The Next Hall of Fame Class

As soon as the final induction speech ends talk begins on the next Hall of Fame class. It feels a bit sudden but this is a rush-rush world. Always moving onto the next thing as soon as the book is closed on the last thing. Here's the Flea Flicker Hall of Fame Class of 2015.

As I understand it, the Selection Committee will be selecting up to two new members next year in a separate contributors category. Separating contributors from players and coaches is an excellent idea. While I'd like to see long ignored, original team owner Carl Storck inducted into the Hall of Fame, I doubt that it will happen. It's likely that none of the 46 members of the Selection Committee have even heard of Storck. That's very sad. They should know better the history that they are judging. On the plane to Canton last year, I overheard Dan Pompei wonder if the Kansas City Chiefs had even won a Super Bowl. He's on the Senior Committee that just voted Curley Culp into the Hall of Fame. Culp played in the Super Bowl that the Chiefs won. Pompei was also being honored by the Hall of Fame. Terrific. My guess is that the two new members from the contributors category will be Art Modell and either Eddie DeBartolo Jr. or Paul Tagliabue. I think that the selections should be:

Carl Storck

Steve Sabol

Every bit of the NFL is touched by Steve Sabol. The good parts. And he made them better. Sabol went into the Hall of Fame when his father did. At least he survived long enough to be a part of that. 

If it was up to me the Senior members of the Hall of Fame Class of 2015 would be:

Lavvy Dilweg

Jerry Kramer

Both were Packers. Both should have been in the Hall long ago. Dilweg should have been inducted while Kramer was still playing. Lavvie Dilweg was regarded as one of the best ends of the 1920s. He was one of the best players of that first decade and a key member of the Packers championship teams of 1929-31. Kramer's absence from the Hall of Fame has long been a mystery. Too many players from the Lombardi Packers? Well, it really shouldn't matter. They are either Hall of Famers or they aren't and Jerry Kramer is. 

The most notable of the players in their first-year of eligibility are: Junior Seau, Kurt Warner, Orlando Pace, Isaac Bruce, and Tory Holt. In my opinion, Seau is the only automatic. His induction next summer will be a very sad one. Warner was a Trent Green-injury away from being just another quarterback that gave the NFL a shot. It's the middle part of his 13-year career that will be the biggest obstacle in getting to Canton in his first year. Five years can be an NFL lifetime and Warner was mediocre, at best, from 2002-06. The rest of his career was awesome. With the St. Louis Rams at the front end of his career and the Arizona Cardinals at the back end, he was every bit the Hall of Fame quarterback. He was great enough that I would put him in Canton next summer. Pace, Bruce, and Holt are also Hall of Fame players but I don't see them as first ballot Hall of Fame players. So, we (I) have another two members of the 2015 Hall of Fame Class

Junior Seau

Kurt Warner

There are three spots left. The Selection Committee has created a much discussed logjam at the receiver position. Isaac Bruce and Torry Holt are added to that logjam this year. Hines Ward, Randy Moss, and Terrell Owens will be added to it in the coming years. This will be a good year to add two deserving receivers.

Tim Brown

Marvin Harrison

For the last spot, I see this a fine time to add:

Kevin Greene

The last spot comes down to Greene and Charles Haley in my little book. I could see either one making it. And tomorrow I might have Haley in there instead. Both have been waiting the same length of time. Haley has those five Super Bowl rings. Greene had 160 career sacks. Haley had 100.5. Haley played on far better teams and had far better players around him. Both could take over games. It's a toss-up and that is probably a big reason why both have been left waiting. 

The Flea Flicker 2015 Hall of Class:

Carl Storck

Steve Sabol

Lavvie Dilweg

Jerry Kramer

Junior Seau

Kurt Warner

Tim Brown

Marvin Harrison

Kevin Greene

A nine member class. With the speeches getting longer this one could be a two day affair. Although four members of my Class are no longer with us. Seau's sad death will probably shine a bright light on the hazards of football rather than his brilliant career.

The 2015 Hall of Fame Class will probably look more like this:

Art Modell
Paul Tagliabue
Ken Riley
Tommy Nobis
Junior Seau
Kurt Warner
Orlando Pace
Tim Brown
Marvin Harrison