Dear Mr. Sharpe,
The Hall of Fame voting committee regrets to inform you that you have not been elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in the Class of 2009. We understand that, at the time of your retirement, you held ever single significant personal record that a tight end could possibly hold. Your 815 receptions, 10,060 receiving yards, and 62 career touchdowns put you in a class all your own.
Furthermore, it was difficult to look past your 8 Pro Bowl selections in 14 years, as well as the facts that you were selected as a first-team All Pro 4 times, a 2nd-team All Pro once, and a member of the All-Decade Team of the 1990's. These numbers would certainly warrant a first-ballot Hall of Fame selection. Also, yes, we are aware that you were a member of three Super Bowl Championship teams, as well as being the record holder for playing in and winning the most consecutive playoff games in NFL history.
Generally, people that transform and revolutionize their positions in the way that you did are elected to the Hall of Fame in their first year of eligibility. However, that rule only applies if those players happen to play in cities such as Pittsburgh, Dallas, Chicago, or Washington, D.C. You played 12 of your 14 NFL seasons in Denver, and the Pro Football Hall of Fame isn't in the habit of electing players that played for the Denver Broncos. How else could we explain the fact that there are only two Denver Broncos in the Hall of Fame? Since Gary Zimmerman was inducted last year, we just couldn't justify putting another Bronco in this year.
Out of 32 NFL franchises, only 9 - Baltimore, Atlanta, Carolina, Cincinatti, Houston, Jacksonville, New Orleans, Seattle, and Tampa Bay - have fewer Hall of Famers than Denver, and we intend to keep it that way. Granted, the Baltimore franchise has plenty of inductees under the Cleveland Browns moniker. New Orleans, Seattle, Tampa Bay, Atlanta, and Cincinatti all have never had much success. Jacksonville, Carolina, and Houston have all come into the NFL in the past 15 years. We know that the Broncos have been around since 1960, and have been one of the most successful franchises in the NFL since the merger with the AFL in 1970. Denver's 2 Super Bowl wins, 6 AFC Championships, and 8 appearances in AFC title games definitely put that franchise a cut above most, but we just don't want to have too many Denver Broncos in the Hall of Fame. Had you elected to go in as a Baltimore Raven, you probably would have been elected this year, since that team plays on the East Coast. However, we simply could not justify putting in another Denver Bronco. Thank you for your understanding.
Respectfully,
The Pro Football Hall of Fame Voters
P.S.
Don't worry, Cris Carter is getting a letter similar to this one.
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Comments (25) Add A Comment
Nice blog. However...
Nobody can argue that any of this year's five modern inductees are undeserving of the honour. The bottom line is that the cream eventually rises to the top. I don't think that Shannon will have too long a wait.
Redwing19: retired
Halifax, NS
Total Comments (35151)
I know. All are deserving. The HOF just pisses everyone here off, though, because we always get passed over.
I do believe, though, that all of this year's candidates are very deserving.
wtnelson = Big Chief
Fort Collins , CO
Total Comments (3649)
Creative way to get out your aggressions, wtnelson... personally, as a Packers fan who grew up in Bronco country, I never could stand the guy... but perhaps that was just because he always got more press than his older brother... ;-)
My personal feelings aside, Shannon deserves Canton... and Canton deserves Shannon... sorry it didn't happen this year, but don't worry -- it's coming...
Bigalke
Springfield, OR
Total Comments (22305)
Awesome blog! I thought it was really creative, and I couldn't agree more with your take.
As a Vikings fan who is young, and doesn't know much about football history, I have no idea how Carter isn't in. I just don't get it.
0x NBA/NFL Champion
Saint Paul, MN
Total Comments (5072)
Again....a Bear fan...but there is no bigger omission from the Hall of Fame than ex-Packer Jerry Kramer. All pro...long career....won something like 5 titles....KICKED FG'S and Extra points a couple years....threw perhaps the biggest block in NFL history in the Ice Bowl...and was a member of the NFL'S 50th anniversay team....the ONLY member not in the Hall of Fame...
BBBarratt
Omaha, NE
Total Comments (1)
Good blog, wt. And I agree with everyone else.....he'll get in.
TenRingsSTL
Total Comments (4259)
I've always said that no one has respect for the northern mountain states. Scheduling ignores Mountain Time. MVP and HOF honors think of mountain candidates as an afterthought - if at all. Even weather reports tracking storms across the continent stress west coast, midwest, and east coast but ignore the mountain states.
Yeah, there were other deserving candidates. But for the umpteenth straight time these others were given selection preference over mountain candidates.
But fear not. Whether basketball, football, hockey (or even baseball), the Rockies will rise some more.
Appleseed
Detroit, MI
Total Comments (947)
BBBarratt great call on Jerry Kramer....very unfortunate he doesn't have a HOF bust.
Chief Fireballs
Total Comments (402)
Excellent!
Wonderfully done WT...this post was deliciously dripping with more sarcasm than a Dairy Queen Sundae in Dallas. I loved it!
Great job!
Baun-ded=PUCKHEAD
Total Comments (5387)
Yea its hard to argue either side as very deserving candidates got in Saturday, Shannon definetly deserves it but he is still young and will have his time. I heard him on Dan Patrick on friday and he was so nervous, all the while everyone was telling him he was a shoe in this year.
The Centurion
Denver, CO
Total Comments (187)
I know of Shannon Sharpe & I thought he was a great player.
Did Elway get into the HOF??
eylesy
Total Comments (141)
There's always next year, loud mouth!
Dog of War
Total Comments (1629)
Elway got in first ballot. He was the first Bronco ever.
wtnelson = Big Chief
Fort Collins , CO
Total Comments (3649)
Why come in here an pollute? Why bring up Carter? Why compare Canton to the Heisman?
You sir are the joke.
Mac Brody-Out for a…
Sj, CA
Total Comments (10376)
Sharpe should have got in, though someone today wrote that the Bills owner getting in took a player's spot this year.
LA Riva
Pueblo West, CO
Total Comments (408)
Sharpe and Atwater should both be in, it's a shame to see them shunned.
Outlaw- HANK IT…
Ball Ground, GA
Total Comments (6640)
Yeah, Carter is STRAIGHT #2 in my estimation, but his cryin a** in the hall does make more sense than the human piece of garbage they did put in, Irvin. At least Cris does`nt spit in the face of each and every person thats given him what he could never achieve on his own. As for Shannon. Hall walk in or not, at the end of your career, you were the better receiver, not Sterling. I`d spend the time for a beer and bull session, anytime.
quasi43
Centralia , WA
Total Comments (60)
Since Gary Zimmerman was inducted last year, we just couldn't justify putting another Bronco in this year.
Well, there might be some truth in that. On the day before the vote, one of the Post's writers wondered the same thing about Grimm, being that Green and Monk went in together last year.
As for Shannon, he'll get his due and his induction speech should be a doozy.
Very sharpe, WT!
Seabird 56
Total Comments (1660)
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