The Real Reason Why Art Monk is not in the Hall of Fame

[RedskinsRoll05]

Every objective football fan knows that Art Monk should have been a first ballot hall of fame inductee. And yet year after year he is left out which makes one wonder is there some other reason that isn't being discussed openly? I believe that he is being blackballed for something he did about the time he retired. I don't remember exactly what year it was but at one time he spoke to some reporters about super bowl 18 and he said that either the game was a fix in some way or that Al Davis and the Raiders cheated by stealing the Redskins game plan for the game. Basicly, Art Monk was in a way crying foul about that game years later. I myself believe that game was very fishy and should have been much closer than it was, but that's beside the point. I think when Art Monk did that he pissed off a lot of people in the NFL and they probably said, "ok we'll take care of him later on.

[TSO]

Interesting... anyone know of anything like this?

Something is definitely not right with Art Monk. It truly is crazy. There simply is no way he shouldn't be in the HOF yet. No way.

[RabidFan]

Interesting take but we'll never know. Obviously all the former and current NFL players know he should be in and think its a travesty that he isn't. This isn't a Harry Carson situation....Monk left the game holding many records at his position....its total crap.

[ldysknzfn1]

I thought you said this was the 'REAL' reason he wasn't in the HOF. I have no idea why he's not in the HOF...but I know he belongs there. And I really don't know if what you said is the reason or not to be honest. Maybe your thread title should be..."the reason I think Art Monk isn't in the HOF"...that would be more accurate..imo

But we're all entitled to an opinion. You know what they say about opinions right?

[RedskinsRoll05]

I thought you said this was the 'REAL' reason he wasn't in the HOF. I have no idea why he's not in the HOF...but I know he belongs there. And I really don't know if what you said is the reason or not to be honest. Maybe your thread title should be..."the reason I think Art Monk isn't in the HOF"...that would be more accurate..imo

But we're all entitled to an opinion. You know what they say about opinions right?

Is there any other valid reason that you can cite? I myself believe he is being blackballed. Just because I can't prove it does't mean I should put some sort of disclaimer in the title.

[Birdlives]

Art Monk was never a "press friendly" guy. He tended to be quiet and not very approachable. He was somewhat intimidating and did not suffer fools. I think that above other reasons has a lot to do with why he isn't in the HOF. Some of the press still hold a grudge.

[Blondie]

'REAL" reason and "MYOPINION" are not the same.

Your reason may or may not have validity.

But......I am not sure it could be touted as the REAL REASON.

[SkinsNatsFan]

I don't remember exactly what year it was but at one time he spoke to some reporters about super bowl 18 and he said that either the game was a fix in some way or that Al Davis and the Raiders cheated by stealing the Redskins game plan for the game.

I don't remember ever hearing Art Monk bad mouth anyone or any team or any organization, ever.

Please provide us with some quotes of his from any time where he speaks negatively of anyone.

[Art]

He's being blackballed because of Dan Snyder. At least this is what Len Shapiro of the Post suggests is happening when Snyder is critical of the professional media and their integrity, they demonstrate that integrity and professionalism by holding it against Monk.

[sean"Hitman"taylor]

they r talkin abt tht on NFL total acess...right knw

[sean"Hitman"taylor]

Check it....they just went on commerical...they said is coming up next

[ldysknzfn1]

I thought you said this was the 'REAL' reason he wasn't in the HOF. I have no idea why he's not in the HOF...but I know he belongs there. And I really don't know if what you said is the reason or not to be honest. Maybe your thread title should be..."the reason I think Art Monk isn't in the HOF"...that would be more accurate..imo

But we're all entitled to an opinion. You know what they say about opinions right?

Is there any other valid reason that you can cite? I myself believe he is being blackballed. Just because I can't prove it does't mean I should put some sort of disclaimer in the title.

See above in my statement to answer this question. I just thought you had some 'inside' info. Didn't mean to disgruntle you. I apologize.

