I'm the wrong guy to ask about Martin, I think he's a lock for the HOF but I view him much like Harry Carson of the Giants, solid consistent near the top for he's entire career. Not a first ballot lock but a HOF player. That said Martin was closer to the top guys at he's position every year than Monk was. Martin made Pro bowl 5 times in an 11 year career, Monk made 3 in a 16 year career. Martin was much more of a center piece to he's teams than Monk was. I like your argument but I still say it favors Martin big time over Monk. I'm betting Monk will get in as soon as all the voters who actually saw him play are dead and he's raw numbers will impress the hell out of those who didn't see him.
Michael Irvin was AN ALL TIME GREAT. HE'S a SLAM DUNK HALL OF FAMER. I don't know what game you people were watching when he played. Other then Rice, he was the best WR in the game and on top of that, won three rings. He should have been a first ballot Hall of Famer. And Keyshawn isn't close to being a Hall of Famer, not even close. He's had some longevity, but he's not a great player. Irvin was a great player.
Right now Keyshawn is outside of the HOF looking in even if he pads his stats for a couple of years. I believe that there is one thing that Keyshawn needs to get a serious shot at Canton and that one thing is another superbowl ring. If Key helps Carolina or some other team make it to the big game and makes some big plays to get the win I could see him making the HOF. Otherwise, it ain't gonna happen.
Keyshawn isn't even close to making the Hall of Fame. He never was a top top WR. Michael Irvin is an all time great. This stuff about Irvin getting in giving Key a better chance at getting in, is utter nonsense. Irvin was a far superior player.
I am absolutely amazed Irvin got in. Very good receiver, but HOF? What a joke. Must of been nice having the alltime leading rusher and HOF QB opening the field for him. The one thing I will say is I think his career ended a little sooner than it should have. Also i don't think his prior drug use or legal entanglments should not qualify him for the HOF. The man played professional football and is being honored for football. We are not giving the guy the Nobel Peace prize. He played a game at a high level and clearly these writers feel he deserves it, so that arguement that he should not get in is a weak one at best. On to Keyshawn, right now? Absolutely not. But IMO if he puts 3 more solid years together, he should get in. Especially seeing as what happened to Irvin.
I clicked on Pro Football Talk this morning and the first article there was pretty decent in backing up my argument, only for Monk over just Irvin. I know the Monk wasn't a dominant reciever argument, but compare the numbers and you can see that maybe he was at least as good as Irvin (His stats look much better in comparison, read on...) http://www.profootballtalk.com/rumormill.htm
Hah, sorry I missed where this was already posted in the NFL section. I see it didn't sway you there, either. Oh, well...
Monk was a great guy but his #s were compiled over 16 seasons, he wasn't a great WR and I am happy thr Hall is keeping him out. Now if they can take out a ton of guys it would be better. In 16 years(15+) Monk: -was top 5 in recs just 3 times(top 10 4 times) -Led the league in recs once -Was top 5 in rec yards twice and top 10 3 times Was top 10 in TDs ONCE(and he was 9th) -Made just 3 pro Bowls That's not a HOF resume, that just tells me he was a very consistent but never great player. The hall should be for great players(although they let in alot of non-great players) Irvin in about 12 full years: -was top 5 in recs 3 times, top 7 4 times -Top 5 in rec yds 4 times, top 10 6 times -Led NFL in rec yards once -Top 10 in rec Tds 5 times -top 10 in yds from scrimmage 4 times -Made 5 Pro Bowls ALSO irvin was a big game player. Monk's #s from 4 SBs: 9 recs, 179 yds, 0 TDs. he had ONE good SB and that was XXVI where he had 7 recs for 113 yds. His 1st SB(XVII) he had no catches, his next 2 he had a total of 2 recs. Irvin's #s from 3 SBs: 16 recs, 256 yds, 2 TDs As for Key, much like Monk he has been a compiler. I love Key, he was great for us but he has been a very good WR and not really a great WR throughout his careers especially when you consider the WR #s of this generation have skyrocketed well past the days of Monk and irvin. -Key was top 5 in recs once, top 10 3 times -Top 10 in rec yds twice -Top 10 in rec Tds once Top 10 in rush/receive TDs once -3 Pro Bowls That's not a HOF resume and his game has been in decline so he's likely bot going to add to that resume w/ HOF #s.
Irvin was great, but his greatness came from his physical gifts. I hate to exclude a guy like Monk; who may not have been as blessed with natural talent but got by on work ethic and maximizing his potential; just because he wasn't born as much of a naturally gifted athelete as Irvin. Its the Ripken argument, translated to football. Its also the reason why some would not vote for Curtis to be a HOF'er, as I pointed out earlier. Longevity and durability should be given the same consideration as dominance for a shorter period of time. If in the end, your numbers are similar from a consistent career as the numbers put up by another player who was dominant for a shorter span, the numbers are the same regardless and the difference between the two comes down to talent and opinion. Numbers don't have an opinion, they only show what lies beyond our perception. Just for Junc to look up and back up my point: Martin's career APC is within a couple tenths of a yard of Barry Sanders career APC. Barry had the talent, but Curtis had the consistency. In the end, the numbers are near identical. (The difference being, Curtis almost always managed a gain on every carry, whereas Barry had many, many more carries for big losses) You may see Irvin as a bigger star than Monk, but in the end, the numbers (and championships) are very comparable. Here it is again for you Irvin: 750/11,904/65td-12yr Monk: 940/12,741/68td-16yr
If Keyshawn stayed on the Jets, he would be going to the Hal of Fame. He was great when he was on the Jets.
Carter's a hall of famer and Andre Reed should be (definitely more so than Irvin--consider pass-catching in Buffalo vs Miami)
