The announcement of the 17 finalists for the Canton hall had this man thinking who he'd elect from the field. The sport annually inducts no fewer than four and no more than seven.
WR Cris Carter and CB Darrell Green are no-brainers. Punter Ray Guy is long overdue, though his would always be a position that would be disregarded. Guy helped revolutionize the emphasis now evident among league specialists and is arguably the best-ever punter, though Sammy Baugh deserves mention in that conversation.
A pair of WRs who've also been left waiting heretofore, Buffalo's Andre Reed and Washington's Art Monk, merit inclusion. Tough, consistent, clutch, business-like, physical and reliable, these two were as good as any during their primes and integral to the winning their organizations experienced.
This contingent seems to prize so-called skill guys over grunt personnel, especially given the quite fine candidates on both sides of the ball. But all seem just a cut below the elite grade, except for long-time Viking OLG Randall McDaniel, a perennial Pro-Bowler and one who is still somehow among the more underrated at his specialty. Much as Monk goes in with his former teammate Green, McDaniel accompanies Carter.
Because the shrine is a showcase for the league itself, it should also be expected former commissioner Paul Tagliabue will be enshrined as a contributor.
Others finalists include DEs Fred Dean and Richard Dent; LBs Randy Gradishar (of Champion and Ohio State), Derrick Thomas and Andre Tippett; OL Bob Kuechenberg, Russ Grimm and Gary Zimmerman and the two anticipated senior-committee nominees.
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