This week's run of Flea Flicker 2017 Postseason Honors has to take a break for more significant honors. The modern-era finalists for the 2018 Class of the Pro Football Hall of Fame were announced last night. The list is topped by a linebacker, four in their first year of eligibility, and heavy on the big guys.
Ray Lewis
Brian Urlacher
Randy Moss
Steve Hutchinson
Edgerrin James
Terrell Owens
Isaac Bruce
Joe Jacoby
Kevin Mawae
Tony Boselli
Alan Faneca
Everson Walls
Ty Law
John Lynch
Brian Dawkins
Ray Lewis, Brian Urlacher, Randy Moss, and Steve Hutchinson made it in their first year of eligibility. Everson Walls is at the other end of the spectrum. He made it to the finalist stage for the first time, in his 20th year of eligibility. A third of the finalists are offensive linemen.
Steve Hutchinson
Joe Jacoby
Kevin Mawae
Tony Boselli
Alan Faneca
It's great to see the big guys get some love.
Ray Lewis is the one lock of the bunch. When the Hall's Selection Committee gathers in Minneapolis on the day before Super Bowl LII there will be little debate on Lewis' candidacy. It's a good thing as the debate over Terrell Owens for the third time and Randy Moss for the first time will take up too much time. The biggest Hall of Fame obstacle for Owens, in the opinion of most, has been that he was often a pain-in-the-ass. For me, the biggest obstacle for Owens has always been that he was horrible at catching the football. From Pop Warner to the NFL, it's the one thing that every receiver has to be able to do. Owens always treated it like an insignificant skill. Even when he caught the ball it was a struggle. His career highlights are filled with bobbles and double, even triple, catches. One could actually produce a lengthy, but hilarious, "lowlight" film of his drops. You shouldn't be able to do that for a Hall of Fame receiver. Now, when Owens finally corralled a football he was an absolute force. That's when you see a Hall of Fame football player. But he was a terrible receiver. Cris Carter was the best pass-catcher the league has ever seen. If he had to wait six years to get into Canton, Owens has to wait more than three. For me, Randy Moss is in. Terrell Owens is out. This year.
I'd like to put Steve Hutchinson in as well but I can't. Not this year. Here's my five-member Class for this year.
Ray Lewis
Randy Moss
Tony Boselli
Ty Law
Brian Dawkins
The omissions that bother me the most are probably Brian Urlacher, Joe Jacoby, and Everson Walls. As a Minnesota Vikings fan, I saw more of Urlacher than I ever really cared to see. There were too many times that he simply took over games. He took over games like a Hall of Fame player should. If it weren't for the wait that Boselli and Law have already experienced, Urlacher would be part of my Hall Class. Jacoby and Walls have waited so long that they are close to being placed in the Senior pool. If Walls had played more of his career like he did during his best 2-3 years he'd already be in the Hall of Fame. I waiver on Jacoby mostly because I think a tackle like Mike Kenn was a peer and better player but gets no Hall attention. That's not fair to Jacoby but it's less fair to Kenn.
The 15 Finalists will be joined by the Senior and Contributor Finalists for the February 3 debate.
Senior
Jerry Kramer
Robert Brazile
Contributor
Bobby Beathard
I'm thinking all three make it to Canton.
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