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Pete Fierle, Manager - Digital Media/Communications
Pete's familiarity with the game's history is a result of spending two decades working in the Hall's archives surrounded by the world's largest collection of pro football information. His many duties include overseeing the Hall's website as well as the day-to-day operation of the Archives & Information Center.

Hall of Fame worthy? Tuesday, November 10, 2009

You can hardly make it through a NFL game on television without having an announcer use the line, “he’s a future Hall of Famer” or “he’s on his way to Canton.”

Over the years of working at the Pro Football Hall of Fame, I’ve had the privilege to be a part of many conversations with enshrinees of this hallowed hall. One thing that has always struck me is how humbled most are to have received their sport’s highest honor. It is because of this humility, rarely will an individual ever take for granted that they are worthy of being enshrined. Even those players or coaches you’d call a “lock” will fear jinxing the possibility by ever really talking about it before it actually happens.


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Any 49ers fans out there? Roger Craig rushes for more than 8,000 yards and has 566 catches and the best that gets him is No. 24 in our fan voting?
 
But, as fans, we relish the opportunity to share our thoughts on whether a player, coach or other individuals are worthy of a bust in Canton. Talk to any Broncos fan about Karl Mecklenburg or Terrell Davis. Go ahead and tell a Bears fan that Richard Dent shouldn’t be in the Hall of Fame. And, while you’re at it, why don’t you seek out a Raiders fan and tell him or her how happy you are that Ray Guy hasn’t been enshrined yet!

Okay, am I striking a nerve with you yet? Well, let me tell you that our 44-person Board of Selectors is in the final stages of evaluating all 131 preliminary nominees for the Class of 2010. On Thanksgiving Weekend, that group will trim the list to 25 semifinalists.

So, have been doing your homework? This season, for the first time ever, we are letting fans just like you debate the merits of our nominees. Thanks to our friends at JCPenny/Van Heusen, we are excited to give you a platform where you can not only voice your choice by engaging in the discussion but you can also cast your vote!

I ask all the Raiders fans, are you really satisfied that punter Ray Guy currently stands at No. 6 in the voting on the site. What about all the Cowboys fans who are often times claim that there is a bias against their team. Are you going to just watch Tony Romo and Austin Miles each week and ignore the fact that Ed “Too Tall” Jones ranks 18th in the fan voting?

Calling all Broncos fans….you know that Floyd Little will be part of the finalists this year since he’s one of the two senior nominees already selected. But, what about Terrell Davis? Have you finally succumbed and now agree with those critics who say his career was too short? Well, apparently you have, since he is No. 29 in the fan voting!

Enough of my “locker room” speech. Get out there and vote. Visit the Voice your Choice site now and cast your vote for your favorite nominees for the Class of 2010!


www.jcp.com/fans  or  www.Fanschoice.com

 



comment Comment (4)

Recent Comments
  • Anthony Harris - February 09 2010 10:26 AM

    why isn't eddie george being inducted. He rushed for over 10,000 yards. Some running backs in the hall of fame didn't rush for 10,000 yards. Such as jim thrope and leroy kelly. No disrespect to those guys they were wonderful players but they didn't rush for 10,000 yards. Need i mention eddie george was great with the public and he ran over the feared ray lewis with a broken shoulder blade. I just wanna know the criteria for being inducted.

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  • Michael Myers - November 10 2009 05:14 PM

    Okay, another correction I doubt that any of them have more players - since 1960 - that have made the Hall of Fame than the Cowboys.

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  • Michael Myers - November 10 2009 05:13 PM

    typo correction: team, not time

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  • Michael Myers - November 10 2009 05:11 PM

    I have been a Dallas Cowboy fan for a very long time (over 40 years). I never agree with anyone who makes the claim that the Dallas Cowboys are overlooked. The truth is, of the teams that came into the league in 1960, I'm not sure that any time has more players who have made it to the Hall of Fame (if any team, it might be the Raiders). And of the teams that have been around longer - I doubt that any of them have more players that have made the Hall of Fame than the Cowboys. The Cowboys have a long and successful history. But to be named to the Hall of Fame indicates something extraordinary about that particular player. Would I like to see more of the Dallas Cowboy players enshrined? Of course. Are there a few players I think should be that have not been? Of course. But that would also be true of other teams. Its like you said in your article. The ones enshrined have mostly been humble men who played their hearts out. And the announcers just should learn to never use the phrase ... "future hall of famer." They really should learn to just announce the game, provide interesting and relevant statistics and leave these comments where they belong ... perhaps thought but never uttered.

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