Legal issues aside, Irvin on tight ballot for Hall
Looking past the recent arrest of former Dallas Cowboys legend Michael Irvin's got a tough road ahead of him into Canton. Just the semifinalists are an all-time team. The list of 25 modern-day candidates for the HOF includes:
As for Irvin's qualifications, he spent all eleven years of his career with the Lone Star on his helmet. He's got three world championships, was a perrenial Pro Bowl starter and all-pro, was money in the playoffs, and for a span of about five or six years was the second- or third-best receiver in the NFL, after Jerry Rice and Cris Carter and possibly before Reed. His trifecta of rings alone puts him ahead of the cadre - Thurman Thomas, Reed, The Snake, Dent, Monk (who along with Al Toon has been screwed for years) and Moon (a legend in his own right).
So who gets in? I say Aikman's guaranteed. Reverend Reggie only won a single Super Bowl, but his Defensive MVP trophies in '87, '91, and '95 give him the nod. Moon's title legacy is more CFL than NFL, but he did put up monumental numbers in Houston. If I had to choose between giving my vote to Thurman Thomas or Reed, TT would get the nod for his 1991 league MVP. And Monk, who won a pair of titles but outside of D.C. never gets the respect he deserves, is sorely due to don the gold jacket. So there's five, not counting Irvin.
So consider one seat still open for debate and toss it up between Reed, Monk and Irvin. Michael's got the championships going for him, but time spent waiting favors Monk. Reed won more consistently. I'm drawing blanks, but I'd say Irvin wins out. Slightly.
Again, I'm not sure on how his arrest will impact sportswriter voting, but the rings count, plus the sympathetic vote for going in with Aikman. And say what you want about Irvin's broadcasting savvy, but that he's on people's boob tubes every week is also a minute advantage. This'll be an interesting balloting year.
And talk about being screwed...where the heck is Randall Cunningham in all this?
- Troy Aikman
- Richard Dent
- Ray Guy
- Art Monk
- Warren Moon
- Andre Reed
- Ken Stabler
- Derrick Thomas
- Reggie White
- Thurman Thomas
As for Irvin's qualifications, he spent all eleven years of his career with the Lone Star on his helmet. He's got three world championships, was a perrenial Pro Bowl starter and all-pro, was money in the playoffs, and for a span of about five or six years was the second- or third-best receiver in the NFL, after Jerry Rice and Cris Carter and possibly before Reed. His trifecta of rings alone puts him ahead of the cadre - Thurman Thomas, Reed, The Snake, Dent, Monk (who along with Al Toon has been screwed for years) and Moon (a legend in his own right).
So who gets in? I say Aikman's guaranteed. Reverend Reggie only won a single Super Bowl, but his Defensive MVP trophies in '87, '91, and '95 give him the nod. Moon's title legacy is more CFL than NFL, but he did put up monumental numbers in Houston. If I had to choose between giving my vote to Thurman Thomas or Reed, TT would get the nod for his 1991 league MVP. And Monk, who won a pair of titles but outside of D.C. never gets the respect he deserves, is sorely due to don the gold jacket. So there's five, not counting Irvin.
So consider one seat still open for debate and toss it up between Reed, Monk and Irvin. Michael's got the championships going for him, but time spent waiting favors Monk. Reed won more consistently. I'm drawing blanks, but I'd say Irvin wins out. Slightly.
Again, I'm not sure on how his arrest will impact sportswriter voting, but the rings count, plus the sympathetic vote for going in with Aikman. And say what you want about Irvin's broadcasting savvy, but that he's on people's boob tubes every week is also a minute advantage. This'll be an interesting balloting year.
And talk about being screwed...where the heck is Randall Cunningham in all this?
posted by Jason Salas @ 8:36 AM
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