OURYEAR#56 Posted January 30, 2004 Share Posted January 30, 2004 Gibbs: Monk Belongs In Hall of Fame 01/30/2004 By Gary Fitzgerald Redskins.com When discussing Art Monk, Joe Gibbs has always looked beyond the numbers. Instead, Gibbs recalls a wide receiver who was the consummate team player and a high character individual who many young players emulated. Most of all, Monk was a player who would do anything it took to win games. If winning games meant going across the middle of the field to catch a tough pass, then that’s what Monk would do. If winning games meant blocking a 250-pound linebacker so that Joe Theismann, Doug Williams or Mark Rypien had enough time to throw to another wide receiver, then that’s what Monk would do. When the Hall of Fame Board of Selectors meets Saturday morning in Houston to vote on the 2004 enshrinees, Gibbs hopes they remember those type of attributes instead of the stats. It's those qualities, Gibbs said on Thursday, that made Monk a vital member of the Redskins’ three Super Bowl championships from 1982-91. “Here’s the thing a lot of people miss on Art: They’re mostly always going off catches and yards and all that,” Gibbs said. “The thing you have to remember is that he actually played the inside position and a lot of his catches were right over the middle. And there were times when we asked him to actually block in there on pass protection.” Gibbs said he believes that Monk’s enshrinement in the Pro Football Hall of Fame is long overdue. “When you’re looking at the value to a team or the value of the person who’s playing—he was a big strong guy who wasn’t afraid to go inside and catch the ball in the middle of the field,” Gibbs said. “He caught most of his stuff in the middle—I think he had the toughest yards. “Of course, we could have played him outside all the time, but we didn’t do that. I always thought that went to his credit—his stats actually could have been much more.” What about Monk’s stats? In 16 seasons—his first 14 with the Redskins—he caught 940 passes for 12,721 yards and 68 touchdowns. He became the league’s all-time leading receiver in Monday Night game against Denver on Oct. 12, 1992, with his 820th reception. (He has since been surpassed by a host of players.) Monk, who was 6-3 and 209 pounds during his playing days, shattered other all-time records, too. He set a mark for most catches in one season (106 in 1984) and most consecutive games with receptions (183). Both records have been broken. Monk still holds Redskins records for most career receptions (888), most single-season receptions (106) and most career receiving yards (12,026). He earned three consecutive Pro Bowl appearances from 1984-86 and also posted nine seasons of 50 or more receptions and five seasons with at least 1,000 receiving yards. This will be Monk’s fourth time as a finalist in the Hall of Fame enshrinement process. A candidate mush receive at least 80 percent approval of the board at the annual meeting before he can be elected. This year's enshrinees will be announced at 1 p.m. EST on Saturday. Check out the Pro Football Hall of Fame web site for complete coverage, a list of the other finalists, a list of the Board of Selectors, and more. There is no set number for any class of enshrinees, but the ___________________________________________________ My question is how can James Lofton go in the Hall before Monk? Monk led his team to four Super Bowls, and won three. Doesn't that compensate for his numbers not being through the roof. James Lofton got fat numbers from being the only weapon on some sorry teams. It doesn't make sense. If Monk is inducted it would be a great kick off for our organization and the activities this off season. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jay Master Jay Posted January 30, 2004 Share Posted January 30, 2004 That would make this a very special weekend if they call Art's name tomorrow for the hall. He's very deserving and has paid his dues. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Riggo-toni Posted January 30, 2004 Share Posted January 30, 2004 Anyone who voted Lofton before Monk OBVIOUSLY never bothered to watch the '91 SB!!! Lofton was invisible, while Monk was the guy who got the offense going. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jay Master Jay Posted January 30, 2004 Share Posted January 30, 2004 Peter King was crying saying Art didn't have enough TD and what was his signature catch. None of it made any sense because Art was the first possession reciever in the NFL. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TD_washingtonredskins Posted January 30, 2004 Share Posted January 30, 2004 JMJ, that shows how AWFUL Peter King is. Signature catch??? That sounds like something a 9 year old would cite as a reason for enshrinement into the Hall of Fame. He's such a putz. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Awesome Posted January 30, 2004 Share Posted January 30, 2004 Originally posted by riggo-toni Anyone who voted Lofton before Monk OBVIOUSLY never bothered to watch the '91 SB!!! Lofton was invisible, while Monk was the guy who got the offense going. BINGO! Especially when considering the Hall of Fame, I think that more emphasis should be put on how a player performed in the big games of his career. Monk always came to play when the cards were on the table, where a guy like Lofton disappeared more often than not when the pressure was really turned on. Again, I know it's only one criteria, but there's a reason some players have Super Bowl rings and others do not. That's something I feel should be weighted more when considering Hall of Fame status rather than so much put on TD catches and yards per catch. This game's about winning, and that's all Monk ever did. How manny rings does James Lofton have? That's what I thought. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
orlskinsfan Posted January 30, 2004 Share Posted January 30, 2004 What upsets me is the fact he did break numerous receiving records...of course they have since been broken but does that lessen what he did during his time in the league....the league now has become a more pass friendly league compared to when he was playing....this man deserves to be honored for his accomplishments and its a damn shame he has been left out so long Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jay Master Jay Posted January 30, 2004 Share Posted January 30, 2004 Monk was a team player he didn't care if it was Clark or Sanders he just played the game. I wish the receivers today would follow his lead and play the game like him. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
