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RF365: Art should have been put in Hall long ago

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http://www.realfootball365.com/nfl/articles/2007/08/redskins-artmonk-hoflongago020807.html

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Art should have been put in Hall long ago

By Chris Cluff on August 2, 2007 12:41 AM

As Michael Irvin prepares to go into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in his third year of eligibility, it leaves a great many people scratching their heads over how he got in so quickly while another great receiver figuratively sits on the Hall's steps, still not allowed in 12 years after he retired from the NFL.

Art Monk's absence from the Hall of Fame is the greatest standing omission by the 40 media members who comprise the Hall's Board of Selectors. It is such a miscarriage of their duty that their failure has spawned a movement called "The Art Monk Hall of Fame Campaign."

Monk has been among the finalists for the last three years, but he continues to be shut out in the final vote. And the selection of Irvin was a major slight by the Hall voters.

Many voters undoubtedly were swayed by two things in choosing Irvin over Monk: (1) Irvin's career yard-per-catch average of 15.9 was higher than Monk's 13.5; (2) Irvin has remained in the media limelight since he was forced to retire following the 1999 season, while Monk has not been nearly as visible.

Len Shapiro, a Hall voter from the Washington Post who continues to lobby on Monk's behalf, explained in a Q&A earlier this year why Monk has yet to get the vote: "There are a few people in the room who believe he did not have signature catches in big games, that he was not the Redskins' big-play go-to guy."

Joe Gibbs, who coaches the Redskins now and coached Monk back then, recently told reporters that Monk's numbers suffered because of how the Redskins used him.

"Because Art was an inside receiver, he caught a lot of balls inside. So almost everything he caught was inside, where he would take some hard hits," Gibbs said. "I think that should go to his credit, but what some [Hall of Fame voters] do is downplay it because his average-per-catch wasn't as high."

Monk still had superior numbers. Over 16 seasons, he caught 940 passes for 12,721 yards and 68 touchdowns. He went to three Pro Bowls, won three Super Bowls and was named to the all-decade team of the 1980s. Monk also was the first receiver to surpass 900 catches and retired with three NFL records in his possession. His 940 catches still rank sixth all-time, 11 behind Andre Reed, who also should have been enshrined before Irvin.

And while Irvin was the main focus of Dallas' passing attack, Monk put up his numbers in an offense that also featured Gary Clark and Ricky Sanders.

Even Irvin himself said Monk should be in.

When a reporter from a Louisiana paper last year asked him who isn't in the Hall who should be, Irvin said: "Art Monk comes to mind right away. At the time he retired, he was the all-time leader in the league in receptions. There are no definite parameters for what it is, no certain number of catches or yardage. The reality for me is this: ... When you catch a lot of passes and win Super Bowls, you should be a lock."

Ronnie Lott, a Hall of Fame defensive back who played against Monk throughout the '80s and was his teammate with the New York Jets in 1994, told the Westchester Journal News in 2002 that Monk deserves the Hall of Fame more than anyone currently eligible.

"You have a Hall of Fame for all it represents," Lott said. "I know he represents all that it's about. Integrity, love and passion for the game, community, what he gave back. Look how he conducted himself. Nobody I know deserves it more."

"If he doesn't get in," Lott said, "it doesn't make sense."

Shapiro said he continues to try to talk some sense into the other voters, "and I can tell you I believe we're making progress in getting him elected."

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PCS

PCS

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When a reporter from a Louisiana paper last year asked him who isn't in the Hall who should be, Irvin said: "Art Monk comes to mind right away. At the time he retired, he was the all-time leader in the league in receptions. There are no definite parameters for what it is, no certain number of catches or yardage. The reality for me is this: ... When you catch a lot of passes and win Super Bowls, you should be a lock."

----------------

Right there it is. Call him what you will, but Mike said just about all of it right there. And Lott of course, added to that.

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ASUki

ASUki

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calm down fellas...patience is a virtue...It will be a burgandy and gold celebration at the superbowl this year...Skins will be playing the Pats and Green and Monk will be selected for the HOF!

I'm with you on that one... :point2sky

And if they get selected, I'm sure the crowd will be swarmed with Burgundy & Gold...I'll definitely try to make it!

HTTR! :helmet:

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ouvan59

ouvan59

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I still don't get the "signature catch" thing. I mean can anybody tell me what Michael Irvin's signature catch was? His signature was his dance after the catch and that is why he is in the Hall ahead of Monk. He told you how good he was after every single catch. As much as the media loves to say they respect the guy who just goes out there and does his job it's a load of crap.

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SkinsFTW

SkinsFTW

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I look at it like this:

Every receiver who ever held the leagues receptions record made the HOF. And all of them watched each and every Super Bowl on TV. Monk was on Super Bowl teams. He also held some other records unlike the others as well. He is the only league career receptions leader to be told to wait until this guy, then this other guy, then this other guy, to get in the HOF. When none of the other guys were 1/2 of what Monk was. Watch some games people.

Monk should be in the HOF. Irvin was a product of Emmitt Smith, Aikman, and their dominant OL within a weak division.

IMO 15-20 different receivers from 1985- could have done what he did in Dallas. He was only a beneficiary of a stacked defense 99% of the time.

Monk made the clutch catch in a crowd, he pulled balls out of the dirt, he became open but always was a yard beyond the first down marker, he made the clutch block more than anyone else who wasn't a tight end in the 80's. All this from a receiver who led the league in receptions 2 times in the 80's while playing on 4 Super Bowl teams on a known run first offense.

Naa, that can't mean anything. The HOF voters didn't watch the games. We know they didn't watch Redskins games from 1983-1991.

They were too busy watching the favorites each and every year, the 49ers, Bears, and Giants, then the Bills and Pukes in the 90's. It's as if the Redskins didn't even do anything.

Not to mention the Redskins won those Super Bowls without a Montana, a Rice, a Lott, or LT, or Singletary. I mean, I think they'd almost look for a reason to put John Taylor or into the HOF before Monk. I mean, do you remember how many times we all had to hear how important the guy was? He was Spiderman's Web, he was Superman's Cape, in fact. John Taylor was nobody but he was almost Rice, he was close in those years, remember?

BTW, the HOF makes me want to puke. I can't create stool fast enough to express my love for the process.

It is complete comedy.

You think the ESPN "Who is NOW" is a joke? That is the HOF selection process. It is a complete reach-around.

If you are in the media now you will get pushed. We've all seen it. Just look at who has been elected into the HOF in the past decade. Monk has been screwed by the reach-around crowd and nothing more. He had the stats. Even better stats than Irvin in fact even though he played a decade earlier when #1 receivers were known to catch 50-60 balls.

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SkinsFTW

SkinsFTW

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The Hall will remain a joke until Art Monk gets in. However, when he does get in, I will try to be there.

Not me.

He was due a long time ago. They blew it.

The HOF will be a joke until these media idiots who come up with the Top 10 wtf ever BS all the time aren't voting. They don't watch the games, they have admitted this too.

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