[RedskinsRoll05]

'REAL" reason and "MYOPINION" are not the same.

Your reason may or may not have validity.

But......I am not sure it could be touted as the REAL REASON.

Ok, then tell me why he's not in the Hall

[Peregrine]

Nah, I think the HOF voters are just stupid.

Never underestimate the power of stupid people in large numbers.

[bigyim]

He's being blackballed because of Dan Snyder. At least this is what Len Shapiro of the Post suggests is happening when Snyder is critical of the professional media and their integrity, they demonstrate that integrity and professionalism by holding it against Monk.

...Art, while I respect your view, I think you're way off here.

Birdlives is, I believe, closer to the truth...the guys in the media make their living by interviews, juicy quotes & insights to the game. Art never provided much more that what was required--he rather let his play speak for itself, and let the limelight hogs like Dexter & Theismann give the quotes.

Media people lave long memories, and I'm sure a few take unseemly satisfaction in making Monk wait--especially since, in ther mind, he made them wait many times at his locker without a word.

This possibility, coupled with the fact that the newer folks on the HOF voting committee couldn't tell you squat about the difference between the passing game circa 1985 (when Monk played) and 1992 (when WRs started to rack up pinball-like numbers), is why I think Monk is being passed over.

Mind you, having Snyder issue statements calling out the media doesn't help the situation, but that's not the cause.

The first year Monk was eligible, Snyder had barely bought the team...

Now, if they don't vote in Darrell Green on the first ballot next year, I'd be more inclined to listen to your Snyder theory...

but I don't even want to think about that, because that will signal my eventual arrest for arson in the state of Ohio.

[Blondie]

Ok, then tell me why he's not in the Hall

No........you say you know the real reason.

So.........this means you are a member of the voting committee.

THOSE are the only people who KNOW.

So.......which member are you?

Oh, you AREN'T a member? You don't REALLY know?

You are just SPECULATING?

I see.

JUST LIKE EVERYONE ELSE.

Sorry hon, your "real reason" ain't nothing special.

[DjTj]

He's being blackballed because of Dan Snyder. At least this is what Len Shapiro of the Post suggests is happening when Snyder is critical of the professional media and their integrity, they demonstrate that integrity and professionalism by holding it against Monk.

Okay, I think people need to understand that Art Monk is not being blackballed. By my count, there are only two voters actively campaigning against Art Monk (Dr. Z and Cliff Christl) and only one voting against him because he hates Dan Snyder (Len Pasquarelli). There may be 3 or 4 other possible no votes, but I think everyone else on the committee would vote yes if given the chance.

It is my firm belief that there are enough voters on the Hall of Fame Committee right now to induct Art Monk (80% of the committee). I believe he has had the support of 80% of the voters every single year he has been eligible. His problem is not quantity of support; it is lack of passion among his supporters.

You have to understand how the process works. The voters don't just take a list of 15 players and vote yes or no. They take a list of 15, and everyone writes down 10 names. Then they take those 10 players and write down 6. Only the 6 players who are named the most get a vote.

Art Monk has never made it to the final vote. He has come close every year, but other players have simply gotten more votes. This is not because selectors are voting against him in particular; they just feel a desire to vote for other players more. In the beginning, the voters needed to clear Lynn Swann, John Stallworth, and James Lofton from the board, who had been waiting a decade longer than Monk. In more recent years, the committee has been distracted by a fierce debate about Bob Hayes and then Michael Irvin, so Monk has kind of fallen by the wayside. Nobody (except Christl and Dr. Z) is saying that Monk doesn't deserve to be in the Hall of Fame. The voters are simply thinking "Monk can wait another year; I think xxx deserves a chance right now."

