Terrell Owens' stats make a compelling case for Canton.

AP

TAMPA -- There seems to be more Hall of Fame debate on Radio Row this week than discussion about the game on Sunday.

It started with Kurt Warner. When you check into the hotels, they have special floors for people who don't think he's made the Hall yet. Then it got to Shannon Sharpe, who's been wandering the Super Bowl media center and has a solid chance of being elected for enshrinement on Saturday.

But the best Hall debate I've heard was today on the Dan Patrick Show. Jerry Rice was talking about Terrell Owens' problems last year. Rice said he was concerned about T.O.'s lack of precision on route running and all the dropped passes. Rice wasn't sure Owens would ever make the Hall of Fame.

"He's at the door right now," Rice said of T.O.'s chances. "It's up to him to kick the door down."

I was surprised to hear there was even a debate about Owens' eventual enshrinement in Canton. He might be one of the most dislikable players in NFL history, but how can there be any debate about his Hall credentials. Rice is the only player in NFL history with more touchdown catches than Owens, and Owens is tied for sixth all time in catches (951).

Art Monk made the Hall of Fame last year. Monk was a good player, but would a defense be more worried about Monk or T.O.? You would double-team Owens and put a linebacker on Monk.

Ready or not Hall of Fame, Terrell Owens is coming your way eventually.

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