Broncos fans taking Hall of Fame efforts into their own hands

by | Mar 23, 2011 | Hall of Fame

Jon Heath is the owner and lead blogger at BroncosZone.net. He contributes to BroncoTalk.net. And like many of us at Zoneblitz.com, he’s heavily interested in the NFL Hall of Fame and the process by which the enshrinees are selected.

Heath got to watch running back Floyd Little enshrined in 2010 and he’s excited about the upcoming ceremony for tight end Shannon Sharpe. But before those guys were picked, he felt Denver was underrepresented in Canton, Ohio. Actually, he still feels that way. And he wants to do his part to help.

After seeing the work some of his fellow Broncos fans have done in pushing past-Broncos for the Hall, he decided to start a new blog dedicated to marketing guys like Terrell Davis and Steve Atwater for enshrinement in future years. It’s called: GetThemInTheHall.com.

I don’t agree with all of the people he thinks should be in the Hall and I don’t disagree with them all either. But I mainly highlight the site because I think it’s an interesting illustration about how fans can get themselves involved and play a role, by contacting voters, by being educated on how the process works and by presenting coherent, educated arguments on behalf of the players they support.

Here’s what Mr. Heath had to say:

Zoneblitz: What is the history of the site and what gave you the idea to start this site?

Get them in the Hall: Well I actually started the site just earlier this month. I had some experience in blogging and setting up a website. I got the idea after seeing how Bronco fans teaming up and spreading awareness about Broncos that should be in the Hall of Fame was working, so I started a website to help the cause.

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Randy Moss is a Hall of Famer but could have been so much more

by | Jan 18, 2011 | Hall of Fame, NFL Random Thoughts

One reader who left some comments said Randy Moss is worth a Hall of Fame post discussion of his own. I think he’s right. I’ve been thinking about this post for awhile but that comment finally spurred me to do some research. Here’s what I found.

It will be difficult for Hall of Fame voters to deny Randy Moss a spot in the Pro Football Hall of Fame based on the numbers he has put up, despite controversies that have followed Moss around throughout his career.

He has made highlight reel plays and posted several amazing game logs and seasons and, through minor incident here and minor incident there, put up some fantastic numbers during the first 13 years of his career.

But an analysis of those statistics also indicates that he could have been so much more. Had Moss maintained the pace he was on the first six years of his career he very likely would have eclipsed Jerry Rice, at least statistically, as the greatest wide receiver of all time.

And frankly it wouldn’t have been close.
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Pro Football Hall of Fame 2011 finalists announced

by | Jan 9, 2011 | Hall of Fame, NFL News

The list of candidates for the 2011 Pro Football Hall of Fame class has been narrowed to 15 and it includes three running backs making the cut in their first years of eligibility.

Marshall Faulk, Jerome Bettis and Curtis Martin all survived the winnowing if the list. So did multi-time finalist wide receivers Tim Brown, Cris Carter and Andre Reed, as well as tight end Shannon Sharpe.

First ballot tackle Willie Roaf and multi-time finalist center Dermontti Dawson represent offensive linemen on the list while defenders still under consideration include linemen Richard Dent, Chris Doleman, Charles Haley and Cortez Kennedy. Defensive back Deion Sanders, another first ballot candidate, rounds out the players.

Ed Sabol, founder of NFL Films, is also a finalist as a contributor.
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King wants more “contributors” enshrined in the Hall of Fame

by | Dec 20, 2010 | Hall of Fame, NFL History, NFL Media, NFL Random Thoughts

We’ve had some spirited debates over the past couple years about who should and shouldn’t be enshrined in the Hall of Fame, many of them relating to senior nominees who in some cases were surprisingly overlooked years ago.

Sports Illustrated’s Peter King devoted a good chunk of his Monday Morning Quarterback today to finding a way to get more “contributors” to the game enshrined in Canton, Ohio as well. He makes a compelling case that many non-players deserve to be enshrined. I think he’s probably right — I particularly agree with the case he made for the Ed Sabol, who founded NFL Films.

I’m not sure, however, if the three alternatives he proposes for making the change to ensure more contributor honorees make the most sense to me (though at first glance I don’t have an obviously better answer, either).

Stolen directly from his column, King’s three proposed options include:

1. Take one of the two Seniors slots and give it annually to a non-head coaching contributor to the game, which wouldn’t mean a contributor wouldn’t get in every year, but rather that one contributor’s case would be heard every year.
2. Take one of the two Seniors slots every other year and give it annually to a contributor.
3. Take the two non-modern-era-candidate slots and make them fit for all other candidates — seniors, scouts, etc.

I admit, I’m not an expert on how the voters would go about changing the process. I do know that the limit on modern era candidates is five and the  limit on senior committee candidates is two, for a maximum of seven inductees to the Hall in any given year. To me, as the NFL Hall of Fame prepares to expand its physical footprint anyway, it seems like you could simply add one more slot each year for a “contributor” and make the maximum number of entrants each year eight – with no requirement that number be voted in, of course.

But as I said, I don’t know for sure what the procedure is for making a change like this. So, I’m asking our readers for thoughts. Should more contributors be recognized? If so, how would you suggest changing the voting process? If not, why?

And while you’re sharing your thoughts on this topic I’ll see if I can’t find some clarity to the process under which such a change to the voting could be made.

NFL Hall of Fame announces expansion plans, 2011 semifinalists

NFL Hall of Fame announces expansion plans, 2011 semifinalists

by | Dec 10, 2010 | Hall of Fame, NFL History

The Pro Football Hall of Fame announced plans to renovate a portion of its existing structure and expand from 83,000 square feet to 124,000 square feet in a $23.6 million project that will take two years to complete.

The “Future 50 Project” will wrap up during the 50th Anniversary of the hall’s opening and will lay the foundation for the building’s next 50 years of operations, according to a statement.

“The growth and accomplishments of the Pro Football Hall of Fame during its first 50 years are widely acclaimed,” said Steve Perry, president and executive director. “It’s great that we are able to build upon the success of the past and initiate this major project to set the stage for success in the future.”

The project will include: (more…)