There is no conspiracy to keep Monk out. What is missing is a movement to get Monk in. By my count, there is only one writer outside of Washington that is actively campaigning for Monk: Bernie Miklasz from St. Louis. There are 30 more writers who would vote yes, but they are not really speaking up and fighting for Monk ... so Monk gets forgotten while other players have their cases pushed - Lynn Swann waiting 15 years ... John Stallworth waiting in Swann's shadow ... Harry Carson in his last year of eligibility ... Roger Wehrli in his last year of eligibility ...

Eventually, Monk will be in his last few years of eligibility and there will be a groundswell of sympathy for him that will push him to the top, but hopefully some of the writers will wake up before then ... we the fans can help with that by trying to convince voters to take up Monk's cause.

When you write to voters, remember that Art Monk is not being blackballed. Don't berate them for keeping him out, because, chances are, you're writing to someone who agrees with you that Art Monk should be in the Hall. We don't really need to convince anyone that Monk is a Hall of Fame player. We simply need to give them a sense of urgency so that someone will say, "Derrick Thomas can wait; I think Monk deserves a chance this year."

[BAFGA]

Check it....they just went on commerical...they said is coming up next

Yo Mafia.....wanna take this one on?

[TC2B]

well put DJTJ... People are quick to subscribe to conspiracy theories. Your opinion seems much more realistic. Im sure there are other players that HAVE been inducted that have done much worse things than just being a quiet, introverted type of guy such as Art Monk is/was. If i were on the HOF panel, Art would be exactly the type of player i would want to vote in, but as u say, his name just is not there at the end. Art Monk will get into the hall... Arts achievements speak for themselves which is why he himself is not overly concerned with it. To us fans its a bit frustrating to see a guy like Michail Irvin get there before Art Monk but in the long run its up to each person that visits the HOF to decide who was better. If i were there with my kids, id tell them this is one of the best players the Skins ever had, he was great on the field, was a model citizen off the field, and was one of the nicest guys youd ever want to meet. I ran into Art Monk once in a CVS store and i told him quietly (as not to draw attention to him) that he was one of my favorite players of all time. He smiled, extended his hand, and said thanks.

[RonJeremy]

Threads like this piss me off. The thread starter does not know THE REAL REASON Art Monk is not in the HOF. He has an opinion....ONLY. Plus he has not cited a source with the quotes that Monk supposedly made about SuperBowl XVIII. So, even if he could find a source for quotes that still wouldn't be the REAL REASON.

DjTj has the real reason in my opinion. He wrote it much more eloquently then I could have.... :applause:

...and for another opinion on why the Skins lost SuperBowlXVIII....the rumor that I heard was that a lot of the starters partied their asses off the night before the game. They were so confident that they would win they showed up to the SB with a hangover. NOW that is an OPINION based upon rumors that I have heard over the years. You don't see me starting a thread stating "THE REAL REASON THE SKINS LOST SUPER BOWL XVIII"....maybe you will get my point....maybe not.

[SkinsFTW]

Art Monk has never made it to the final vote. He has come close every year, but other players have simply gotten more votes. This is not because selectors are voting against him in particular; they just feel a desire to vote for other players more. In the beginning, the voters needed to clear Lynn Swann, John Stallworth, and James Lofton from the board, who had been waiting a decade longer than Monk. In more recent years, the committee has been distracted by a fierce debate about Bob Hayes and then Michael Irvin, so Monk has kind of fallen by the wayside. Nobody (except Christl and Dr. Z) is saying that Monk doesn't deserve to be in the Hall of Fame. The voters are simply thinking "Monk can wait another year; I think xxx deserves a chance right now."

Sorry man, I understand what you are saying but Irvin shouldn't get in before Monk. I can give you 100 reasons why and you can only give me his 1 SB game against a defense that was stacked for Emmitt as to why he should get in first.

As for Swann, dude, he shouldn't even be in the HOF. He had 336 career receptions and 2 or 3 great catches in 3 chances in the SB. So he made a few great receptions in the SB while playing against teams that were stacked to stop the run, not the deep pass. Whoopdee doo!

He was the Alvin Harper of the 70's IMO, except Alvin Harper had free agency on his side to screw his career up. He could have stayed in Dallas and done what Swann did, or more.

