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Published on 01/16/2008 at Wed Jan 16 10:31.
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Davis Out; Gradishar, Zimmerman In as HOF Finalists

Posted Wed Jan 16th by

[Gradishar]
Gradishar is a finalist again

17 finalists have been named for consideration for the 2008 Induction Class of the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Among them are Broncos linebacker Randy Gradishar and offensive tackle Gary Zimmerman.

Left behind is running back Terrell Davis.

Zimmerman was a finalist last year and four of the last five, and Gradishar has been a finalist several times as well. To date only one Bronco has been named to Canton, a grave injustice that is slowly garnering attention.

Gradishar was the leader of the vaunted Orange Crush defense and gained over 2,000 tackles in 10 seasons (yes, averaging over 200 tackles per season). He led the Broncos to their first Super Bowl appearance. Read more about Gradishar here, and why he belongs in the Hall of Fame.

Zimmerman joined the Broncos through trade in 1993 and helped some of the best offenses in the NFL during his career. John Elway made a personal trip of over 300 miles to beg the big guy to return, and won a Super Bowl the Broncos did. He’s definitely due. Read more about Zimmerman here, and why he belongs in the Hall of Fame.

With any luck John Elway won’t be alone in the Hall anymore.

  • peter

    2049 tackles in a ten year career is not something to be overlooked by the committee, especially when he made a lot of tackles in the backfield.he did all of that with 20.5 sacks and 20 interceptions in collier’s 3-4 defensive scheme, which is totally unreal when we consider ray lewis and urlacher hitting the 200 tackle plataux in a 4-3 scheme where they can roam more freely. we must not forget that he is a 7 time pro-bowler, 1978 defensive player of the year, and a 2 time denver broncos mvp. he was the leader of one of the best groups of linebackers, the orange crush, during the 70’s and 80’s. did he snarl like lambert? no. did he play as nasty as butkus did? no. but he hit you so hard more often than any other backer of that time, and had more range than they did. “Hall of Fame defensive lineman Dan Hampton remembers asking the Walter Payton, “Walter, who gave you the hardest hit you ever took in the NFL?”. According to Hampton, Payton replied, “Randy Gradishar, 1978″. ” (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Randy_Gradishar). i say he’ll get in somehow, but the voting process has to make some modifications along with the probowl votes as well..