TXBRONC
02-12-2009, 11:40 AM
As many of you know Woody Paige does a Mailbag (Q and A) for the DP in much the same way as Legwold does for the RMN. In Woody's latest addition he his asked if there is an east coast bias against former Broncos greats. He says he never thought there was when he was an elector but also threw out there that maybe the Broncos current representative didn't do his job. That just happens to be Jeff Legwold. Do you think that Woody could possibly be right in this one instance? :ponder:
http://www.denverpost.com/broncos/ci_11682689
woody's world
Mailbag: Sharpe's turndown bogus
Fan from Ohio senses anti-Broncos sentiment among Hall's selection committee
By Woody Paige
The Denver Post
Posted: 02/12/2009 12:30:01 AM MST
Denver Post sports columnist Woody Paige posts Woody's Mailbag on Thursdays.
Drop a question into Woody's Mailbag, or visit The Denver Post's Sports Page. Also, browse the archive of videos in Woody's World.
Woody - How is it possible that one of the best tight ends to ever play the game was not elected to the Hall of Fame? Is it only prejudice against all things Broncos or are there more sinister things working?
-- Bronncohowie, Columbus, Ohio
Shannon Sharpe called out to me from several feet away the day before the voting. I waved and gave him a thumbs-up, my indication that I was sure he would be in the Hall of Fame. I was wrong.
Shannon belongs in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. He will get in. It's just a matter of a year or two. Based on talking to several of the voters and my own history of being on the committee for 15 years, I believe a combination of things kept Shannon out this year. UNFAIRLY.
Sharpe was among the two or three best receiving tight ends in the history of the game. Kellen Winslow, in my mind, was No. 1, and maybe Ozzie Newsome was better. But Shannon has three Super Bowl rings, and his statistics are a natural for heading to Canton. But for some reason, the Hall of Fame hasn't been keen on tight ends. If I remember correctly, there are only six in the Hall. Mike Ditka was first, I think. It's not a position respected that much by some voters. UNFAIRLY.
They're more into wide receivers.
The second reason for omission is that the great majority of NFL players in the Hall didn't get in on the first ballot. I give you Gary Zimmerman who had to wait three or four years, and he was a slam dunk (sorry for the basketball reference).
John Elway got in (unanimously, I'm sure, although we were never told the exact results) his first year. Joe Montana, etc. But most have to wait. Lynn Swann waited until his last year of eligibility.
A couple of guys told me that they wanted to get a couple of people (Ralph Wilson, owner of the Bills) in before Cris Carter and Sharpe. Bruce Smith made it on first ballot, though, so Sharpe should have. I never saw any bias, and believe that's total bullhockey, that there is an anti-Denver sentiment. There is, as charged, a bias in favor of players in the East because a lot more voters (particularly the at-large members of the committee) who live in the East (New York, Washington, Boston, Philly, etc.).
Randy Gradishar, Dennis Smith, Steve Atwater, Louis Wright and now Sharpe belong in the Hall. Sharpe will get in next year or the following year. I fought every year to put in the maximum (seven). Some years, some buffoons on the committee vote for fewer men, which just backs up the system and makes it harder for worthy players to make it.
There's a stupid knock against Shannon that he wasn't a true blocking tight end. Winslow couldn't have blocked me and you. He changed the position from when Ditka and Jackie Smith (also in) blocked first, caught second. I am very p'd (perturbed) that Shannon wasn't elected.
I suppose you can add in another reason: Maybe the current Denver representative didn't do his job. Guys have gotten in strictly because of the nominating speeches made by the local rep. Guys have been left out for the same reason. You got to sell the player from your home team.
There's occasionally a sinister reason. Many of the old guys (and they're being replaced by younger committee members) wanted no part of punters and place kickers. Ray Guy belongs in the Hall of Fame, but a voter got up and said, "I will never vote for any punter."
Dan Reeves belongs in the Hall of Fame. He took three Denver teams and an Atlanta team to the Super Bowl. Marv Levy got in despite his Bills not winning a Super Bowl. It's not fair.