There is no excuse for Monk to not be in the HOF.

Joiner got in because he was the receptions leader when he retired and that is the only reason. He played for losing teams 80% of his career, bad teams usually. Never went to a Super Bowl, never led the league in anything. His only redeeming quality was the fact that he played for 18 years and he benefitted from the Chargers elite 1979-1981 offense in which he was never the leading receiver.

He put up over 30% of his career stats during those 3 years but he was #2 to Jefferson, then after Jefferson was traded to GB he was #2 to Winslow and Chandler. Besides those 3 years in which he was Fouts' 2nd option he averaged 35 receptions a year. He spent 12 years in the league before he caught more than 50 balls. He had 282 receptions on bad teams after his 10th year in the league.

He is also in the HOF while Monk is not. He played for the Chargers and from 1979 to 1985 and those 60-70 catch years are what got him into the HOF even though he never was the #1, the go to guy, and his team never won anything in the postseason. He just retired with the most catches. Is the HOF a joke or what?

Largent got in because he was the receptions leader when he retired. He played on teams that never won anything as well. He was much better than Joiner, but he never got far into the postseason and most of the time his teams were garbage. His teams were run first also when they were good but they weren't good enough. He retired #1 on the receptions list, just like Joiner. I could go on and on about him too but I actually think he belongs. He had 6 seasons with over 70 catches in that run first era and his team was a running team. He also had 100 TD receptions.

But Irvin? WTF did he do? He benefitted from 1995 is all I can think of. If you dont know what I am talking about then check. That was the year that 9 receivers had over 100 catches. It watered down the league and career stats. Irvin was still only #5 that year though even with Emmitt, Aikman and that line. He was never #1 in any year even though that one year gave him about 15% of his career stats.

If you compare 1995 with Monks record breaking year in 1984 when he caught 106 balls and the #2 guy caught 80, the equivalent would be for somebody to catch 147 in 1995 when Herman Moore caught 123.

There is no excuse for Monk to not be in the HOF, you can say this guy or that guy should be considered first, but don't bring up Irvin. That can be shot down 940 different ways.

[IONTOP]

they r talkin abt tht on NFL total acess...right knw

My dictionary just flew off my bookshelf and hit me in the head....

[JohnLockesGhost]

My dictionary just flew off my bookshelf and hit me in the head....

Haha.

Someone call the police for sean "hitman" taylor murdering the English language.

[angel2]

Every objective football fan knows that Art Monk should have been a first ballot hall of fame inductee. And yet year after year he is left out which makes one wonder is there some other reason that isn't being discussed openly? I believe that he is being blackballed for something he did about the time he retired. I don't remember exactly what year it was but at one time he spoke to some reporters about super bowl 18 and he said that either the game was a fix in some way or that Al Davis and the Raiders cheated by stealing the Redskins game plan for the game. Basicly, Art Monk was in a way crying foul about that game years later. I myself believe that game was very fishy and should have been much closer than it was, but that's beside the point. I think when Art Monk did that he pissed off a lot of people in the NFL and they probably said, "ok we'll take care of him later on.

I've always thought that the Raiders knew and anticipated the Skins' game plan to perfection. That being said, I agree with Monk. The Redskins were too good and physical to be outplayed the way they were in that SB.

[bulldog]

the 'popularity' and 'passioned defense' argument for other players falls short in regards to James Lofton.

here was a player that was often difficult for coaches and media to get along with, and a player that never was beloved in any city by fans.

he played the majority of his career on lousy teams in Green Bay (teams that threw the ball a lot but lost 35-28) and was gone by the time Brett Favre showed up on the scene.

he ended up on the Bills as a older player hoping to win a championship with Jim Kelly and Co. it never happened.

so the arguments about popularity, good press relationships and producing in big games that determined championships, Lofton fell short.

if anything his vote in was an anti-Monk vote.