Pro Football HOF Class of 2009 Finalists announced. Who you got?

We've had a few threads discussing potential Hall of Famers lately, but I'll guarantee that at least four of the names on my list make it.

Bruuuuce and Woodson would appear to be first-ballot locks; does Shannon Sharpe join them? And could Bullet Bob Hayes possibly be denied yet again?

 

Bob Hayes unfortunately, doesn't make it this year. Kuchenberg and Humphrey should've been in. Carter should make it before Sharpe. Andre Reed should also be in Canton.

 

Cris Carter, Bruce Smith, Rod Woodson, Derrick Thomas, Shannon Sharpe are my five locks, though I think Woodson is overrated a tad.

If I picked two more, I'd go with Claude Humphrey (damn good in the pre-sack era) and Andre Reed, though I could be swayed to vote for one of the offensive linemen (either McDaniel or Kuechenberg) in place of Reed if a good argument was made for them.

 

I should just create a template for my annual rant, but there's just no way in hell Andre Tippett should be in the Hall and Rickey Jackson can't even make the finalist list. No way in hell.

 

I voted for McDaniel. Seven-time first team All-Pro, 12 straight Pro Bowls. He missed out on the Pro Bowl twice in 14 seasons. His rookie year, and his last.

 

Bob Hayes is so tough to measure.

He really did change the game, but there are those from that era who insist he's overrated. His lack of support is often attributed to his drug problems, but there are plenty who don't think he should be in because of his football. He's a very tough subject.

 

Got that one right. Three members of the Dome Patrol should be in before Andre Tippett. And please ... let the Pats fans who I anger with this remark scream in unison.

Tippett wasn't a better linebacker than Rickey Jackson. No freaking way. And while Pat Swilling was a one-trick pony - a pass rusher - he was among the most feared in the league. The third? If you have to ask, you haven't been paying attention.

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Back on topic ...

Cris Carter, Shannon Sharpe and Rod Woodson should be mortal locks. That Carter didn't get in last year was criminal. After those three, I'll take Dermontti Dawson and Bruce Smith.

Andre Reed, unfortunately, waits another year as does Randall McDaniel and Derrick Thomas.

 

Carter, Dent, Grimm, Smith, Thomas, Wilson, Woodson.

Originally had Dawson instead of Grimm, but I changed my mind. Not that Dawson isn't deserving, but Grimm was a key member of two Super Bowl teams and perhaps the greatest offensive line in the Super Bowl era.

 

I hate the fact that the NFL HOF "contributors" take up a place that should be reserved for "players".

As important as someone like Wilson or Tagliabue may or may not be, no one should have to weigh them against Randall McDaniel or Claude Humphrey. Apples meet oranges.

 

Agreed. If the Pro Football HOF wants them, just wave Tags and Ralph Wilson in with the maximum allotment of players. So there will be two more speeches on induction day. Big freaking whoopee.

 

The o-line numbers should be interesting, FH. Grimm would be my pick as well, but there's plenty of room to split the vote.

Agreed, Bubs. Should be a separate wing for non-players.

 

One part of me agrees, but I see a strength to this system. If you had a spot open every year for a contributor, they'd vote in a contributor every year. The HOF is not better for allowing in every stinking owner who hangs around long enough. (I shudder to think of Tom Benson in the HOF.) As it stands now, they do have to decide whether that contributor is worthy of bumping a player back a year or more.