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Since Monk didn't get in (which doesn't surprise me - he deserves it, but that's clearly not a guarantee), I'm glad the class was as small as it was. Only two modern players, and both were first ballot guys.
Actually, the biggest surprise was Young. I don't doubt he belongs in the Hall, but he had a pretty short career as a starter. Though his success can't be denied, it isn't like he carried his team for the duration of his career - they were the 49ers, for God's sake. He took over a perennial Super Bowl contender, and they remained a perennial Super Bowl contender. To me a first ballot guy retires with records (like Marino, or... Art Monk) or has a long career of sustained success. Young started for, what, seven years for San Fran? His USFL starts and Tampa Bay were never Canton numbers, so basically his Hall legacy is seven years starting for the Niners. To be frank, when I saw Young made the cut, the first thing I thought was George Young - and I was pretty pleased.
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There's nowhere to go but up. Or down. I guess we could stay where we are, too.
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