johnny’s big plays post season games – a game changing INT the ’66 AFL Title Game v BUFF and another INT & a fumble recovery Superbowl IV v Vikings- he made somebody’s al-star or all-pro teams 8 times in his 10 seasons – same as/no less than Wilson did – in 2 more seasons; I’m startin’ to get mad.
Tyrer’s exclusion too is unfortunate; everyone or most know of has aft football demise, but if said was the final arbiter induction, retroactively an OJ Simpson/others might be on the outside looking in. What is really galling is that Tyrer was an AFL star just like Ron Mix of the SD Chargers… Mix is in the HOF yet Tyrer isn’t – this depsite the fact Tyrer played what most regard the more paramount position, LT offense…Mix played RT. Tyrer played in 10 all star or pro bowl games – Mix only 8; Tyrer played in two Superbowls, Mix none.
No less than former Chiefs TE Fred Arbanas was quoted as saying “he was the best LT that ever played the game.” Tyre & Ed Budde were Shell 7 Upshaw and/or Roaf & Waters before those other two tandems. Oddly, I once talked to the (now late) Will McDonough about Tyre. McDonough used to cover the AFL & Boston Patriots so his answer to me may be seen as reasoned or unsubstantiated.
McDonough told me “I don’t think Tyrer was that good.”
Huh?
This guy McDonough was once a member the Hall of Fame Board Selectors. Don’t know for a fact ‘why’ he felt as he did – it couldn’t be AFL bias nor insufficient accolades for Tyrer. My best guess? It had to do more with Tyrer after football than during…and it stinks to high heaven that Tyrer is not in. Now I’m REALLY gettin p****d!
Rin gives the soapbox to the next aggrieved party herein to vent their spleen.
heh heh heh
I’m back, angst mine over Otis Taylor’s exclusion got the best of me.
Look, Taylor does ‘not’ have the stats some other WRs do who are in (nor for that matter that many others modern game do to date, who (yet) couldn’t carry Otis shoes on the field.)
I’m gonna make the second most famous native of Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania (behind only ‘Phil’, et al) Bob Gretz mad, but here goes anyway:
Lynn Swann is in the HOF: in 9 years he had these stats – 336 / 5462 / 51 / 16.3 /
Otis Taylor is not: in 11 years (they all count but the truth is Otis was injured the 3rd play on offense to open the 1975 season in Denver so for all intents in purposes played 10 years, not 11), here’s the Taylor line – 410 / 7306 / 57 / 17.8 /
Bob Hayes too has better stats than Swan, and a couple of Superbowl appearances (Bob’s stats are better than Otis too in tds & yds., not catches), yet Hayes too isn’t enshrined…again this year, Hayes name is on the list.
Otis was named to somebody’s all-star or all-pro teams 4 times, Swann 3. Swann came along a decade aft Taylor, and played on a team in an era where passing would become easier due to rules changes, up to date and continuing to date with advantages geared to offense. Taylor was in two Superbowls – Swann in 4.
Big catches? Any true student of pro football of that bygone era knows BOTH Otis & Lynn made big catches…this category is a wash.
Swann enjoyed having: John Stallworth, Bradshaw, Franco Harris, Bleier, Webster etc as teammates/ alternate targets…Otis had during his heydey 2 guys, neither of whom was on par with Stallworth: Chris Burford who was near the end of his career, Frank Pitts who had speed albeit not great hands, and Elmo Wright who proved to be almost entirely hype and not so much on production. Barry Pearson anyone? Otis had him too. Gloster Richardson too was here, competent not a star. Yup, Rin’s gettin p****d again.
So why Swann & not Otis? Championships, eastern bias & personality Lynn less so Otis are my best guesses. Another example potentially at least of double/triple-standards in play; oh the humanity.
Both guys were great, but if I had to pick just one in his prime, I say as a Chiefs fan – duh – Otis Taylor…in a walk.
I have to go now…and cry…some more.
;-(