I would increase the committee by having an equal number (44?) of Hall of Fame players on the committee. Sports writers are not infallible, and they do have biases. But I never experienced an anti-Denver feeling. Gradishar is a real oversight, and I tried very hard, and failed, to help get him in. Shannon, though, will make it soon.
http://www.denverpost.com/broncos/ci_11682689
woody's world
Mailbag: Sharpe's turndown bogus
Fan from Ohio senses anti-Broncos sentiment among Hall's selection committee
By Woody Paige
The Denver Post
Posted: 02/12/2009 12:30:01 AM MST
Denver Post sports columnist Woody Paige posts Woody's Mailbag on Thursdays.
Drop a question into Woody's Mailbag, or visit The Denver Post's Sports Page. Also, browse the archive of videos in Woody's World.
Woody - How is it possible that one of the best tight ends to ever play the game was not elected to the Hall of Fame? Is it only prejudice against all things Broncos or are there more sinister things working?
-- Bronncohowie, Columbus, Ohio
Shannon Sharpe called out to me from several feet away the day before the voting. I waved and gave him a thumbs-up, my indication that I was sure he would be in the Hall of Fame. I was wrong.
Shannon belongs in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. He will get in. It's just a matter of a year or two. Based on talking to several of the voters and my own history of being on the committee for 15 years, I believe a combination of things kept Shannon out this year. UNFAIRLY.
Sharpe was among the two or three best receiving tight ends in the history of the game. Kellen Winslow, in my mind, was No. 1, and maybe Ozzie Newsome was better. But Shannon has three Super Bowl rings, and his statistics are a natural for heading to Canton. But for some reason, the Hall of Fame hasn't been keen on tight ends. If I remember correctly, there are only six in the Hall. Mike Ditka was first, I think. It's not a position respected that much by some voters. UNFAIRLY.
They're more into wide receivers.
The second reason for omission is that the great majority of NFL players in the Hall didn't get in on the first ballot. I give you Gary Zimmerman who had to wait three or four years, and he was a slam dunk (sorry for the basketball reference).
John Elway got in (unanimously, I'm sure, although we were never told the exact results) his first year. Joe Montana, etc. But most have to wait. Lynn Swann waited until his last year of eligibility.
A couple of guys told me that they wanted to get a couple of people (Ralph Wilson, owner of the Bills) in before Cris Carter and Sharpe. Bruce Smith made it on first ballot, though, so Sharpe should have. I never saw any bias, and believe that's total bullhockey, that there is an anti-Denver sentiment. There is, as charged, a bias in favor of players in the East because a lot more voters (particularly the at-large members of the committee) who live in the East (New York, Washington, Boston, Philly, etc.).
Randy Gradishar, Dennis Smith, Steve Atwater, Louis Wright and now Sharpe belong in the Hall. Sharpe will get in next year or the following year. I fought every year to put in the maximum (seven). Some years, some buffoons on the committee vote for fewer men, which just backs up the system and makes it harder for worthy players to make it.
There's a stupid knock against Shannon that he wasn't a true blocking tight end. Winslow couldn't have blocked me and you. He changed the position from when Ditka and Jackie Smith (also in) blocked first, caught second. I am very p'd (perturbed) that Shannon wasn't elected.
I suppose you can add in another reason: Maybe the current Denver representative didn't do his job. Guys have gotten in strictly because of the nominating speeches made by the local rep. Guys have been left out for the same reason. You got to sell the player from your home team.
There's occasionally a sinister reason. Many of the old guys (and they're being replaced by younger committee members) wanted no part of punters and place kickers. Ray Guy belongs in the Hall of Fame, but a voter got up and said, "I will never vote for any punter."
Dan Reeves belongs in the Hall of Fame. He took three Denver teams and an Atlanta team to the Super Bowl. Marv Levy got in despite his Bills not winning a Super Bowl. It's not fair.
I would increase the committee by having an equal number (44?) of Hall of Fame players on the committee. Sports writers are not infallible, and they do have biases. But I never experienced an anti-Denver feeling. Gradishar is a real oversight, and I tried very hard, and failed, to help get him in. Shannon, though, will make it soon.