Already Making Excuses Against Shannon Sharpe in the Hall of Fame

Over Hall of Fame week (the week before the preseason began for 30 NFL teams), I discussed in detail five Broncos who belong in the Hall of Fame. They were all current eligibles, and I illustrated how disgraceful it is that a successful franchise like the Broncos has only one representative in the Hall of Fame. Year after year, we get snubbed, there’s no other way to put it.

I’ve heard over and over again that “they won’t be able to ignore Shannon Sharpe.” Well, this article (from a current member of the Hall of Fame selection committee!) is already planting the seeds to snub Sharpe upon his eligibility in 2009. The Dallas Morning News – Hall of Fame Window can Slam Shut.

When tight end Shannon Sharpe retired after the 2003 season, I assumed he’d be a slam dunk for the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Sharpe left the game with the triple crown for tight ends – most career receptions, yards and touchdowns. Statistically, there had never been anyone better at the position.

But that’s what we thought about Art Monk, too. When he retired after the 1995 season, he was the NFL’s all-time leading receiver with 940 catches. Being the best at what you do logically would qualify you for Canton.

But by the time Monk became eligible for the Hall of Fame, Jerry Rice had motored past him on the all-time receiving list. Rice became the new standard – and Monk was passed over by the Hall of Fame selection panel in his first year of eligibility in 2001. And every year thereafter – seven years up, seven years down.

Now five players are ahead of Monk on the all-time receiving list: Rice, Cris Carter, Tim Brown, Marvin Harrison and Andre Reed. It’s tougher to sell the sixth all-time leading receiver as a profile in greatness than it is the first.

And as offensive statistics continue to explode in the pass-happy NFL, Monk will continue his slide down the receiving chart. Every year that passes makes it more difficult for him to secure a bust in Canton.

And that’s the potential pitfall facing Sharpe. By the time he’s eligible in 2009, he will not be the all-time leading receiver for his position. Here comes Tony Gonzalez.

The Kansas City tight end broke Sharpe’s record for career touchdown receptions by a tight end last weekend with two against the Cincinnati Bengals, giving him 64 in his career. Sharpe had 62.

Gonzalez also posted his 20th 100-yard receiving game against the Bengals, moving him past Sharpe into sole possession of third place on that list with 20. By 2009, Gonzalez will be the statistical standard for the position. Here are the all-time leaders at the tight-end position:

RECEPTIONS

1. Shannon Sharpe – 815

2. Tony Gonzalez – 759

3. Ozzie Newsome* – 662

4. Kellen Winslow* – 541

YARDS

1. Shannon Sharpe – 10,060

2. Tony Gonzalez – 9,048

3. Ozzie Newsome* – 7,980

4. Jackie Smith* – 7,918

TOUCHDOWNS

1. Tony Gonzalez – 64

2. Shannon Sharpe – 62

3. Jackie Smith* – 60

4. Wesley Walls – 54

100-YARD GAMES

1. Kellen Winslow* – 24

2. Jackie Smith* – 22

3. Tony Gonzalez – 20

4. Shannon Sharpe – 19

* Hall of Famer

Sharpe amassed his statistics in 14 seasons. Gonzalez has constructed his resume in 11. And off in a distance you can see the likes of Antonio Gates, Kellen Winslow Jr., Dallas Clark, Chris Cooley, Jeremy Shockey and Todd Heap getting situated for their own runs at the tight end record book.

So the first year of his eligibility will be an important one for Sharpe. That will be his best shot for induction. Every year thereafter, the memory of Sharpe and his statistics may fade. Ask Art Monk.

I can already picture the Hall of Fame voters formulating arguments against Sharpe in their minds. Maybe I’m paranoid after years of injustice toward the Broncos, but this article, plain and simple, sounds to me like the type of snowball that could turn into an avalanche against Sharpe once he’s eligible in a few short years.