By John Turney 
The Pro Football Hall of Fame this week named Maxie Baughan, Sterling Sharpe and Jim Tyrer as senior finalists for the Class of 2025, with the three advancing to the next round of voting when their names are presented to the Hall's board of 50 selectors in January. Sadly, those of semifinalists Ken Anderson, Lester Hayes, Bob Kuechenberg, Albert Lewis, Stanley Morgan, and Al Wistert will not.
But they didn't win last week's vote of the Hall's Seniors Blue Ribbon Committee. Baughan, Sharpe and Tyrer did. Here's why:
-- An outside linebacker, Baughan played in the NFL from 1960-70 and briefly came out of retirement in 1974 to support a depleted linebacker corps. As a rookie, he secured a starting role on the Philadelphia Eagles' defense, recorded 125 tackles and played a key part in the team's NFL championship victory. He remained with the Eagles through 1965 before being traded to the Los Angeles Rams, where he became the signal-caller for one of the NFL's most dominant defenses. A nine-time Pro Bowler, Baughan was named first-team All-Pro in 1964, 1966, and 1967 and second-team All-Pro in 1960, 1961, 1964, 1968, and 1969, making him one of the most decorated linebackers of the 1960s.
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| Maxie Baughan |
-- Sharpe set the NFL record for most receptions in 1992, then broke it the following season. His league-leading 18 touchdown receptions in his final season are still tied for third-highest in NFL history. Over his career, he had 595 receptions for 8,134 yards and 65 touchdowns. In 1993, Sharpe led the NFL in receptions, receiving yards and touchdown catches, becoming one of only 12 players to lead in all three categories in the same season. He also topped the league in receptions in 1989 and 1993. During his seven-year career (1988–1994) with the Green Bay Packers, Sharpe earned five Pro Bowl selections and three consensus first-team All-Pro honors before his career was cut short by a neck injury.
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| Sterling Sharpe |
-- Tyrer was regarded as one of the greatest offensive tackles of his era. He was chosen to the AFL's All-Time Team and appeared in nine AFL All-Star Games. He earned All-AFL honors every year from 1962 to 1969, including five consensus selections, and named All-Pro in 1970 and 1971, with the former another consensus nod. Additionally, Tyrer was the NFLPA's AFL Offensive Lineman of the Year in 1969.
Widely celebrated, Tyrer is one of the most decorated players at any position in pro football history. His 14-year career included 13 seasons with the Dallas Texans/Kansas City Chiefs (1961–1973) and one final year with Washington (1974). The man Hall-of-Famer George Allen called one of the best-ever offensive tackles won a ring as a member of the Super Bowl IV champion Chiefs and was part of three AFL championship teams with the Texans/Chiefs.
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| Jim Tyrer |
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OK, that's who made it. Here's how the cutdown struck me.
BIGGEST SURPRISE
That 49ers' running back Roger Craig didn't make the semifinalist list one year after he was one of the top finishers.
SECOND BIGGEST SURPRISE
That Tyrer will be presented to the full board for the first time since 1981. First eligible in 1980, he was on the preliminary list that year, a finalist the next and then disappeared as a candidate.
Tyrer boasts a ton of traditional credentials — numerous "all" selections, championship titles and glowing testimonials from peers and coaches. In recent years, his story has drawn attention, largely due to public support from his children and his wife’s family, all of whom have forgiven him for a tragic murder-suicide that ended his life and that of his wife. The family strongly believes that what is now recognized as CTE may have played a significant role in the event.
PLEASED
I was happy to see Wistert make the semifinalist list again. I was his presenter, and even though he didn't advance, it was a good step. It was the second straight year a super-senior has gotten enough attention to be discussed virtually for his Hall worthiness. The case for Wistert is strong, but for decades it hasn't been discussed. Let's hope it was not his last on the semifinalist list.
ALSO PLEASED
That Sharpe will be presented to the voters. In fact, I think he has the best shot of the three finalists to get a Gold Jacket. The only reason he hadn't been inducted was his short career. However, the recent trend of enshrining finalists whose careers ended prematurely because of injury brought him to the forefront -- with Kenny Easley, Terrell Davis, Tony Boselli and Patrick Willis the most notable.
DISAPPOINTED
That there are only three players that can be finalists. The six who fell short have Hall-of-Fame features to their careers. For some, it's only a matter of time before reaching Canton.
HONORED
Me, for being added to the Hall's Seniors Blue Ribbon Committee and getting the opportunity to participate in the seniors' process. Last year I was asked to be an advisor; this year I could vote. It was an honor.
