Monk and Grimm are HOF finalists

[Luxorreb]

I pray for both Monk and Grimm. It is absurd that Monk is not in already. We've already discussed this many times... I just hope Monk gets in this year. Such a class guy compared to a guy like Michael Irvin. Just ludicrous. GO MONK!

[sportscurmudgeon]

I'm on record here saying that Art Monk's performance on the field earned him a place in the HoF.

Now I would like for all of the people who think that Art Monk is the poster child for getting screwed over by jealous sportswriters to go and look up Monk's stats and Andre Reed's stats. After you look at them side-by-side, tell me why Reed isn't ALSO in the HoF as soon as Monk gets there? They are pretty much equivalent in terms of career numbers. And by the way, why isn't there a drumbeat about Reed's nomination or lack thereof in the national press?

The football HoF voting process leaves much to be desired - - as does the voting process for the baseball HoF. But for this year's class Reggie White should be a unanimous selection - he was the best defensive lineman in the NFL for the better part of a decade - and Troy Aikman should be close to unanimous. After that, it will be a crap shoot for the other slots.

[onlydarksets]

Originally Posted by sportscurmudgeon

I'm on record here saying that Art Monk's performance on the field earned him a place in the HoF.

Now I would like for all of the people who think that Art Monk is the poster child for getting screwed over by jealous sportswriters to go and look up Monk's stats and Andre Reed's stats. After you look at them side-by-side, tell me why Reed isn't ALSO in the HoF as soon as Monk gets there? They are pretty much equivalent in terms of career numbers. And by the way, why isn't there a drumbeat about Reed's nomination or lack thereof in the national press?

Timing, perhaps. Monk put up incredible stats, but he retired just as a group of WR were on track to do even better. I think the 5 year wait hurt him (he was eligible in 2000?), because he had already dropped to at least 3rd on the all-time list by then (Rice and Carter), I believe. Reed was in that pack. I'm not sure why Reed hasn't got any press. Was this his first or second year of eligibility?

[70Chip]

As a newcomer to this site, I haven't had a chance to pontificate indignantly about the fact that Art Monk is not in the hall. Here goes:

I think the problem for both Monk and Reed (Reid)? is that they were good people. I think that the press actually prefers insufferable, moronic, buffoons because that story writes itself. When you write about Monk you actually have to write about football. There's no jewelry, drugs, hookers, or endzone dances to pad the copy. No rap video. No assaults on photogs, which are always good for at least one segment on The Sports Reporters. That's the segment where Mike Lupica pretends he wishes that the Micheal Irvins of the world were more like the Art Monks, when its really the opposite.

Nope. A Monk story is all about hard work, discipline, and personal accountability. I suppose its not all their fault, though. We as consumers are far more interested in Sean Taylor's spitting incident than we are in Marcus Washington's standout season.

Art Monk has a family. He goes to church. He would never say anything unkind about his teammates or his opponents for that matter. He had a famous jazz musician Uncle, Thelonius, which you would think would have earned at least one five minute segment on NFL Films. Steve Sabel seems just about that hip, you dig. No such luck.

I would hope that the writers would think about rewarding a decent human being this time. They will probably select Micheal Irvin instead.

(In re-reading this I sound like an insufferable old-fogey, but I will post it anyway. Enjoy.)