buju Posted January 30, 2004 Share Posted January 30, 2004 Choke on it Peter King you f'n douchebag! :moon: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
geezings81 Posted January 30, 2004 Share Posted January 30, 2004 This better be Monk's year for goodness sakes...! Everyone here can pimp out your #56 jerseys, but I'll stick to #81 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PCS Posted January 30, 2004 Share Posted January 30, 2004 Hmmmmm. Let's see here. An NFL Coach, a HOF'er I might add, says that yeah Art deserves it. Now maybe Joe's a bit biased in that area, but ya know, I'd say his football credentials may more than outweigh that. Not to mention far exceeding many of those who actually have a vote. Such as King. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fish Posted January 30, 2004 Share Posted January 30, 2004 [Everyone here can pimp out your #56 jerseys, but I'll stick to #81 [/b] I'm with ya 100%. #81 and #28 are the best and classiest players in our storied history! Come on Art!! Good luck. Note to Peter King: They are having a sale on clues at the 7-11. You need to stock up you jerk! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skinsfan62 Posted January 30, 2004 Share Posted January 30, 2004 I predict he will be named tomorrow. Monk is going to the hall!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Truant Posted January 30, 2004 Share Posted January 30, 2004 Peter King is a jackass. Art has always been my favorite redskin and he deserves to be in the Hall. Breaking those records at that time should be more than enough to substantiate his selection. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zen-like Todd Posted January 30, 2004 Share Posted January 30, 2004 Incidentally, someone asked Don Shula about Monk as well, and Shula said he absolutely should be in the Hall. Two HOF coaches versus Peter King and Lenny the Hutt. Hmm... The actual Shula quote from a WP article last year: "He was a formidable guy that you always had to deal with," said former Miami Dolphins coach Don Shula. "You look at the numbers of [Hall of Fame wide receivers John Stallworth and Lynn Swann and Monk, and there's no comparison. He's definitely a Hall of Fame football player." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tarhog Posted January 30, 2004 Share Posted January 30, 2004 He shouldn't need it, Monk not getting in last time around was a travesty....but Joe Gibbs once again being part of the NFL will get him over the finish line. Not selecting him this time around would be oh so politically incorrect. He'll be in this time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
atloldskin Posted January 30, 2004 Share Posted January 30, 2004 Monk should be there! Lets hope tomorrow is his day! He was a class act every year. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zen-like Todd Posted January 30, 2004 Share Posted January 30, 2004 I'm very hopeful, but I sort of have a bad feeling, since the voting has obviously already taken place, and there were some random reports about stupid reasons not to vote him in earlier this week on the radio. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Henry Posted January 30, 2004 Share Posted January 30, 2004 Wilbon was just on WTEM saying he was going to lobby HARD from Monk. He said some of the same things Gibbs did, that Monk did everything asked of him, that he went over the middle, that he was an excellent blocker in max proctect, that he was the one constant on one of the two best offenses of the 80s. Because he was so big for his day he often stayed in to block so that guys like Sanders and Clark could make the big catch, and he did this without complaining ... and that for all the media gripe about loudmouth me-first players, they really should be falling all over themselves to get a guy like Monk in. A player who did everything asked of him, and did it better than anyone else in the history of his position. You can talk about YPC and TDs all you want. The man invented the concept of the possession receiver. It is absolutely mind-boggling that he isn't in the Hall already. At least that's what Wilbon said, and I happen to agree with him. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jkam Posted January 31, 2004 Share Posted January 31, 2004 Originally posted by Zen-like Todd I'm very hopeful, but I sort of have a bad feeling, since the voting has obviously already taken place, Nope. Tomorrow the group of 38 meets, argues and votes. There has been no voting. Just heard Wilbon on WTEM. He's a voter and will lead the Monk charge. He had another great argument. There were two great offenses in the NFL in the 80's (and early 90's). 49ers and Skins. The Skins have exactly one guy from that offense in the Hall (Riggo) and he was only there for 1/2 decade. The ONLY skill position player from that great Skin offense who was there the ENTIRE time was, of course, Monk. Still I am not optimistic because of Peter Queen and Dr. X. Hope I am wrong!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zen-like Todd Posted January 31, 2004 Share Posted January 31, 2004 Originally posted by jkam Nope. Tomorrow the group of 38 meets, argues and votes. There has been no voting. Just heard Wilbon on WTEM. He's a voter and will lead the Monk charge. He had another great argument. There were two great offenses in the NFL in the 80's (and early 90's). 49ers and Skins. The Skins have exactly one guy from that offense in the Hall (Riggo) and he was only there for 1/2 decade. The ONLY skill position player from that great Skin offense who was there the ENTIRE time was, of course, Monk. Still I am not optimistic because of Peter Queen and Dr. X. Hope I am wrong!! I probably stated that rather poorly. What I meant to say was that certain people like King and Fatty the Hutt have long since made up their minds. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JoeSkins Posted January 31, 2004 Share Posted January 31, 2004 I was pissed the day they announced Lynn Swann, and I was pissed the day they announced Lance Stallworth. I remember reading or seeing that only when combined, their numbers were comparable to Monk's. Also, it can't be about Super Bowls, Monk has 3, and they had 4. But, that's all in the past, Monk will get in this time around. You can't let your dog starve forever. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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