That is a huge honor, John.
ReplyDeleteAnd well deserved. Congratulations!
Congratulations John! Your hard work and expertise are being recognized and rewarded. A very well deserved honor, my friend!
ReplyDeleteBW ...
ReplyDeleteThanks John, for being part of a panel-committee that swung for the fenses by picking Tyrer and Baughan. After the rejections of Powell and Parker last year, it would have been simple to just endorse safe, recent-era players but the seniors have to represent the most qualified players, regardless of era. On Zoneblitz.com, we have guys that can read between the lines and guesstimate on possible social media leaks, so I didnt mean to put you or anyone else on the spot for confirming rumors.
Since I dont have time myself to read all the social media and watch podcasts to gather information, can we at least know who could be presenting-advocating for the five remaining non-modern candidates? I hear Ron Borges will represent Tyrer? Is this a role you hope to do in the future for/with the voters, or does it have to be the voters themselves who are part of the committees?
Prior to the meeting Frank Cooney was publishing a chart I'd worked on for years, just for my notings and writing purposes and he was supporting Tyrer, he even found Tyrer's doctor ... and essentially it showed high high Tyrer ranked on all the things that could be quantified. There is an article here hat covers a lot of that -- so going in it seemed like they were going to go by the numbers more than in past. Sharpe was 3x consensus All-pro.
DeleteAs far as what happens next, I am not part of that. But I would doubt anyone has been assigned to present anyone yet.
As far as being able to vote? I am thinking it is a rotational thing. I don't take it as a long-term thing.
I too wish you congratulations. This is a well deserved honor.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the congratulations. All I can say is it came out of the blue. There are other non beat writers on the screening committee though those are not public so there are people who are interested in super seniors who are behind the scenes, too.
ReplyDeleteCONGRATULATIONS John....richly deserved and LONG overdue.....fervently hope that you will be long-term member of the committee.....not special-pleading...(oh, what the hell, of COURSE I am, but can back it up with objective evidence and contemporary testimonials)...but now....hopefully....a certain legendary defensive lineman from the 1950s to early 60s will finally get his due........
ReplyDeleteJust wondering what the discussion around Chuck Foreman was like. I saw the impressive, statistics-laden brochure that Foreman's HOF marketing team developed to tout his candidacy. There is no question that his versatility completely changed the course of the Vikings of the 1970s, and there was no shame in losing the Super Bowls they did to the teams they did. As far as the eye test, no one, and I mean no one, ever put out more effort on the football field than Chuck Foreman. He really didn't have overwhelming skills (not too big, strong, or fast really), but the rate that he scored TDs (on long passes, short passes, short runs, and the occasional longer run) was almost inexplainable from 1973-77 -- all accomplished without a legitimate blocking back or blocking TE in front of him. He had some terrific playoff and championship games too. Anyway, just wondering what the bottom line was on his candidacy. Thanks for your time.
ReplyDeleteForeman did not make the final nine and was not discussed. I voted for him on the first cutdown. I think his case is strong --- now that short career guys like Terrell Davis and others there is little reason to keep him out becauae of low career totals. To me, he was the third-best back of the 1970s ... behind OJ and Payton in terms of peak. I think Franco has more numbers and more rings, etc. But Foreman was a dual threat.
DeleteI don't know what to consider Earl Campbell though, to me he's not a pure 1970s back ... two seasons ... so kind of a different deal.
It was concerning how the seniors committee was going -- guys from the 1980s and even 1990s ... but this year two guys from the 1960s is a step forward and means at least there is a chance for guys from the 1960s and 1970s -- like a Foreman.
It may be a one-year thing though. So who knows?
But to Foreman, I think of him as being ahead of Marshall, for example.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts. Have you heard any anecdotes from opponents about Foreman? I haven't seen much. I'd be interested to know what the 1970s Cowboys, Redskins, Cardinals, Bears, Lions, Packers and Rams had to say about him, as well as any of the 1976 Steelers after Foreman's 148-yard romp on Monday Night. Don't get me wrong, I know he wasn't Jim Brown, but I think that Foreman's brilliance has been dulled in people's memories by all the Super Bowl footage that make it look like he never ran more than 2 yards before being tackled.
DeleteCongrats John!!!!
ReplyDeleteCongrats Mr. Turney! Well deserved!
ReplyDeleteI echo the others here in congratulating John Turney for being selected to help pick the Hall of Famers here.
ReplyDeleteSelfishly I am dissapointed that Lewis and Kuechenberg didn't advance to the next round.