Dallas Morning News
Tuesday, August 1, 2006
I don't know Maxie Baughan but I feel bad for him. Same with Chris Hanburger.
The two former NFL linebackers both were selected to nine Pro Bowls but neither has ever been a finalist for the Pro Football Hall of Fame. The record for Pro Bowls by a linebacker is 10, held by Hall of Famers Joe Schmidt, Mike Singletary and Lawrence Taylor.
One of the chief selling points for former Giants linebacker Harry Carson, who will be enshrined this weekend, was that he went to nine Pro Bowls. He was a finalist for the Hall seven times, which means he was discussed by the full voting panel seven times.
Neither Baughan, who played 12 NFL seasons and won a championship at Philadelphia (1960), and Hanburger, who played 14 seasons with the Redskins, has ever been discussed by the full selection committee.
That's a travesty. Do they belong in Canton? Who knows? But I do know they deserve to be discussed. Nine Pro Bowls ought to get you to the table.
Linebacker Les Richter played in eight Pro Bowls and tight end Charlie Sanders seven. Like Baughan and Hanburger, they have never been finalists and have never been discussed. They too have been short-changed by the Hall of Fame selection process.
These players went to six Pro Bowls apiece and have never been finalists: linebacker Chuck Howley, wide receiver Billy Wilson, center Mike Tinglehoff, quarterback John Hadl and defensive tackle Roger Brown.
These players were NFL all-decade selections who went to five Pro Bowls apiece: linebackers Tommy Nobis and Joe Fortunato and cornerback Louis Wright.
These players were NFL all-decade selections who went to four Pro Bowls apiece: defensive tackle Alex Karras and Ed Sprinkle, fullback Alan Ameche and cornerback Jack Butler.
These men were NFL all-decade selections who went to three Pro Bowls apiece: guard Howard Mudd, linebacker Dave Robinson and safety Dick Anderson.
The Hall of Fame selection committee, by the way, picks the all-decade teams. If you're considered one of the best players of your era, you ought to be considered one of the best players in NFL history.
But not a one of those players has ever been a finalist for the Pro Football Hall of Fame. All deserve to be discussed, but all are now in the seniors pool of candidates.
Only two come out each year for consideration. It's too late for most of them to have their Hall of Fame candidacies saved.
And that's a shame. Charge this fumble to the Hall of Fame.
E-mail rgosselin@dallasnews.com
________________________________________
Online at: http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/spt/stories/080206dnspogosselin.39483d5.html
Tuesday, August 1, 2006
I don't know Maxie Baughan but I feel bad for him. Same with Chris Hanburger.
The two former NFL linebackers both were selected to nine Pro Bowls but neither has ever been a finalist for the Pro Football Hall of Fame. The record for Pro Bowls by a linebacker is 10, held by Hall of Famers Joe Schmidt, Mike Singletary and Lawrence Taylor.
One of the chief selling points for former Giants linebacker Harry Carson, who will be enshrined this weekend, was that he went to nine Pro Bowls. He was a finalist for the Hall seven times, which means he was discussed by the full voting panel seven times.
Neither Baughan, who played 12 NFL seasons and won a championship at Philadelphia (1960), and Hanburger, who played 14 seasons with the Redskins, has ever been discussed by the full selection committee.
That's a travesty. Do they belong in Canton? Who knows? But I do know they deserve to be discussed. Nine Pro Bowls ought to get you to the table.
Linebacker Les Richter played in eight Pro Bowls and tight end Charlie Sanders seven. Like Baughan and Hanburger, they have never been finalists and have never been discussed. They too have been short-changed by the Hall of Fame selection process.
These players went to six Pro Bowls apiece and have never been finalists: linebacker Chuck Howley, wide receiver Billy Wilson, center Mike Tinglehoff, quarterback John Hadl and defensive tackle Roger Brown.
These players were NFL all-decade selections who went to five Pro Bowls apiece: linebackers Tommy Nobis and Joe Fortunato and cornerback Louis Wright.
These players were NFL all-decade selections who went to four Pro Bowls apiece: defensive tackle Alex Karras and Ed Sprinkle, fullback Alan Ameche and cornerback Jack Butler.
These men were NFL all-decade selections who went to three Pro Bowls apiece: guard Howard Mudd, linebacker Dave Robinson and safety Dick Anderson.
The Hall of Fame selection committee, by the way, picks the all-decade teams. If you're considered one of the best players of your era, you ought to be considered one of the best players in NFL history.
But not a one of those players has ever been a finalist for the Pro Football Hall of Fame. All deserve to be discussed, but all are now in the seniors pool of candidates.
Only two come out each year for consideration. It's too late for most of them to have their Hall of Fame candidacies saved.
And that's a shame. Charge this fumble to the Hall of Fame.
E-mail rgosselin@dallasnews.com
________________________________________
Online at: http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/spt/stories/080206dnspogosselin.39483d5.html
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