One of the highlights of Super Bowl Week comes on Saturday, when they announce the latest Hall of Fame class. Unlike the Baseball Hall of Fame vote, the football vote is very secretive. It's a 44-member committee that picks the nominees, whittles down the finalists, then chooses the new Hall of Famers out of that group. There's no transparency in the process (which I think is a problem), and these guys definitely seem to play favorites. As a result, outside of the abundantly obvious first-ballot guys, it's impossible to predict who's going to be elected to the Football Hall of Fame in any given year. But if I were a voter, these would be my selections:
Cris Carter, Wide Receiver (1987-89 Eagles; 1990-2001 Vikings; 2002 Dolphins)-It still boggles my mind that Cris Carter isn't in the Hall of Fame yet. He's been eligible for five years! For some reason, the voters seem to hold the ridiculous passing numbers of the '80s and '90s against the receivers, but not the quarterbacks. Somebody has to catch the passes! Anyway, I've "voted" for Cris Carter every year he's been eligible. 1100 receptions, 130 touchdowns, eight 1000-yard seasons, eight Pro Bowls. Seriously!? I can understand waiting until Jerry Rice was in, but all the years since make absolutely no sense. Hopefully the voters finally come to their senses regarding Cris Carter this year.
Charles Haley, Defensive End/Linebacker (1986-91, 1999 49ers; 1992-96 Cowboys)-He's the only player in history to win five Super Bowls. Of course, being on both the 49ers' and Cowboys' dynasties helped, but Haley was freakin' good. He was a two-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year and a two-time All-Pro (at two different positions). Haley led the 49ers in sacks all six seasons as a linebacker, then moved to defensive end when he was traded to the Cowboys...and was still awesome! He ended up with 100.5 career sacks. In addition to the Super Bowl wins, Haley played in six NFC Championship Games in seven seasons, and his team won its division 10 times in his 12-year career.
Bill Parcells, Coach (1983-90 Giants; 1993-96 Patriots; 1997-99 Jets; 2003-06 Cowboys)-In the past, coaches just had to be retired to be eligible for the Hall of Fame. They recently changed the rules that the coaches have to wait the same five years that the players do. Parcells un-retiring to take over as coach of the Cowboys was one of the reasons why they changed the rule. He was a finalist twice before going to Dallas, but under the new rules is considered a "first-year" candidate. The only coach to take four different teams to the playoffs, he turned around all four franchises he coached. Parcells won two Super Bowls with the Giants (XXI and XXV), then took New England to Super Bowl XXXI and the Jets to the 1998 AFC Championship Game (they were 1-15 in 1996). He was also a two-time NFL Coach of the Year.
Willie Roaf, Tackle (1993-2001 Saints; 2002-05 Chiefs)-Considering how much the voters love offensive linemen (I think it's an unwritten rule that at least one offensive lineman has to get in every year), I'm surprised Roaf didn't get in last year. In fact, I thought he should've gotten in last year. I might not get the whole offensive linemen obsession, but I was shocked Roaf wasn't a first-ballot Hall of Famer. I certainly thought he was. Roaf made 11 Pro Bowls in 13 seasons and was a First Team All-Pro seven times. He was also a member of the NFL's All-Decade Team of the 1990s.
Aeneas Williams, Cornerback/Safety (1991-2000 Cardinals; 2001-04 Rams)-Aeneas Williams was one of the greatest defensive backs ever. He was a seven-time Pro Bowler at cornerback, then went to another one as a safety. He finished tied for the NFC lead with six interceptions as a rookie en route to 1991 NFC Defensive Rookie of the Year honors. Williams had at least one interception every year except his last, including five seasons with six or more. He finished with 55 career interceptions and returned nine of them for touchdowns. Williams also had a 104-yard fumble return (which used to be the NFL record) and was selected to the NFL All-Decade Team for the 1990s.
Dick Stanfel, Guard (1952-55 Lions; 1956-58 Redskins)-Just like there's evidently some rule that they have to put in an offensive lineman every year, there seems to be an unofficial rule that at least one of the two "veteran" finalists has to get in. (They certainly set it up that way.) Stanfel fits both categories. He was a First Team All-Pro five times in his seven-year career and was named to the All-Decade Team for the '50s. Stanfel won back-to-back World Championships with the Lions in 1952-53. He was also the Lions' team MVP in 1953, an honor that rarely goes to offensive linemen. Stanfel retired while still in his prime to become a coach, and he later had a long NFL coaching career.
The rules stipulate that between five and seven people will be inducted each year, depending on whether the two senior candidates are elected. I wouldn't be opposed to seeing that number increased, though, because there are so many deserving candidates that are finalists this year. Cris Carter should already be in, that's why I give him the edge over fellow finalists Tim Brown and Andre Reed. Only one of the receivers, if any, is going to get in. Likewise, Haley should get in before Chris Doleman and Cortez Kennedy and Roaf deserves to get in before Will Shields and Dermontti Dawson. And I didn't even mention the two running backs (Jerome Bettis and Curtis Martin). Just like the wide receivers, both running backs aren't getting in.
This potential class is loaded. Of the 15 modern-era finalists, I can comfortably say I'd vote for 13 of them to be in the Hall of Fame. Among others (Ray Guy). That's why they need to expand the number of guys who can get elected each year. There's already a logjam, and it's only going to get worse. As more obvious Hall of Famers retire, it'll become even harder to get in. Obviously some of these deserving candidates are going to get a bust in Canton this summer. Hopefully the rest of them do eventually.
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